As man’s best friend, our dogs rely on us to supply the nutrition they need to stay energetic and healthy. But with so many dog food options on the market, it’s tricky to select the right diet for your pup. An incompatible food could fail to properly digest, provide incomplete nutrition, or cause gastrointestinal issues. Knowing how to identify the signs that a food isn’t right for your dog saves them discomfort while getting their diet back on track quickly.
Persistent Hunger Cues After Feeding
If your dog acts constantly starving with intense begging for scraps and ravenous gulping of meals, yet maintains a healthy weight, their current kibble likely isn’t keeping them full and satisfied. Low protein or improper fat ratios allow the carbohydrate components to digest fast, leaving dogs’ stomachs quickly empty again. A better quality food with more balanced macros and perhaps some probiotics for improved digestion can help ease their insatiable appetite between feedings. Just ensure any diet changes happen gradually through mixing old and new kibble.
Excessive Stool Volume or Lack of Solidity
Loose stool that resembles soft-serve ice cream or collects in giant mounds signals issues with digestibility or nutrients not properly absorbed. The same applies to exceptionally large stool volume compared to your dog’s size. Undigested bits recognizable as kibble thrown up whole likewise indicate poor digestibility. Stool quality directly ties to food quality. Look for a brand like Nextrition that use high bioavailability proteins, natural prebiotic fiber sources like chicory root or pumpkin and patented probiotic strains to solidify things up.
Itchy Skin and Changes in Coat Appearance
Dandruff flakes collecting on dark clothing, increased biting/chewing/licking of paws or flank areas and the appearance of a dull, brittle coat can reflect dietary deficiencies. Lack of healthy omega fats fails to support skin and coat health while deficiencies in vitamins and minerals like zinc or biotin foment hair loss issues. Pay attention to when coat or skin irregularities appear–abrupt changes likely connect to equally abrupt food switches. Note ingredients and seek improved nutritional balance tailored for skin sensitivities if needed.
Foul Mouth Odor
If your once fresh-breathed pup now assaults you with odors resembling a decomposing sock when they yawn, it likely indicates some dietary disturbances. Certain inferior quality or inappropriate ingredients create highly aromatic waste products as they metabolize. Fish-based foods can cause especially smelly results in non-obligate carnivores. Review food selection to determine if ingredients or fat ratios represent suitable components for a dog versus cat diet.
Increased Allergy Symptom Flareups
Has your normally happy pup recently faced more bouts of recurring tummy upset, itchy feet or ear infections? Food allergies represent prime suspects. Common triggers like chicken, beef, wheat, corn, and soy lurk abundantly in lower-quality pet foods. Read labels carefully when symptoms arise and try elimination diets to swap the primary protein or grain sources used. See if removing the potential irritant helps resolve flareup frequency.
Funky Gas and Fecal Odors
While room-clearing gas occasionally plagues all pup parents thanks to canine digestive tendencies, especially foul-smelling or frequent flatulence signifies an underlying issue. Stool smells becoming more offensive likewise demand attention to diet. Lower quality ingredients yield more pungent waste products and gassier effects thanks to mismatched nutritional ratios for dogs. Identify diet adjustment or enhancement needed by analyzing stool quality and current food components that may encourage flatulence like soy, dairy or wheat.
Conclusion
Our dogs depend on us to make educated decisions about their nutritional needs. Spotting negative changes tied to unsuitable food and investigating improved alternatives means you can get your fur baby back on track feeling and smelling his absolute best in no time.