Evanger’s #GetPetHealthy question of the week!
Every week we have a contest on our Facebook page and invite Evanger's feeders to ask a nutrition question about their pet. Our certified On-Staff Nutritionist picks one question to weigh in on. Here are this week's question and answer.
November is National Senior Pet Month! And in honor of that, we picked a #GetPetHealthy question the inquired about a senior dog and it’s diet. Making sure that your senior pet has the right nutrition can prolong their lives as long as possible.
Question:
Jennifer Knight Adams What is the appropriate amount of food for a senior dog and do they need anything special in their diet?
My dog is an 11lb Chihuahua that turns 10 years old November 30th!
Answer:
While a senior dog might be a bit less active and a bit more sedentary than when he was a pup, reducing the calories fed might not provide the extra nutrients needed by his older, less efficient digestive tract.
So, assuming your dog is healthy, follow the feeding instructions for your dog's weight on the dry food bag (one of Evanger's five all-life-stage kibbles, we hope!).
Also, if you are not feeding an Evanger's canned food now, you might wish to start. The moisture in the canned food seems to help older dogs digest their food more easily and thoroughly.
Try mixing in some Evanger's Senior Dinner with your Chihuahua's kibble. A good rule of thumb is to reduce the kibble amount by one tablespoon per meal, and add a tablespoon of canned food to replace it.
If the dog has a weight problem, you will need to reduce the overall amount fed.
Regular checkups are especially important for aging dogs. Your veterinarian will help identify any age-related conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes that might affect your feeding protocol.
Thanks for sharing your question! We host a #GetPetHealthy Question of the Week every Thursday on our Facebook page. The winner receiving a FREE bag of JERKY TREATS, so check in on Thursdays at http://www.facebook.com/Evangers
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