Of course, a healthy dog food diet will have many benefits to your beloved pet, but not all dogs are suited for all diets.
It is, however, easy to spot problems with the diet as long as you are aware of the signs and know what they mean and what the leading cause of the symptoms may be.
COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO DIET
Listed below are just some examples of the common health problems your dog may have.
These problems are most likely related to their diet and if your dog is exhibiting sign of these problems, it may be time to change their food to something that they can digest and stand.
GAS
When it is really the dog’s fault, excess gas should be looked into and a trip to the veterinarian may be in store. There is no clear cut reason for excess gas, but most of the time, it is due to the diet.
Take a look at the dog’s entire diet including snacks and treats. It could simply be that your dog has an allergy to the diet in which case a simple change will solve the issue.
Another source can be the fact that the dog is eating a food with inferior quality ingredients that he is simply having a hard time digesting. Just remember to switch foods gradually, or you are liable to create an even worse problem.
DIARRHEA
Diarrhea is caused by any number of things including stress, food, and parasites. It is important to identify the cause of the diarrhea and then treat it as dehydration can result.
Consulting a veterinarian is advisable if the diarrhea lasts for more than a couple of days.
Diarrhea is often encountered during diet transitions. Another likely source is that the dog has eaten a foreign object or too much grass.
ANAL GLAND DISEASE
The anal glands are located on either side of the anal opening. There is a duct that leads under the skin to the opening which is beside the anus. It is possible for these ducts to become impacted.
A symptom of anal gland disease is when the dog scoots along the carpet or surface of the floor on his rear end.
In order to treat this disease, a high fiber diet is often recommended in order to unclog what is clogged. There are specialized brands of food that is high in fiber as well as medication that a veterinarian can prescribe.
There are other problems that dogs may encounter such as constipation, diabetes, and even malnutrition. These can all result from a poor or inadequate diet which can be solved by changing the dog food along with the addition of supplements.