Feeding a dog is often treated as a simple activity: pour the food into a bowl and you’re done. Meanwhile , what goes into the dog’s bowl affects much more than just the feeling of satiety.
The effect of diet on the dog’s body
The diet has an effect, m.in, on:
- Appearance and well-being of the dog
- Digestive system
- pet immunity
- hormonal balance
- as well as the behavior and emotions of the dog
Every meal is “biological information” for the dog’s body. If it is inadequate, the body begins to work in overload mode. Symptoms are not always obvious.
Many owners observe in their dogs:
• skin problems
• recurrent diarrhea
• hyperactivity
• lack of concentration
• difficulty calming down
And he often does not combine them with the diet, because the dog eats “good food”. Meanwhile, the diet must be appropriate for the dog in question in order to have a positive effect on the appearance and health of the dog, but also on the behavior.
The problem is that there is no one perfect food for all dogs. Differences in age, activity, temperament or health condition mean that the same diet can serve one dog and harm another. It all depends on lifestyle, activity, allergies and other diseases…
It is also worth remembering that a full belly does not mean a well-fed dog. Even a dog that eats regularly and does not lose weight can have nutrient deficiencies, an unregulated digestive system or problems with the intestinal microbiota.
A poorly chosen diet can:
- disturb digestion
- affect energy levels
- increase stress and agitation.
That is why it is increasingly said that dog behavior problems very often begin in the intestines, and not during a walk or training.
Nutritional errors
Common mistakes are:
- deficiency of nutrients (micro- and macroelements)
- inadequate amount of food – too much or too little
- excess of delicacies
- failure to maintain an appropriate feeding schedule (quantity, size, frequency of meals)
- a diet not suitable for the dog (e.g. allergies, diseases)
- food quality – too little, e.g. unsaturated fatty acids or too much saturated fat or carbohydrates, dyes, preservatives…
These are just selected nutritional problems that affect the dog’s behavior.
Summary: Conscious diet choices
Mindful feeding is not a fad or looking for “the best food from the Internet”. It is the ability to observe the dog and adjust the diet to its real needs.
Because a calm dog starts with a well-supported body – and that always starts in the bowl.
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