Can Puppy Food Give My Dog Diarrhea
According to WebMD, adult dogs who eat high-fat foods may develop pancreatitis, which is fatal in fully grown dogs. This condition can be caused by a fatty meal, such as puppy food, as a result of inflammation and swelling of the pancreas, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea.
In contrast to adult dog food, puppy food has a higher fat content. When the dog is a fully grown adult, the animal may develop pancreatitis as a result of an excessive amount of fat. A puppy food must contain at least 22 percent protein, which is higher than the adult foods 20 percent. The extra protein and minerals in the diet help to give the growing puppy energy and support. Only pregnant and nursing mother dogs require puppy food for their puppies. When she weaned her younglings, she should stop eating puppy food. If your dog is vomiting or diarrhead after eating a new diet, its best to introduce it gradually.
Puppy Food Can Actually Be Bad For Senior Dogs
Those furry bundles of joy we call puppies do an incredible amount of growing in a short period of time. Thats why puppy formulas are super calorie-dense and high in fats to keep up with all that growth!
Senior dogs have done the growing they need to do, already. Feeding a senior dog puppy food isnt a good idea, because it will only make them grow in all the wrong directions. Excessive weight gain is no bueno, as it can cause older dogs to develop health problems like joint issues, diabetes, and heart troubles.
Some research even shows that overweight dogs can expect a lifespan of up to 2.5 years less on average than healthy weight dogs. And reducing your senior dogs lifespan is the exact opposite of what you wanted, right?
Even if an older dog could stand to put on weight like if an older eater seems less in love with the food bowl there are healthier ways to help senior dogs get excited about eating than feeding puppy food to fatten him or her up. Interest piqued? Read on, friend!
The Grass Is Always Greener
Even if you arent worried about feeding separate foods to your dogs, you should still be aware of any food sharing. Its common for one pet to want a taste of what the others got. A little nibble of each other’s food every now and then is fine, but try to avoid letting them make a habit of this.
If you can, feed your dogs in separate rooms and dont leave food sitting out. Scheduled, monitored feedings are best when feeding a variety of pets.If separating them is too difficult, then switching to an all life stage diet might be a better choice.
Need more help finding the right diet? Check out What Should I Feed my Dog? for the information you’ll need to make the best food choices for your dog.
This can help to ensure that all of your dogs are eating the appropriate portions and calories at each meal, and helps to reduce competitive mealtime behaviours.
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Always Talk To Your Vet About Diet Changes
There are so many great options when it comes to senior dog foods these days. The variability in nutrient and ingredient content makes it hard to know what is best. Choosing the right food should be a decision based on your senior dog’s specific needs, known health conditions, disease risk, and lifestyle. Your veterinarian is a key player in your dog’s health and should be consulted when considering a dietary change.
Try A Variety Of Food
Having a variety of food can keep your senior dog interested in the food you are giving them. Remember, dogs are not meant to always eat the same thing. In the wild, animals have a variety all the time.
Consider how dogs in the wild eat. They eat what they can find. This will not always be the same each day. So, when your dog eats the exact same food each day, it is going against their instinct to have variety. Unfortunately, people often feed their dogs the same kibbles or wet food every day.
Now, this does not mean to stop giving them their normal food. Their normal food is important and if you decide to use food that is designed specifically for senior dogs, crucial to their nutritional intake. However, a variety should be used. The following table shows a variety of food you can start implementing now into your senior dogs diet.
Many of the foods you can give your senior dog are very healthy. Others should be served as special treats. However, the key is the variety of the diet. Variety will keep your senior dog engaged with their meals. Dogs get bored, too, so keeping their meals interesting by switching them up each day or every few days, can get them to start eating the way they should.
Recommended Reading: How Long Should You Keep Your Dog On Puppy Food
Should Senior Dogs Take Supplements
Many older dogs struggle with arthritis and joint pain. To address this problem, many senior dog foods contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, which Nunez says may help the joints.
Metzger also says that owners who decide to give their dogs glucosamine and chondroitin supplements should use veterinary formulations, not human ones.
Although such supplements may be useful, dogs with joint problems and arthritis benefit more from slimming down, Nunez says. People think glucosamine is the best thing, but the very best thing is weight management.
Reason #2 For Asking If Your Senior Dog Can Eat Puppy Food
Its the only food your senior, geriatric dog will eat. If you are feeding puppy food because its the only food your dog in failing health will eat and your choice is puppy food or nothing then puppy food it is. You might also try some homemade food at this point, like ground chicken or ground beef slurries.
