Do 4 Things
dietary Advice for Every Pet Parent
Over the years Dolittle’s has accumulated a wealth of practical pet parenting advice. At the top of the list are these 4 easy things: add water, feed less, rotate foods, and add fresh. These simple no cost concepts can have very positive influences on the health and life of your best friend.
NUMBER 1: ADD WATER
We can not say this enough. Add water to your pet’s food. Whether you feed dry, canned, freeze dried, or even raw food you should add water. Dog’s are terrible at drinking and often consume too little water in the process. Adding water to their food is a far better way to get necessary moisture into their bodies.
“Dogs should consume one ounce of water for every one pound of body weight per day.”
Dry food absorbs moisture from your dog’s internal organs which can result in numerous health concerns including dehydration. Adding water helps hydrate a poorly hydrated diet. Add water.
NUMBER 2: feed less
Some health concerns can be remedied by simply feeding less food. The obvious concern is obesity and eventually diabetes but, feeding less can actually help with concerns like diarrhea, and picky eaters.
Overfeeding can be easy to do. Pet parents often feed according to the bag. There are just a few problems with feeding this way. First, the guidelines are quite broad. They can range between ten pounds. This leaves you guessing about how much to feed exactly. Secondly, the guides are based on an activity level that your dog may not meet.
“Feed the body, not the bowl.”
Dolittle’s regularly helps pet parents with specific feeding recommendations. If you are struggling with dietary concerns for your pet then please come check with us. The problem could simply stem from overfeeding.
NUMBER 3: rotate food
No living creature eats the same diet everyday twice a day for their entire life. Additionally, manufacturers change sourcing and ingredients in your pet’s food all the time. In a sense your pet is getting a little rotation anyway. Dolittle’s suggestion is to amp that up. The world is full of quality proteins for your pet. Each of these proteins offer different amino acids. The different amino acids allow your pet’s body to recreate necessary proteins and maintain optimal health.
“Feed different proteins seasonally. In the summer feed fish based foods. In the spring and fall feed fowl. In the winter feed beef & lamb. ”
Rotating through brands or types of food can help you and you pet avoid market concerns as they may come up, or may help with finding a food in another town, or if your regular food is temporarily unavailable.
Additionally, complications due to specific ingredients are reduced when you are offering a multitude of unique quality ingredients.
NUMBER 4: add fresh
Fresh is the best. Fresh foods have more nutritional value than cooked foods. They are often less sugary and higher in moisture (see above: add water). Fresh foods are lower in harmful carcinogens that may occur during the cooking process. Additionally, fresh meats are more easily digested than cooked meats. The intestinal acid of your pet is more acidic than our own and can break down bones and more.
Fresh vegetables contain more vitamins and minerals than cooked. Foods using fresh fruits and vegetables require fewer synthetic vitamins and minerals too. Additionally fresh foods use fewer preservatives. Did we mention that fresh foods are higher in moisture?
“Fresh food can include anything from veggies to less processed frozen diets.”
Do what works for your budget. Even adding a little fresh food each day can help extend the life of your pet.
There you have it. Four simple things to do to improve the health and life of your pet. The implementation of these suggestions cost nothing. You and your pet only stand to gain from them. Act today and look forward to less itchiness, better energy, softer coats, and more tail wags!