Tuesday, May 8, 2012

How to Feed the Older Dog

By Ted Cole


Feeding the More Aged Dog

Dog Food for the Elderly Dog

Precisely what adjustments do you have to make to your dog feeding program as your dog gets older?

The adjustments you make to your dog eating routine, and when you make them can vary based on the age of your dog, and the breed of your dog.

It's regarded that the bigger and giant kinds of dog age faster than the smaller and toy varieties of dog. Your goal in managing the nutrition of the mature dog will be to boost his quality of life, delay further aging changes, also to lengthen his life whilst keeping his optimum weight.

Within the old dog weight problems can be a bigger problem than in the young dog since there may also be concurrent arthritis and organ difficulties that will be worsened. For the older dog a top quality animal protein based on meat, fish eggs, milk or cheese is greater than cereal protein. A balance has to be struck among providing an excessive amount of protein that could be a problem for dogs having renal failure (a common problem in more aged dogs), and giving too little.

Since maturing dogs tend to have less muscle and bone they will have less of a tissue protein save and require a certain degree of protein in their diet to prevent a poor nitrogen balance.Your veterinarian is the best person to monitor your aging dog's renal function and recommend the correct level of protein within his diet. Carbohydrates are generally supplied by cereals and legumes in the diet, and these are a affordable supply of energy. Fats are necessary in the diet to provide a vehicle for fat soluble vitamins, and are important for the health of old dogs. Fiber has a role too in the elderly dog as most are susceptible to bowel problems. Putting fibre in the form of wheat bran or cooked vegetables 2 or 3 times a week will help maintain your aged dog regular!

The majority of dog foods will have over adequate quantities of calcium and phosphorus for the older dog. There may be an instance for lessened amounts of phosphorus and salt in the diet. Certain supplementation of zinc and vitamins could be helpful in the older dog, specially the vit. b. The primary food types for the older dog are - dry, semi-moist or canned.

Diet modifications should be made gradually to prevent stomach problems and diarrhea. Be sure you have plenty of water readily available for your dog, especially if fed a dried food, as well as if renal and liver disease is an issue.

There are lots of commercial senior dog food diets now available. It'll pay you to carefully examine the various types to raise the life span and vitality of your more aged dog.




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