Your pet is getting on in years and you want to know how to adapt its diet. Although your veterinarian will be able to give you the best advice for your four-legged friend’s needs, here is some information that may be helpful.
Because they expend less energy, older pets have lower energy requirements, so it is necessary to limit calories… At least initially. Afterwards, they tend to lose weight. The recommendations are therefore to weigh your pet regularly, to monitor the body condition score, and to keep an eye on a muscle score. It is also recommended to monitor phosphorus and sodium intake to maintain kidney and heart health. Also, monitoring the quality of raw materials is essential, particularly to support the liver.
An ageing animal is at greater risk of dehydration. It is therefore important to ensure that it always has fresh, clean water available. It may also be a good idea to increase the number of water points in the house: add a small bowl of fresh water in the various rooms where he likes to spend time, as well as outside. You can also moisten his food.
The digestive system tends to get fickle with age, and a little help is usually welcome. You can add fibre to his food or opt for an enriched ration. Be sure to use non-fermentable fibre, which has the advantage of producing little or no gas. Essential fatty acids become even more essential with age. An intake of omega-3 fatty acids, and more particularly EPA and DHA, is essential for older animals. These help to modulate inflammation – which is always present with age – and also support organs such as the kidneys, heart and brain. Anti-oxidants help to protect the organs and strengthen the natural defences.
90% of animals over the age of 12 suffer from arthritis. If this is already the case for your four-legged friend, it is all the more important to monitor his calorie intake. Adding supplementary foods containing joint-friendly herbs to his diet should help, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. To find out more, read our e-mag “How to improve my pet’s mobility“.
As your four-legged friend gets older, his appetite is likely to become fickle. Varying textures can help. Switching from dry to wet food can help. Also, warming up the food can increase its palatability. Try this if your cat or dog is not convinced by the day’s menu.
When changing food, it is preferable to make a dietary transition, in order to avoid upsetting your four-legged friend’s probably more sensitive digestive tract. Ideally, this should be done gradually over a good week: 1 third of the new food with 2 thirds of the old food for 3 days, half and half for the next 2 to 3 days, then 2 thirds of the new food and 1 third of the old food for 3 days.
Nutrional guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs : This guide, provided by FEDIAF (The European Pet Food Industry) and FACCO (Fédération des Fabricants d’Aliments pour Chiens, Chats, Oiseaux et autres animaux familiiers), provides annual recommendations on the nutrient levels of pet foods.
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