My Dog is Sick. How Should I Feed It?
When a dog is unwell because he has symptoms of an illness, or is in pain, he cannot say what he feels or what is wrong with him. Owners need to understand what is going on and try to interpret their behavior.
With regard to food during your illness, what are the most suitable foods? A well-balanced diet with the proper nutrients is a good way to start your pet’s recovery. We must offer them proteins and carbohydrates that provide the necessary energy, as well as vitamins and nutrients.
First steps when a dog is sick
The first thing we notice when our dog is sick is that he stops eating and his body will take from his muscles the extra energy he needs, since it is not being supplied by the food.
Your metabolism speeds up to fight the disease, and this must be compensated with the necessary nutrients that would help you heal and will be the basis for recovery.
My dog got sick. What should he eat?
In choosing the most suitable diet, the first thing to analyze is the disease the animal has. Each condition had to be treated in an individual way, and the diet that we will provide the animal during this situation should be defined according to the specific disease.
As an example, if there are digestive problems, it is necessary to offer foods with a good amount of fiber to help the micro flora of our friend’s body, without offering too much fat.
If our dog has nausea or nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, we should give him a good amount of fluids, since, as in the case of humans, these conditions will dehydrate his body.
How to get our sick dog to eat?
Among the incentives we will give our dog to make him want to eat at these times when eating is probably the last thing he wants to do, is to use his favorite foods. If we know his tastes and preferences, we know what to give him at these times.
An interesting rule of thumb is that dogs tend to prefer soft foods to pet foods made for them. Our care and patience must complete the process for the animal to eat.
Among the tricks that we can use so that our dog eats in its worst moments is the potent aroma of some foods, which causes our friend to salivate and will arouse his interest in the food we offer him.
Furthermore, the heat enhances the aromas ; if we preheat the food we will be able to make it have a more attractive touch for the dog.
In addition to natural foods, which are always recommended, a wide variety of products for dogs was also being developed in the markets. In addition to specific feed for certain conditions or deficiencies, there are other therapies that serve to prevent certain diseases and offer an optimal quality of life for the animal.
Different Much Needed Nutrients
Regarding the specific nutrients that we must offer our pet so that he can recover from his illness, we must know that proteins are the basic elements for recovery, as they strengthen our dog’s defenses and immune system. An animal that is sick needs more protein than one that feels healthy, as its body is suffering significant wear and tear.
Fats and carbohydrates are also an important source of energy for a sick dog. The fat must be tasty and attractive to the animal, and it has to be more concentrated in order to provide the energy levels it needs in fewer servings.
With regard to minerals and vitamins, the presence of these nutrients will help in the dog’s healing process, reducing the recovery time from the disease and restoring worn-out physical levels.
We must be careful that our dog’s skin and fur do not suffer any wear during the disease. If he had an injury or if the vet operated on him, we have to be constantly aware of the area treated so that his appearance does not deteriorate. Any inflammation should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
It is possible that we have to give our four-legged friend the medication prescribed by the veterinarian, or that we must help him to recover physically, or that we have to bandage the injured area, etc. All this must always be supervised and advised by the veterinarian who takes care of your animal.
