Heat Making Your Dog Lose Its Appetite? How To Keep Your Dog Healthy During The Summer
Posted on: 7 May 2018
Now that the temperatures are starting to warm up, it's time to start paying closer attention to your dog, especially if it spends a lot of time outside. Warm weather can affect your dog's appetite, which isn't always a good thing. Even if your dog could stand to lose a few pounds, it still needs to maintain a healthy diet. If the warmer weather has your dog refusing food, you'll need to take matters into your own hands. Here are four steps you can take to ensure your dog maintains a healthy diet this summer.
Add More Water
If your dog isn't getting enough water, it may become dehydrated. Unfortunately, when dogs get dehydrated, they often lose their appetite. If your dog is refusing to eat, try increasing its water intake. If your dog is going to be outside, leave several bowls of water outside with it. Better yet, install a drip system on the faucet so that your dog has an endless supply of fresh water throughout the day.
Cool Things Down
If you typically feed your dog dry dog food, you might want to try cooling things down, especially during the hottest summer days. Instead of the dry dog food, switch to canned food during the summer. Store the unopened cans in the refrigerator so that your dog can enjoy a cool meal each day. If your dog prefers the taste of dry dog food, try adding a cup of cool water to the bowl. That way, your dog will get the food it enjoys and some cool water at the same time.
Bring Your Dog Indoors
If you normally feed your dog outside, but it hasn't been eating much lately, the temperatures might just be too warm for it. Try bringing your dog inside for mealtime during the hot summer days. For maximum benefit, bring your dog indoors about 30 minutes prior to mealtime. That way, your dog will have a few minutes to cool down and relax before its meals.
Contact the Veterinarian
If your dog continues to refuse its meals, you'll need to contact your veterinarian. There could be medical issues that are interfering with your dog's appetite. If your dog is aging, it's a good idea to have your veterinarian do a quick dental exam. Your dog could have developed a dental problem that you were unaware of. Your dog's veterinarian will be able to identify the cause of your dog's loss of appetite.
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