Also Check: Can Dogs Eat Dry Cat Food
Is Adult Dog Food Really Different From Puppy Food
If you just adopted a new puppy, you might want to just get him regular adult dog food to make it easy since there are so many options out there.
It turns out puppy food and adult dog food are actually really different, and theres an important reason why you shouldnt feed your puppy adult dog food.
The Dodo spoke to Dr. Sara Ochoa, a veterinarian consultant at Senior Tail Waggers, to find out why puppies cant eat adult dog food and how to choose a puppy food.
What Should You Feed An Old Dog
What foods do vets recommend for older dogs?
- Eukanuba Senior Small Breed Dry Dog Food.
- Iams ProActive Health Healthy Aging Senior Dry Dog Food.
- Hills Science Diet Dry Food Food for Senior Dogs.
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Senior Dry Dog Food.
- Royal Canin Size Health Small Aging Wet Dog Food.
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Protecting Your Older Pet With Petwise
You want the very best pet insurance for your senior dog. At Petwise, we specialise in exactly that.
Benefits include a 24-Hour Vet Helpline and dental cover as standard.
Plus, there’s no upper joining age limit. Why not get in touch with our UK-based team for a quick quote today?
Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
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How To Keep Older Dog From Eating Puppy Food 5 Easy Steps
As our dogs get older, they sometimes start to eat things they normally wouldnt like puppy food. While this may not seem like a big deal, it can actually be quite harmful to their health.
In this blog post, well share some tips on how to keep older dog from eating puppy food. By following these simple steps, youll help keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come.
Read till the end because in this blog post we have discussed useful ways only for you to keep your puppy healthy, happy & active.
What I Will Learn?
Solution For Those With Many Dogs
You may have more than one dog and they are all living in different walks of life. It is probably very difficult for you to keep your puppies away from adult food and adults away from puppy food.
Secondly, it is exceptionally difficult to buy 3 different formulas for 3 different dogs. So, how do you fix the problem?
Perhaps the best way to handle this problem is to stick to All Life Stages formulas. Formulas for dogs of all ages is perhaps the best compromise for those with many dogs. The nutrients are slightly on the lower end for puppies and slightly on the higher end for adult dogs but it gives them a moderately healthy life.
It is less risky to give your adult dog puppy food than it is to give your puppy adult food. So, if you have two picky eaters and both like the puppy formula, you can get away with giving your adult dog a smaller portion of the puppy food. However, we only suggest this as a temporary solution and not as a permanent one. This may not be a good strategy for obese adults, and adults with pancreatic problems. Please consult your vet for better guidance.
It is ideal to have a word with your vet and see for a better solution. Your vet will know their lifestyle and will be able to guide you well with your unique condition.
We hope this article was helpful. What do you feed your dogs? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Reasons Why Your Senior Dog Will Not Eat
Often, when dogs get older, they become more susceptible to ailments that can hinder their eating habits. If you notice that your senior dog is not eating anymore, this should be your primary concern. A veterinarian can check the health of your dog and tell you whether it is or it is not. Simple dehydration is also one reason why your senior dog will not eat, but there could be a more serious issue at play.
Pain is also a big contributor to why senior dogs do not eat properly or regularly. Sometimes, whether it is their teeth or their joints, they hurt and cannot move to get the food they want. This does not mean they do not want to eat. It just means that they have enough pain that they choose not to.
Dogs, regardless of age, can also be depressed. Dogs are known to get sad or anxious, and these emotional stressors can affect their eating. If you notice that your senior dog eats more when they are active and have energy, but when they are left alone they sleep more and more, it could be a sign of one of these stressors.
The diet you are giving them can also determine if they will eat or not. If a dog is given unhealthy food all the time, besides weight gain, it will actually lose its appetite. This is why giving your senior dog the best possible diet will ensure it will stay healthy and willing to eat.
Since Puppies Are Growing Rapidly They Have Different Nutritional Needs And Should Not Eat Adult Dog Food Until Theyre Fully Grown
While you might treat your dogs meals as a form of entertainment or a reward, its easy to forget that the primary purpose of dog food is to serve as fuel for the body. A growing puppys needs are so unique that the Association of American Feed Control Officials has two distinct nutrient profiles based on a dogs life stage: growth and reproduction and adult maintenance. Choosing the right food and transitioning to adult dog food can be challenging.
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Puppy Food Cause Weight Gain In Older Dogs
Senior dogs are considerablyless active than puppies and adult dogs, which means they are at a high riskfor weight gain. On top of being less active, their metabolism slows and manyof their bodily functions become less efficient.
