Buy the best nutritious food when your dog gets sick

Being a pet parent can both be rewarding and challenging. Your pets can be a source of joy and a constant companion, which is why taking care of them can be quite rewarding. However, when dogs get sick, it can be difficult to get them to eat, so they have the right nutrition to recover.

This article lists some ways to help you find the most nutritious food when your pet gets sick.

Visit your vet

When your pet gets sick, go to the vet. Your vet can diagnose what’s wrong with your dog and recommend the proper treatment, as well as the food that they need to eat. For instance, your dog may be diagnosed with diabetes because of certain symptoms, such as wounds that take a long time to heal or excessive thirst.

In this case, you may need to transition into a diet for diabetic dogs to help your furry friend manage his underlying medical condition. You would also be advised to closely track your dog’s caloric intake in case he has diabetes.

Explore online sources

Another way to find the most nutritious food when your pet gets sick is to explore online sources. Just keep in mind to be wary of unverified sources of information over the internet. As much as possible, confirm that the information came from reliable sources to ensure your pet’s safety.

Rest assured that some of the most renowned vets already have a strong online presence to cater to people who need immediate answers to their queries regarding their pets, including their nutrition.

You will most likely find forums and groups in social media channels dedicated to taking care of pets. This is where you can connect to other pet parents who will provide you with sound advice on what to feed your pet to ensure that they get the best nutrition they need when they get sick. Besides other pet parents, you will also likely find some vets who are members of these groups.

Seek the help of family and friends

Finally, you can also seek the help of your family and friends to find the best food for your pet when they get sick. They may know someone in their network who experienced the same kind of problem. They can also connect you to someone who knows what to do. In some instances, they may have experienced the same problem with their pets as well.

Feel free to contact your family and friends whenever you encounter any trouble finding the best food suitable for your sick pet.

How to get your sick pet to eat

Once you determine how to find the most nutritious food for your pet, the next challenge is to get your dog to eat it. More often than not, a sick pet doesn’t have the appetite to eat anything you prepare for them.

Fortunately, there are different methods to get your pet to eat, but the most appropriate one still depends on your pet.

Wait

One of the first things you can do to get your sick pet to eat the food you prepare for him is to wait. Give them some time because certain animals can go for a few days without eating anything, even dogs. However, you need to make sure that they are properly hydrated and have food available to consume when they begin to feel better. 

Change brands

Another thing that you can do to get your sick pet to eat is to change the brand of food that you serve him. For instance, if you deem that your pet is having a hard time eating dry food, then you may want to switch or mix in some wet food in their diet. This may effectively stimulate your pet’s appetite as wet foods are generally easier to munch on than dry foods.

Offer a treat

If your pet refuses to eat because he is sick, offering a treat may encourage him to eat a few bites. Just try to give a small amount first to see whether your pet will eat or not. If they do eat, try mixing the treat with their usual food.

Use a syringe

If your pet still refuses to eat even after you have switched from providing dry to wet food, you may be forced to use a syringe. While this can be a more drastic measure for feeding your pet, sometimes, there is no other way to get your pet to eat other than by using a syringe. Just keep in mind that you should only resort to this method after exhausting other ways of getting your pet to eat.

Only use a syringe to force-feed your pet when he hasn’t eaten for a couple of days. When you use a syringe, try only to feed your pet liquids such as bone broth or watered down, pureed wet food.

Talk to your vet first before trying out this method because when improperly done, force-feeding using a syringe may have various negative health impacts.

Work with your vet to find the most nutritious food

When your pet gets sick, one of the first things that you need to do is visit the vet because they are the ones who are in the best position to help you. While you can search for information online, be sure you use reputable sources.

Your ultimate goal is to make sure you get the most nutritious food for your pet when they feel under the weather.

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