Food “off the table”: the most common cause of indigestion in dogs
Owners who feed their pets “wholeheartedly” often complain to our vets that their dog won’t eat anything except the food they see people eating. Smoked sausages are fed at breakfast, steaks and stews are fed at lunch, various desserts are served at dinner, etc. This random feeding plan, according to the owners, is used to make the animal look ‘nice and round’. But what is really going on in the pet’s body when it is spoilt with treats?
Early habituation of the dog to the wrong diet
The first thing to remember is how the digestive system of a dog is structured and works. When a dog is accustomed to eating the same food as a human being from an early age, the dog’s stomach and intestines will eventually adapt to this way of eating. After more time, the pet starts to become intolerant to normal food. Excess protein builds up in the body and the dog does not get the other nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Digestive problems, allergies, ulcers, heart disease and other ailments start to develop as a result of an imbalanced diet. Increased and aggravated dog illnesses have a negative impact on the owner’s self-confidence in caring for the pet and lead to additional financial costs.
Adaptation of the dog to a poor diet and the consequences of this adaptation
The dog quickly learns the basic principles of its interaction with its owner. If it feels that it can ask for something every time it comes to the table with a human present, it will try to repeat this action as often as possible. Smarter and more agile dogs pick up this form of communication more quickly. Thus, the home sweetheart starts to use various tricks to demand food, not to eat the food he likes less, to choose the tastier food, etc. Eventually, he begins to manipulate the person. Unfortunately, there are more than one and more than two such cases. They are very common in the practice of Kaivana Veterinary Clinic. This behaviour of the owner is dangerous not only for the health of the dog, but also for the safety of the people around it, as the animal becomes overprotective of its “benefactor” and its food.
What if you want to balance your dog’s diet and show real attention and affection to your pet?
If your dog has been fed the same food as humans for a long time, but you are now concerned about the full and healthy life of your pet, the first thing you should do is to go to a veterinary clinic and have your pet examined and tested. Veterinarians who are competent and experienced in a wide range of situations will be able to find out if your pet needs treatment. If the situation is non-critical and no treatment is needed, your puppy will be put on a diet that will gradually help you to get him or her on the right eating regime. Do not stress the animal by suddenly starting to feed it dry food or raw meat. A sudden change can cause shock, diarrhoea and vomiting. The change of appetite should be gradual. If the dog is obese, you should increase its physical activity. Increased mobility will protect the dog from the risk of heart disease.