4 WINTER NUTRITION TIPS FOR A HEALTHY DOG

Hello & Happy Wellness Wednesday!

We have some Winter nutrition tips to share with you today and we think you’ll ruv these because once Winter arrives… Dogs just like their owners, may change exercise and eating habits because of the weather.Can you relate?In fact, It takes MORE calories to keep dogs warm in chilly temperatures. And while some dogs enjoy wearing sweaters and eating larger meals, others hate to play dress up..LOL!

And did you know… Small breed dogs often have trouble munching enough nutrition to stay healthy. While at the other end of the spectrum, some dogs can turn into total couch-potatoes and therefore get less exercise.Less exercise then translates into…. You guessed it! More poundage, and a fat dog is not healthy.

So here are 4 winter nutrition tips to help your dog stay healthy!

1. INCREASE THE CALORIES

For dogs that spend a lot of time outside, increase the amount of foodthey eat. You can do this by switching from 1 meal a day to 2 or even 3 small servings. Kindof just like us people… many of us snack and have small meals throughout the day. So why not do the same for the pups! Keep them fed, satisfied and their bodies using that food as energy.

Also, adding a drizzle of warm, no-salt chicken broth to dry food often increases food intake by about 10 percent, or feeding a puppy ration to adult dogs can increase the calories. Or simply change the food to a more calorie dense “super premium” food that is the equivalent of canine rocket fuel such as pawTree for example. That’s what my dogs use and it’s working terrific!

2. REDUCE THE AMOUNT

When your dog has a weight problem during the winter… Simply reducing the amount of food can keep their waist trim! This may be as simple as curbing the treats, or switching to healthier low-calorie treats instead or maybe use vegetables as treats! Of course, you will need to measure the amount of food you put in the bowl… Versus filling up the buffet for all day grazing… Haha!

3. PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTS

Most commercial dog foods provide claims that they are “complete and balanced” for a dog’s specific life stage. However, that’s not always true and some dogs still benefit from a supplement that helps them with digestion, for example, or that aids with creaky arthritic knees. A few ideas to consider include: Glucosamine supplements if your dog’s joints could use an extra boost. Salmon Oil for those healthy fats & omegas and also keeps the fur & skin healthy. Probiotics such as Gastro Plus for a healthy digestion and Super Greens for a healthy immune system, eye and heart health!

4. CHANGE DIETS GRADUALLY

Yes, it’s great to adjust your dogs diet during the winter to help them get the best nutrition possible…. But do keep in mind that switching the diet too abruptly can lead to diarrhea or vomiting, or simply prompt your pooch to snub the bowl…. None of which is what we want to happen. Right?

So instead, offer new foods slowly. Mix the new with the old food 50/50 for the first several days, and then gradually increase the new and decrease the old. Do this over a period of a week to ten days to reduce the chance of problems.

Find out more healthy dogs tips at thefitnesslabs.com