Dogs are lovable. No matter how lively and cute the puppies are when they are first picked up, or how naughty and considerate they are as adults, after 10 years, they will inevitably enter their old age and their bodies will not be the same. No matter how full of energy he is, his eyes are becoming warmer and full of wisdom over time, but his actions are indeed becoming slower and slower. Dogs entering this stage need more care from their owners.

As the most important part of a dog’s daily life, diet is of course the first thing to pay attention to and consider. Therefore, today the editor will talk to the poop scrapers about how to make corresponding adjustments in the diet to help dogs who are approaching their twilight years. The dog greets the beautiful sunset with the healthiest attitude.

Nutritional standards with increasing and decreasing levels

For aging dogs, a healthy diet should be low in fat and low in calories. This is also the diet formula for many elderly dogs. In fact, this is the same as the dietary precautions for people in old age. On the one hand, the digestive function of dogs decreases, and eating too much or too much can easily increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and cause digestive problems; on the other hand, due to the metabolic function of the body of elderly dogs, Slowing down and reducing the amount of exercise can easily lead to fat accumulation, which is obesity.

Appropriate protein intake: Appropriate protein intake can supplement the amino acids needed by pets. The amount of activity determines the amount of protein intake. Elderly dogs have relatively less exercise. If they consume too much protein, it will inevitably increase the pet’s metabolic burden. In addition, excessive intake of animal protein will also lead to excessive intake of sulfur-containing amino acids, which will accelerate the loss of calcium in the bones and lead to osteoporosis. Therefore, try to choose dog food with appropriate protein and without any animal by-products according to the dog’s amount of exercise, which can improve the digestion and absorption rate.

Moderate fiber intake: Fiber can effectively treat constipation, a common phenomenon in elderly dogs, and also plays an important role in regulating glucose metabolism. Studies have shown that sugar metabolism in dogs with cataracts, arteriosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and stroke has often been altered. Fermentable mixed fibers (such as rapeseed meal, gum arabic, fructooligosaccharides) can all promote glucose regulation.

Reduce sodium intake: Many elderly dogs suffer from high blood pressure or heart disease. Excessive sodium intake will not only aggravate existing diseases, but also make it difficult to excrete excess sodium from the body. Especially for dogs who have reduced exercise, it is important to control the salt content in food to ensure the health of the dog.

Reduce fat intake: An important cause of obesity in the elderly is fat. As age increases, the metabolic rate of older dogs decreases accordingly, which causes energy consumption to slow down and more heat to be converted into fat and accumulated. Dogs in the aging stage only need to eat food that is lower in fat and energy.

Increase vitamin intake: suitable for elderly dogsHighly increases the intake of vitamins A, B1, B2, B12 and E, which can regulate the metabolism of pets. A lack of vitamins can lead to serious health problems. Taking the right amount of vitamins can keep your body strong and healthy; taking too much can lead to poisoning.

Increase the intake of unsaturated fatty acids: Unsaturated fatty acids can regulate blood lipids, clear blood clots, and regulate rabbit diseases.

Common dietary issues for older dogs

Whether to change dog food: When the elderly dog ​​maintains a normal health state, do not change the dog food because the dog is getting older;

Whether to supplement calcium: Old dogs are different from people and do not need special calcium supplements. If you choose an aging formula with lower phosphorus content, you don’t need to supplement calcium specifically, because the ratio of phosphorus and calcium in the dog’s body is reasonable to be healthy, which should generally be 1:1;

What to do if you gain weight: If an elderly dog ​​has a tendency to gain weight, you need to change it to a low-energy dog ​​food. Try to control the dog's weight, which is a major guarantee for health.< /p>

What to do if you lose weight: If an older dog becomes emaciated and has no other diseases, you can consider giving it puppy food, because puppy food contains a lot of nutrients. Without overdosing it.

After dogs enter old age, all aspects of their physical functions begin to decline significantly. These age and physical changes directly affect their emotions, metabolism, senses, body (including reproductive organs), musculoskeletal system, respiratory and nervous systems. Therefore, parents must attach great importance to these changes in dogs and take corresponding protective measures. A reasonable diet is the key to supplementing and balancing the nutrients needed by elderly dogs. A good diet is the greatest care for elderly dogs. Although dogs want to play with their owners when they are old, they are unable to do so. Some old dogs even have difficulty walking. I hope their owners can accompany them on their last journey.