Your pet’s diet can affect their weight, mood, and cognitive abilities. The right diet gives your pet the best chance at a long, healthy life. You should visit your veterinarian at least once per year, and ask the veterinarian to evaluate your pet’s dietary and nutritional needs to ensure your pet’s health is on track. Remember that your pet’s dietary needs may change over time as he ages.
Ask Your Veterinarian to Evaluate Your Pet’s Dietary Needs
Your pet’s veterinarian is the only person qualified to evaluate your pet’s diet and determine if it is sufficient to meet your pet’s dietary needs. Your veterinarian can run blood tests and complete a physical examination to determine your pet’s specific, unique dietary needs. Don’t rely on advice from friends or family, blogs, or other online forums to determine what or how often you should feed your pet. Following advice from anyone other than your pet’s veterinarian can have serious health consequences for your pet. Remember that each animal has unique, specific dietary and nutrient requirements, and those who haven’t met and evaluated your pet professionally will have no idea what your pet needs.
Change Your Pet’s Diet as He Ages
As your pet ages, his dietary needs may change. Certain diets can prevent age-related health issues like diabetes, kidney problems, weight gain, fatigue, vision problems, and cognitive problems like dementia. Ask your veterinarian how your pet’s diet should change as he ages and follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. In general, pets may start needing senior pet food around age seven, but this depends on your pet’s overall health and specific dietary needs.
Be Aware of Warning Signs That Your Pet’s Diet Isn’t Working
Watch out for certain warning signs that your pet’s diet isn’t working for them. These might include excessive thirst, urinating more or less frequently, constipation or diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue or listlessness, excessive panting, itching or scratching, and overeating or refusing food.
If you have any questions about your pet’s dietary needs, or if your pet’s eating habits, behavior, or general health has changed, visit your veterinarian right away.