So many diseases and poor health are a direct result of senior dogs being overweight. Your healthy senior dog does not require the extreme calorie density that puppy food offers.
Why Is My Senior Dog Always Hungry
Similarly, a sudden increase in appetite in senior pets, while less common than a decrease in appetite, can be part of the normal aging process of pets or the symptom of a medical condition. In general, excessive weight gain should be avoided in older pets, since obesity can cause many medical conditions.
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Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food What To Know
What kind of food you feed your dog is determined by their life stage. Puppies need food with higher caloric content than adult dogs to support their growing bodies. Thus, its typically not recommended for your adult dog to eat puppy food.1 Eating puppy food can cause your dog to become obese due to the high caloric content of the food.
Do Senior Dogs Have Special Nutritional Needs
“Seniors and geriatrics generally need lower-calorie diets to help prevent obesity — a huge problem in seniors — and higher-fiber diets to improve gastrointestinal health, Metzger says.
Probably the most important thing for a geriatric dog is that their energy requirement gets lower, Nunez says. With a slower metabolic rate, older dogs are more likely to become overweight or obese.
Many dog food companies now offer senior dog food formulations, which Nunez recommends as an age-appropriate diet for older pets because theyre lower in calories.
If possible, owners should feed their pets foods that are suitable to their stage in life. But some owners have more than one dog and would prefer to buy just one type of food.
Continued
In that case, foods labeled multi-stage would be acceptable for puppies, adults, and seniors. You make some compromises when you do the multi-stage diets, Nunez says. So theyre my second choice. But some people just cant separate the foods. The puppy will get into the senior diet, and the senior dog will get into the puppy food.
Metzger tells WebMD that when it comes to snacks, you should serve your senior dog healthy, low-fat, low-sodiumtreats. Although many dog owners think of bones and milk biscuits as snacks, there are alternatives. Vegetables are great, Metzger says. Most dogs like carrots and apple slices. But avoid grapes and raisins because theyre harmful to dogs.
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Are There Any Foods I Should Avoid Feeding My Dog
Yes, there are a few foods you should avoid feeding your puppy:
Human food: Human food is often high in salt, fat, and sugar, which can be harmful to puppies. Avoid feeding your puppy table scraps or other human food.
Dog treats: Dog treats are often high in calories and low in nutrition. Avoid giving your puppy too many treats, as this can lead to weight gain.
Puppy food: Puppy food is high in protein and fat, which can be harmful to adult dogs. Feed your puppy adult dog food instead.
Tips For Making Your Dogs Food At Home:
- If youre not ready to make the leap to cooking all of your dogs food, try just adding some real, whole foods to their kibble. You can start with simply stirring in a scrambled egg, mixing in some chopped apples or carrots, or adding a small amount of the homemade dog food in with their normal kibble.
- You should be able to serve this homemade dog food to your dog either hot or cold. Ive found that dogs love this dog food so much, that they are not picky about how its served.
- Its not usually a good idea to abruptly change your dogs food. Start transitioning them to homemade food by mixing some of this in with their regular food or kibble for a few days until they are used to the new food. Your dogs belly will thank you. And again, remember to always discuss with your vet before feeding your pet something new.
- To give your dog a variety of different nutrients, use different meats, fruits, and vegetables to make your dogs food. However, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, it might be best to stick to one combination that you know works.
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Recommended Reading: What Dog Food Is Good For Your Dog
What To Do If Your Dog Is Undereating
There are some cases, though, where it might be appropriate temporarily, and with a vet’s recommendation to feed an adult dog a little of that more calorie-rich puppy food.
If your older canine is severely underweight perhaps because of illness, for example your vet may suggest a short regime of a calorie-rich diet like puppy food, in order to rebuild that all-important muscle faster.
After all, if your senior pet is regularly turning away from their food bowl, or drastically cutting their portion size, results will include weight loss, lethargy and sometimes and most seriously dehydration.
In this case, a calorie-rich diet like puppy food could, over a short period, help to close up that gap.
In the longer term, though, you’ll want to look at why your dog has lost their appetite and to try some ways of helping them to get it back.
First up, find out if the loss of appetite is due to any factors such as illness or disease. If your dog is going through a period of noticeable weight loss, you should get him or her examined by a vet to make sure that the problem isn’t being caused by a heath condition.
Weight loss is often simply part and parcel of a dog’s ageing experience, but if the loss is noticeable, or over a prolonged period of time, you should get your dog checked out.
And, if you are on this journey, it’s a very good idea to make sure you have a good form of insurance for older dogs from the outset.