Food is not Suitable for your Dog The Main Signs

Many dog owners prefer to choose one optimal dry food and feed it to their pet for a long time. However, this method is not ideal – veterinarians advise many to change the diet from time to time, choosing another dry food. There are a number of signs by which you can determine that it is time to change the diet.

Digestive Disorders: Alarming Symptoms

The appearance of vomiting and signs of nausea after feeding often indicates intolerance to individual components of the feed, such as eggs, cereals, fish or meat. In this case, it is necessary to change the feed without delay. However, it is also important to consider that the gag reflex can be caused by overeating or too hasty swallowing of granules without sufficient chewing, what to do about it?

The pet’s body gets used to a certain composition of dry dog food – the acid and intestinal microflora adjust to the previous meal, ensuring stable digestion. A sudden change in diet disrupts this balance and causes stress to the body, which can lead to diarrhea, constipation or bloating. Another alarming sign is a foul odor from the mouth, often indicating problems with the gastrointestinal tract or teeth.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract cause discomfort to both the animal and its owners. The best solution is to replace it with high-quality premium dry food or a special diet for dogs with sensitive digestion, individually selected by a veterinarian.

Allergic reactions to food

Allergy to dry dog food can manifest itself in the form of dandruff, rashes, itching, hair loss and pustules – especially in sensitive areas. Most often, this is an alarming reaction to intolerance to certain animal proteins, cereals or synthetic components of the food.

See also other examples in the article Recognizing Allergy Symptoms .

The most effective way to identify an allergen is to completely eliminate suspicious ingredients from the diet. It is also worth giving up cheap food or replacing it with a grain-free formula .

Problems with hair and skin

The condition of the coat is a clear indicator of the health of the pet. Loss of shine, fragility or severe hair loss may indicate a lack of key nutrients. To keep the coat thick and beautiful, dry dog food should be balanced and rich in animal proteins, fats and vitamins.

Many dog foods are formulated with an emphasis on skin and coat health. Choose diets that are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help keep your dog’s coat looking its best.

Decreased activity and refusal to eat

Pet appetite is an important, but not always objective indicator of the quality of dry food. Many animals willingly eat cheap food, saturated with flavors, which only mask the low quality. If the dog is offered only premium or super-premium food, it is worth paying attention to which of them he liked.

An empty bowl and satisfaction after feeding is a good sign. But refusal to eat, lethargy or begging for a treat immediately after eating is an alarming sign to think about changing the diet and what to do correctly .

However, a decrease in appetite is not always related to a diet: behavior can be affected by heat, stress, age-related changes, spoiling, or illness. It also happens that a pet accustomed to cheap dry food does not immediately accept high-quality granules due to the lack of the usual flavor enhancers. In this case, you should not give in at all – give the animal time to adapt to a healthier diet.

When is it time to change food?

• Over time, there may be a need to completely replace your dog’s dry food – and many signs can contribute to this:
• The change of one of the three main stages of life – from puppy to adult dog, and then to old age – requires dietary adjustments.
• Each age period has its own characteristics and dry dog food adapted to its current needs allows to provide the animal with the necessary support;
• If your pet is pregnant or nursing puppies, her body requires more energy, nutrients and fatty acids.
• During this period, you will need to change to a special fatty dry food;
• When switching from homemade food to ready-made dry dog food;
• Food for solving medical problems – for gastrointestinal diseases, urolithiasis or allergies to individual components of the diet;
• After researching feeding options or consulting with your veterinarian, you have decided that your dog’s diet needs to be changed.

When your pet has completely switched to the new dry food and the old diet is completely excluded, it is important to continue feeding the selected product for at least two months. During this time, its advantages will become apparent and you will be able to assess whether the food is suitable for your dog.