We all know that at some point in our dog’s life, he will have to deal with a disorder or disease that can pose as a threat to his body, and maybe his life. This is one of the downfalls of having a dog, as it is extremely sad and frustrating to see your dog hurt and not be able to do a lot about it. The good thing is that scientists and veterinarians have come a long way with treating dogs. Usually if a dog is suffering from some sort of disease, disorder, or condition that is treatable, veterinarians are able to provide the proper medication. Along with medicine, and depending on the ailment, some veterinarians will prescribe your dog to get on a prescription dog diet. Some diets last only a few days while others may be necessary for the entirety of your dog’s life.
As with anything given to you by a veterinarian, it’s important that you follow the instruction given to you when it comes to prescribed dog food. Make sure that you are feeding your dog the proper amount depending on his weight as well as the overall condition of his health.
With a prescription dog diet, it can be hard to get your dog to begin eating it, especially if it tastes nothing like his normal food. To slowly wean your dog onto the new prescription diet, it’s important that you introduce it gradually. Don’t just put a bowl of new food down in front of your dog and expect him to eat it. It’s important that you mix the prescription food with his old food. As time goes on, add more of the prescription food and less of the old food.
It’s also helpful to feed your dog twice a day instead of once. With a prescription dog diet, you will want to introduce your dog to two or three small meals throughout the day instead of overwhelming him with one big meal in the evening. It’s also a good idea to divide the food equally. This will help your dog get used to the new food.
Once your dog is started on his prescription dog food diet, make sure that you do not feed him food other than the food that is prescribed to him. Sometimes, other food introduced into the diet while on prescription dog food can make it less effective or not effective at all. The prescription dog diet will provide your dog with all of the necessary nutrients, so there is no need to give him extra food on the side.
If you notice that your dog is just outright refusing the prescription diet, contact your veterinarian and explain that after many attempts, your dog just does not seem to like the prescribed food. In this case, your veterinarian will probably be able to provide you with another diet that provides the same nutrients and has the same focus, but possibly has a different taste and smell so that your dog will enjoy it.
