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Does your dog’s lack of appetite in summer worry you? Here’s how to feed your four-legged friend tasty, balanced meals that meet his nutritional needs even when he has no appetite because of the heat.
The heat causes inappetence but also decreases the dog’s desire to run and scamper.
While it is true, therefore, that reduced physical activity requires lower caloric intake, it is essential that meals still meet the dog’s energy needs.
When your dog’s dietary needs change, you should adjust his menu.
First of all, opt for high-quality, nutritious and digestible foods and give main meals in small portions.
Small but frequent portions combat dog’s heat inappetence
Distribute meals in several portions and offer them to your dog at regular intervals throughout the day during cooler hours.
By doing so, you will not strain the dog’s stomach and digestion but still meet his nutritional needs.
Then it is important for the dog to take hydrating and refreshing foods.
What foods and cooking to prefer in hot weather against poor appetite?
The home diet with steaming is the best choice to replace dry or wet commercial foods.
This method of cooking preserves a large amount of water and does not alter food nutrients.
However, the most “refreshing” by far remains the raw home diet.
In fact, in uncooked foods the amount of water present remains almost intact.
Whether cooked, raw, dry or wet, always choose foods with high digestibility.
Do you know what are the most hearty and easily assimilated foods that fight dog inappetence?
Rabbit, duck and turkey are among the most digestible meats.
Cod and sardines can also be added but in small amounts (between 10 and 20 percent) to commercial foods, both dry and canned.
Vegetables are the absolute freshest and most hydrating remedy for dog inappetence
Preferred vegetables are cucumbers, carrots, fennel and celery.
Grate them finely and offer them to your dog even raw.
If your dog is not a fan of vegetables, steam them and flavor them with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Fruit: a super yummy and vitamin-packed anti-hot weather snack
Melon, watermelon (seedless), bananas, blueberries and apples (core and seedless) are ideal fruits for your dog in summer.
Store it in the refrigerator and let it sit for a few minutes at room temperature before offering it to your dog-it will be an appetizing and nutritious snack.
Or, add it to the meal but do not overdo the amounts.
Fruit should make up about 5 percent of the diet; an excess could cause intestinal problems such as diarrhea.
Beware of cereals, however: they give satiety but little nutrition
Dogs are essentially carnivores and lack the enzymes needed to digest cereal starches.
Here, then, grains can only be considered fillers but little nutrients.
They bring satiety to the dog and are widely used by large industries just because they are cheap.
Feed them sparingly and favor amaranth, spelt, and oats-they are more digestible and high in fiber than the usual corn and rice.
When it is hot, all dogs that do not take in an adequate amount of water become vulnerable
The reason? They risk dehydration.
So, make sure the dog has fresh but never frozen water available at all times.
And again, change the water several times during the day and rinse the bowl to prevent lime residue from remaining.
Heat-induced inappetence in dogs is not a worrying symptom per se as long as it lasts for a short time
If, on the other hand, the decrease in appetite persists abnormally, we recommend that you have your dog examined by your veterinarian to determine what the real causes of this situation are, especially in the case of puppies or older dogs.
If you would like a consultation with veterinary nutrition experts, our Staff Physician Specialists are always happy to provide you with all the information you need.
We also remind you that in case of need and urgency Clinica La Veterinaria is always open h24 every day including holidays and with First Aid service from 8 pm to 8 am.
For the joy of seeing them HAPPY
