Dog Nutrition - Dog Health

Alterations from Nourishment: Everyone knows the following principle about dog health: "every action has a reaction." Even though the symptoms can vary depending on the state of the hurt organism, they can allow us to identify the different illnesses which might be sort of frequent. The lack or excess of one of the nutrients can have serious consequences. Also, some nutrients can unleash serious health problems if the metabolism is upset. Therefore, the symptoms, even though they might seem insignificant, we must be able to identify them. Though they are anodyne, they can be signals that identify an important problem.

Dog Regurgitation and Vomiting: If the food is vomited before it begins to be digested by the stomach, then we say it was regurgitated. The cause can be mechanic (obstacles) or organic (a lesion or malformation). Vomiting affects an organ located near the esophagus. This can be provoked by the ingestion of non-digestible things, a stomach ache, an allergy, food poisoning, a virus or an inflammation of the stomach, intestine, pancreas or the liver. Perhaps it can also be caused by stress, an intestinal occlusion, anxiety, a phobia, or too much effort.

Dog Diarrhea: Their origin can be in the food. A parasite, the development of some bacteria (this provokes loss of water and can lead to hemorrhage diarrhea), a viral infection, too much food in the intestine or an excessive amount of liquid can also be the cause of diarrhea. In the simplest cases, like for example a violent change in nourishment without respecting the time the dog requires to adapt, an overload of food or expired food. After correcting the factor that caused the diarrhea, it will stop rapidly.

Constipation: The animals that are constipated can be relieved by adding non-soluble fibers in their food. We can also administer a laxative in order to fix the problem. Nevertheless, it is not recommended that we use these laxatives for a long time.

Obesity in Dogs: Even though its development is slow, it is very difficult to eradicate. We will notice lumping, a decrease in the animal's mobility, its reproductive capacity or immune system. Also, the animal's articulations are painful and the risks of heart, respiratory, digestive, hepatic and renal failure are higher. Rich nourishment, which has not been adapted to the animal's necessities, or a decrease in the physical activity without changing the amount of food given to the dog can be the principal causes of obesity. In order to begin reducing the dog's weight, we will change the amount of food we give the dog, which is richer in fibers and has fewer sugars. We will have to observe the dog's weight loss, which will have to be progressive and must last a few weeks so that the animal does not weaken.

The Dilation and Twisting of the Stomach: This is a very dangerous alteration in dogs of large size; it demands the immediate intervention of a veterinarian. This usually happens after eating. This problem is mortal 6 hours after the symptoms have shown, that is why we must learn to recognize it in time. The volume of the stomach grows rapidly and crushes the organs around it; the blood does not circulate, the heart is compressed and the mucous become pale. The animal feels anxiety and pain, it is not calm and it tries to vomit in vain, while its sides swell up considerably. The process lasts a few minutes. A possible nourishment origin has been indicated, but there is not enough proof, that is why other hypotheses are being studied. We know that the larger dogs and nervous animals are more exposed than the rest. That is why they should be fed 2 times a day, in a calm environment, preventing them from drinking too much and from doing exercise after eating.

Dog Allergies and Food Poisoning