Every pet parent’s ultimate goal is to ensure that their pets healthy and happy. But, to attain this, it always requires a lot of care, effort and awareness.
When it comes to dogs, one of the most common issues they face is weak digestion, which can lead to various health problems if you failed to provide immediate care for them. Dogs with weak digestion may be unable to properly digest their food, which can result in diarrhoea, vomiting, and other digestive issues. However, there are ways to care for dogs with weak digestion to ensure that they remain healthy and comfortable.
1. Choose the Right Diet
Diet plays a crucial role in maintaining a dog's digestive health. When choosing a diet for your dog with weak digestion, it is important to look for food that is easily digestible and contains high-quality protein. Research shows that a diet with high-quality protein can improve digestion and nutrient absorption in dogs. Additionally, you may want to consider feeding your dog smaller, more frequent meals instead of one or two large meals a day to help regulate their digestive system.
2. Provide Plenty of Water
Water is essential for good digestion and hydration. Dogs with weak digestion may experience dehydration due to diarrhoea or vomiting, so it is important to ensure that they have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Additionally, some dogs may benefit from adding water to their dry food to help soften it and make it easier to digest. Apart from that, frequenting your dog’s diet with wet foods and broths also provides the required amount of water to them.
3. Consider Prebiotics & Probiotics
Together, Prebiotic & Probiotics provides healthy gut biome which are beneficial bacteria that can help improve gut health and aid digestion. Studies have shown that prebiotics and probiotics can help improve digestive issues in dogs, including diarrhoea and inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, when consumed regularly, they will also improve dog’s immunity and help the dogs to maintain healthy weight. What makes prebiotics different from Probiotics is that, prebiotics are actually food for Probiotics. These water-soluble fibres are usually derived from seaweed, yeast, etc. Probiotics can be found in supplements or in certain foods, such as yoghurt or kefir.
4. Avoid Table Scraps
Table scraps and human food can be difficult for dogs to digest, especially those with weak digestion. Dogs have less tolerance to spicy foods, so it is better to avoid feeding your dog human foods that contains excessive colourants or spices. These foods can also cause digestive upset, leading to diarrhoea or vomiting. It is best to stick to a consistent, high-quality diet that is specifically formulated for dogs. Always take note of foods that causes them allergic response or causes vomiting and strictly avoid those from their diet. Do keep an eye on your dog while taking for a walk so that they don’t consume anything strange that further worsen their weak digestion.
5. Exercise Regularly
Exercise is important not only for a dog's physical health but also for its digestive health. Regular exercise can help improve your dog’s digestive health and prevent constipation. Additionally, exercise can help reduce stress, which in general have a negative impact on dog’s digestion. Making exercise a routine will eventually improve a dog’s digestive health and helps them to prevent digestive disorders in future.
6. Disinfect your Pet’s Toys Regularly
Your pet’s toys are always in immediate contact with their mouth as they tend to bite and chew on them often. As the toys are always on the floor, it is prone to get swarmed by germs which could worsen your dog’s digestive system easily. So, it is important to regularly disinfect your pet’s things and toys using pet-safe disinfectants to prevent germs from affecting their health.
Read More: What is a pet-safe Disinfectant?
7. Visit the Vet Regularly
Regular visits to the vet can help identify and address digestive issues in dogs early on. Your vet can also provide advice on dos and don’ts to care for your dog's weak digestion and recommend appropriate treatments if necessary.
Overall, caring for dogs with weak digestion can be challenging, but it is essential to their overall health and well-being. By implementing the tips outlined above, including exercise as a routine, you can help improve your dog's digestion and ensure that they live a happy, healthy life.
References:
- German, A. J., Holden, S. L., Wiseman-Orr, M. L., Reid, J., & Nolan, A. M. (2010). Quality of life is reduced in obese dogs but improves after successful weight loss. Veterinary Journal, 185(2), 95-99. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.04.029
- Allenspach, K., Wieland, B., Gröne, A., Gaschen, F., & Welle, M. (2007). Chronic enteropathies in dogs: Evaluation of risk factors for negative outcome. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 21(4), 700-708. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.tb03011.x
