WAGONY AUNT
Dogs Trust expert Dr Rachel Casey answers your canine conundrums
Q We’ve noticed the cost of our dog food has gone up in price. Is it OK to swap to a cheaper dog food?
A Dogs Trust recently surveyed dog owners to find out how they were feeling about the rise in the cost of living, and one-in-five dog owners said that rising costs had forced them to switch their usual dog food to a cheaper version.
This may seem a good way of saving money, but it’s important that you check first to see if the food you are buying is “complete”, and can be given to your dog by itself, or if its “complementary” and needs to be served with other foods to deliver your dog’s nutritional needs.
It’s also really important you check to see if the food is suitable for your breed of dog and the stage of life your dog is at. For example, puppies require different nutrients to adult dogs, and senior dogs also have different requirements.
We’d really recommend that you speak to your veterinary surgery for advice before changing your dog’s food. If you do go ahead and swap your brand, please do introduce it gradually as a change in diet can cause stomach upsets. For the same reason, it’s also really important that you try and stick to just one brand of food and do not “chop and change” your dog’s diet.
For more information and expert advice, visit dogstrust.org.uk
■ Do you have a question for Rachel? Email it to petclub@mirror.co.uk