Many convenient, budget-friendly dog foods lining store shelves contain questionable ingredients. The reduced nutritional value, added fillers, and artificial additives undermine canine health over time. Paying attention to emerging issues helps identify ideal times to switch their diet to more nourishing options, boosting vitality. Consider upgrading when observing these common indicators of suboptimal nutrition.
Weight Gain and Obesity Take Hold
Packing excess pounds strains the mobility, respiration, circulation, joints, lifespan and disease resilience of overweight dogs. Gradual, unexplained weight gain often links directly to poor diet quality. Calorie-dense gastrointestinal fillers like corn, wheat and soy accumulate adipose fat deposits through insufficient nutrition. Dogs persistently beg for extra meals since nutrient deficiencies sustain hunger cues. Transitioning to top-tier dog food for gut health helps restore proportional energy distribution supporting healthy weights. Consult veterinarians to calculate ideal caloric intake.
Skin Conditions Materialize
Dry, inflamed, itchy skin plagued by infections or rashes indicates dogs lack certain oils, vitamins and minerals vital for collagen elasticity, wound healing and allergy resistance. For example, deficiencies in zinc, omega fatty acids, proteins or vitamins A, B and E manifest in various ways. Replenishing nutritive shortfalls through oil supplements brings relief relatively quickly once dietary causation gets addressed in skin issues. Always rule out contagious origins first via veterinary exams.
Their Stool Quality Declines
Small, hard stool segments straining to pass signal constipation from inadequate hydration or fiber intake. Conversely, chronic loose stools contain undigested food remnants pointing toward difficulty extracting nutrients from current food. Mucus secretions, urgent eliminations, bloody streaks or complete diarrhea prompt immediate veterinary consultation to pinpoint causation. However, gently transitioning dogs long-term onto better dog food for gut health often successfully resolves stool abnormalities and discomfort.
Coat Quality Deteriorates
Lackluster, brittle, and thinning hair coats might mean deficient protein sources. Dietary shortfalls of vitamins, minerals and oils manifest through excessive shedding, dull tone and loss of waterproofing protections. Upgrade nutrition first before attempting coat remedies. Once fur regains luster and fullness from within through balanced nutrition, external treatments prove more effective in addressing remnants of damage. Schedule veterinary exams to eliminate parasites, fungal infections or hormone imbalances as potential causes too.
Energy Levels Decline
Sluggish dogs sleeping excessively feature insufficient caloric intake from poor nutrient absorption. Their bodies attempt conserving scarce resources to function. Alternately, consuming excess empty calories from fillers builds fat, not energy reserves. Lethargy consequently restricts physical activity necessary for ideal weights and organ health. Transition to denser calorie sources from upgraded food to regain vigorous exercise potential without weight gain. Assess any lingering laziness as possible illness once nutrition normalization occurs.
Oral Health Problems Increase
Persistent bad breath, yellow teeth, inflamed gums, mouth pain and tooth loss all tie back to suboptimal diet. Bacteria accumulation from carbohydrate filler digestion or malnutrition contribute to plaque buildup and subsequent dental diseases. The experts at Nextrition say that natural dog food for bad breath should include enzymes, minerals, and abrasive textures that help combat oral bacteria and remove plaque. Seek veterinary dental cleanings and extractions as needed for oral health rehabilitation. Transition to specially formulated kibble or raw food diets that deliver plaque-fighting enzymes and key minerals to boost future resilience.
Conclusion
Reliant owners strive to provide dogs the best possible life but often overlook subtle diet influence on health. Pay attention for signs of nutritional deficiencies or excesses using weight, skin/coat, energy, oral health and recovery rates as guides. Adjust food contents through veterinary advice. Spend the extra money on higher tier dog food for gut health to reward loyal companions with comfort and disease protection they deserve. Prioritize good nutrition to extend total years by your side.
