Caring FOR YOUR POOCH
ALL THE ESSENTIAL DIET TIPS YOUR PUP NEEDS TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
We all love our fur babies and want to give them the best care possible. Just like us, it’s important they receive the right nutrients and foods to support a healthy lifestyle. Veterinarian at Black Hawk, Dr Lee Danks, shares diet tips to keep your pup in top shape.
IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE
In order to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, it’s vital that your four-legged friend is receiving all the vitamins and nutrients they need through a balanced diet.
“Food has many intersections with overall health (absence of disease), their behaviour, mental state and environment,” explains Dr Danks.
“Dogs have evolved to have very different nutritional needs and digestive tracts from people. Even though they’re a part of our family, we shouldn’t feed them as the same species.
“They need a delicate balance of at least 37 different nutrients, plus some others at specific times in life,” continues Dr Danks.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
According to Dr Danks, there are key signs that can indicate your pooch isn’t receiving a nutritious high-quality diet:
• Skin or coat disorders – a range of proteins and fatty acids are needed to maintain healthy skin and fur. Without a nutritious diet, they become prone to hair loss, dehydration, poor healing and even infection.
• Change in faeces – there are four main principles to a healthy bowel movement: colour, consistency, content, and coating. Your dog’s faeces should be chocolate brown, not hard, nor too puddlelike and watery, contain no foreign objects and should be free of mucus or blood. Any abnormalities could be a sign of digestive or other issues, but they could also be a marker of an inappropriate diet.
• Energy and performance – your pet’s vigour and ongoing ability to do what they do best – is another telling sign that they’re getting a good diet. This is in terms of appropriate calories (energy), plus the nutrients that not only help them survive, but enable them to thrive.
SNACK SMART
Of course our pups deserve the occasional treat, especially during training periods, but it’s important to check the types of snacks that we’re feeding them.
“In order to preserve a healthy dietary balance, we recommend no more than 10 per cent of your pet’s daily energy comes from treats, and that we think about why we’re giving them,” says Dr Danks.
“We recommend to treat them with the best ingredients,” adds Dr Danks. “Black Hawk’s [dog food products] are crafted with the health and vitality of your dog at heart.”
And isn’t that ultimately what you want for your four-legged friend?