Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

308 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
DIETS FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS
Great progress has been made in developing diets that are helpful in treating
and/or controlling health problems in dogs. Many of these are available only
by prescription or through your veterinarian. These diets are customized to be
ideal for certain health problems. Examples are the Eukanuba, Purina, and
Hill’s diets for dogs with allergies, kidney problems, and certain types of urinary
stones. Do not start your dog on one of these diets without veterinary
supervision, as they may cause problems for a dog with normal health.
SWITCHING DIETS
Dogs do not seem to object to eating the same food day after day. But if you
believe, as many people do, that variety is the spice of life, you may wish to
change your pet’s diet from time to time. Note that when you change flavors
you may change the nutritional value of the food as well. The new flavor
(because of the flavor additive) may contain more or less protein, fat, or fiber.
A change in diet may be indicated for medical reasons, in which case the
new diet will be prescribed by your veterinarian.
When changing diets, gradually mix the new diet in with the old over 7 to
10 days. Observe how well your dog eats the new diet. A change in the
appearance of the stool (loose or increased bulk) suggests that the new diet
may not agree with the dog as well as the old one did.
WEIGHT REDUCTION
It has been estimated that up to 40 percent of dogs in the United States are
overweight. Obesity is due to overfeeding, particularly feeding snacks and
treats between meals, failing to reduce the caloric intake of puppies when
they reach adulthood, and inadequate exercise. Adding people food to a
nutritionally balanced diet is another cause of weight gain. Some breeds of
dogs are more prone to obesity, such as Beagles and Labrador Retrievers.
Obesity greatly complicates many diseases, including diabetes, hypertension,
heart disease, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal problems. It also
shortens the quality and duration of the pet’s life. For these reasons it is
important to prevent excessive weight gain and to return an overweight dog
to a more normal body condition.
Determine your dog’s body condition by his appearance and the amount of
fat distributed over the ribs. You should be able to feel the ribs as individual
structures. From above, you should see a well-defined narrowing or waistlike
effect below the rib cage and above the hips. If you are unable to feel the individual
ribs and the dog has lost his waist, he is carrying too much fat.