During your pet’s annual veterinary checkup, be sure to ask your veterinarian if your pet has any dietary or nutritional needs that aren’t being met by his current diet. Blood tests can determine if your pet has any deficiencies that need to be addressed. Your pet’s dietary needs change as he ages, so it’s important to stay on top of your pet’s diet to determine if you should be feeding him different food or adding in vitamins or supplements.
Feed Your Pet the Diet Recommended by Your Veterinarian
You should never change your pet’s diet without consulting your veterinarian. Only your veterinarian has the education, experience, and tools to determine if your pet’s dietary and nutritional needs are being met. Using advice from friends and family, blogs, or other sources on the internet can actually put your pet’s health at risk. If you’re wondering what and how often you should feed your pet to maintain his health and happiness, schedule a visit with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can take blood tests and do a physical examination to determine your pet’s specific, unique dietary needs.
Change Your Pet’s Diet Appropriately as He Ages
As your pet ages, his dietary and nutritional needs will change as well. Your veterinarian can help you determine when your pet should start eating senior pet food, which usually is recommended around age 7. Your veterinarian may also recommend that your pet start eating specialized pet food designed to help prevent certain age-related health problems like kidney disease, dementia, obesity, fatigue, and heart disease.
Understand Early Warning Signs of Dietary Deficiencies
Be sure you understand and are aware of the early warning signs of dietary deficiencies in pets. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice that your pet is showing signs of excessive thirst, frequent urination, constipation or diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue or listlessness, excessive panting, itching or scratching, and overeating or refusing food.
If you need help planning your pet’s diet or aren’t sure if your pet is ready for senior pet food, schedule a visit with your veterinarian today.