Nutrition of elderly Jack
By old age in Jack’s body as in any living organism, the rate of metabolic processes decreases, and consequently, the number of consumed calories must be less.If you leave the same diet as for young dogs, it can lead to obesity of elderly Jack and the development of various internal diseases. If you feed your pet with dog food, turn it into a specialized food for elder dogs.
Normally, each brand has a feed diet "7+" for dogs after 7 years. However, the brand does not mean that as soon as your Jack will be 7 years old, you should immediately turn it on this food. If you have active or working dog, that does not show signs of aging, and does not change its activity, don’t hurry, leave it on the old feed
If you feed Jack with natural products, the general recommendations are as follows:
- Reduce the total food intake by 10-20% to avoid an increase in weight.
- Reduce the protein content in the daily diet of 25% to reduce the load on the kidneys.
- Increase the fiber content to improve the process of digestion. Older dogs often suffer from constipation. Dietary fiber can help solve this problem.
- Increase the content of vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants.
- Increase the content of fatty acids to prevent dry skin and to maintain the skin and coat healthy.
To avoid mistakes and make the right diet, contact your veterinarian, he will help you find the right diet that will keep your elderly pet in good physical condition. Also, if Jack has age-related diseases, such as arthritis, heart disease or kidney failure, the vet will advise you special vitamins or supplements to the food aimed at solving current problems.
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