Aging Pets Stay Healthy with Proper Pet Nutrition
Aging pets stay healthy with proper pet nutrition
A proper diet can delay the onset or lessen the severity of various age-related signs and diseases.
Many pet food manufacturers have begun making food specifically for senior cats and dogs, which is commonly referred to as life-stage petfood. Body fat and lean muscle change as pets get older, and many senior animals lose their appetite. This can have an adverse affect on pet nutrition, as they are not taking in the nutrients they need. They therefore need concentrated, appetizing food in small quantities, which means the quality of pet food ingredients is vital to maintain ideal body condition, says www.petwise.co.za, which is affiliated with the Pet Food Industry Association of Southern Africa.
Dogs and cats put on weight as they get older, and being overweight puts stress on the body. Lean-fed dogs experience a healthy life for longer, display age-related diseases later and less severely, and can live up to two years longer than dogs that are allowed to overeat, according to www.petwise.co.za. Correct feeding throughout a pet’s life can also prevent the onset of kidney disease. Kidney failure is the number one killer of older cats and it is the second highest cause of death amongst senior dogs, but it is hard to detect.
As animals get older, they need food that is:
- - Lower in fat because they are less active;
- - Lower in calories because they may be overweight;
- - Higher in fiber because it helps regulate bowel function;
- - Lower in phosphorous because it helps reduce the risk of kidney disease;
- - Highly digestible because senior pets need to absorb maximum nutrition;
- - Lower in sodium because it helps reduce the risk of heart disease;
- - Higher in antioxidants to help boost declining immune systems and fight free radicals.
