Special Diets for Dogs: Wisdom from your Vet

Special diets can be prescribed by veterinarians for obese animals but also for many other health reasons.

Unlike the adage “You are what you eat”, your dog is what you feed him. His wellbeing is in your hands. If your veterinarian prescribes a low-sodium diet, your dog may suffer from congestive heart failure. With the low-sodium prescription diet and proper medication his life will be extended.

Over half of elderly dogs in the United States have kidney disease. A veterinarian could prescribe a special diet for kidney disease. This could correct many problems, and keep the dog from becoming seriously ill and extend the dogs life. Prescribed diets must be given according to the doctor’s instructions for them to be effective.

Do puppies and pregnant dogs need a special diet food?

Your veterinarian can give you the answer to this question. Depending on the condition of the animal, including both physical and mental stress, a prescription diet may be necessary for puppies and mother. It is very important to feed puppies and mothers a high quality diet.

Diarrhea and loose stools may be caused by an irritated intestinal tract. A change to a bland food may correct the problem. A veterinarian can prescribe a bland food to help with an irritated intestinal tract. Again, it is very important to follow feeding instructions carefully and not deviate from those instructions.

Allergies and skin problems may be caused by your dog’s food. You may be bathing or putting sprays or ointments on your pet when it is not needed. A veterinarian can determine whether food is the cause of your dog’s allergies and then recommend the right food. There are many different types of foods to feed dogs with allergy issues, so it may take a while to find the right food.

You need to take responsibility for your dog. There have been many changes in animal nutrition in the last 30 years. Dogs fed commercial dog food are said to have a better diet than an American child. This is definitely debatable, however, throwing the dog a bone and table scraps are from bygone days. High quality dog foods and prescriptions foods that are available from your veterinarian will help extend your dogs life and also give it a nice quality of life.

Talk to your veterinarian if your dog is not eating properly or seems overweight or underweight. A special diet may be prescribed for your dog. Try to stick with it. For an overweight dog, don’t overfeed them, more calories and not enough activity will cause a fat pet. Overweight dogs have many of the same issues as overweight people including heart disease, joint issues and diabetes. The length of life for overweight dogs will be shorter than a dog at a proper weight. Their quality of life will also be a little worse than one at a proper weight. Even though pets are part of the family they have different dietary needs from the human members of the family.

For dog food related items, stop by www.ohmydogsupplies.com, the leader in dog supplies including christmas dog collars and adjustable dog leashes.