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Health Issues in Pets Caused by Poor Nutrition

Updated: September 24, 2024
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Written by

stevenharrods
Dog next to food bowl
"We are what we eat" is a common phrase used to emphasize eating healthy food to stay healthy. To some extent, most individuals have taken the precaution to eat nutritious food to stay healthy. However, the response in pets is slow. Most pet parents have stuck in feeding their pets junk food. As a result, the pets end up having various health issues. In some cases, the pet parents do it out of lack of enough information on proper nutrition. In other cases, it does nothing with the diet you are offering your pet. Look at this scenario; you are taking care of your furry friend with the best recipes for dogs but still notice signs of malnutrition! If you find yourself in such situations, don’t give up.  Read on to get deeper information on the health problems in pets caused by poor nutrition. You will also learn what you can do to control the situation.
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Pet Health Issues Caused by Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition leads to several health issues. The following are the common dog illnesses and problems as a result of improper feeding.

Obesity

This is the most common health concern as a result of improper nutrition. According to the 2020 VET report, overweight and obese cases in pets reached epidemic levels. The research conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital, in conjunction with North America Veterinary Community (NAVC), questioned the health status of 1.9 million adult dogs across its 1000 hospitals in the US in 2018. 51% of this dog population was overweight. Obesity can further lead to several health threats if not dealt with accordingly.  Some of the dangers that obesity may cause to your dog include:
  • Decreased life expectancy
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Anesthetic complications
  • Osteoarthritis
The sad part of this problem is, more than 90% of pet parents are reported to be unaware of their pet’s condition.

Heart Disease

Like human beings, dogs too have issues with heart diseases when you offer them an unbalanced diet. Too much sodium in their diet may increase sodium levels in the blood. The increased sodium levels make the blood vessels retain more water. As a result, blood pressure increases.  This causes heart problems by pumping blood through the vessels. Dog heart disease

Poor Skin and Coat Condition

This is easily noticeable.  If your dog shows signs of patchy fur, skin irritation, dryness, dullness, and irregular shedding, it is time to question her diet. Ill dogs that are lacking nutritious food will likely first show signs externally. If you notice the deteriorating quality of your dog's skin and fur, question her diet.  Overlooking such signs could lead to malnutrition or more severe health problems. A healthy dog's skin and fur should be clear, shiny, and soft. Providing nutritious food to your canine companion constantly not only improves her skin quality but also prevents the attack of worse health problems.

Bladder Stones

Bladder stones are commonly caused by bacteria. When your pooch has irregular digestion, minerals may start building up in the bladder. This results in the forming of stones. The problem is common with elderly dogs. At old age, the bladder’s ability to break down minerals such as phosphorous and calcium reduces. This makes them susceptible to infection when you feed the dog in a diet high in these minerals.

Diabetes

Although other factors may cause diabetes, improper nutrition contributes to the disease greatly. The disease usually comes up as a result of obesity or chronic pancreatitis. Once your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to take care of her for life. This includes controlling her blood sugar level by providing insulin and nutritious food rich with a balanced diet.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is directly attached to improper feeding or issues with food digestion. When it happens, the dog either releases soft stool in large amounts a few times a day or releases watery stool in a small amount repeatedly throughout the day. In the last occurrence, the dog may be seen having difficulties producing the stool. pug using the toilet

Pancreatitis

This is another common pet disease if you don’t offer nutritious food to your four-legged friend. The problem arises when your dog’s pancreas becomes inflamed. The inflammation causes digestive enzymes to leak to the abdominal area. When this occurs, the digestive enzymes usually start breaking down the proteins and fats present in the pancreas as well as other body organs. Dietary fats are known to contribute to pancreatitis development. To keep your dog in check, ensure you avoid too many fats in its diet. If you are not sure of your dog’s fat intake, you can consult your vet.

Arthritis

Most people assume that arthritis is caused by aging. However, the condition results from improper feeding and lack of exercise in the dog regularly. Nevertheless, a change in diet as your dog grows older is inevitable if you want to keep arthritis away. Offer plenty of nutritious food that the dog can easily break down and get her regular exercise to keep her healthy.

Cancer

Cancer does not only affect human beings. Unfortunately, it also affects dogs. Although its actual cause is unknown, it is believed that improper diet may contribute to the disease. This calls for focusing on offering your pooch a balanced diet to keep her healthy throughout her life.
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How Can You Tell That Your Dog’s Diet is Wanting?

As noted earlier, not only the kind of diet you offer to your canine companion impacts their health. Other aspects you should consider include the amount of food you feed your dog, the quality of the food, infestation by parasites, and underlying medical problems. Some dogs are also picky with a sensitive digestive system that may hinder their food intake. Similarly, the dog-feeding lifestyle changes throughout every stage of their life.

Signs of Poor Diet in Dogs

  • Poor skin and fur quality
  • Body odor
  • Unusual stool
  • Increased weight
  • Weight loss
  • Increased allergies
  • Constant irritation
  • Bad breath
Under the weather pup

Prevention And Treatment of Poor Nutrition in Dogs

It’s been said to focus on prevention rather than treatment. Some of the diseases and conditions above are incurable. That is why you are always advised to maintain a balanced diet and adopt good practices to keep your canine companion healthy.

Offer a Fresh Diet

With the changing trends in pet feeding practices, more and more pet companies provide fresh diets for their customers. Initially, most pet parents fed their pets with dry food that goes through thorough processes. These preparation methods not only kill the essential nutrients in the food but may also entail several junk components potentially harmful to your pet. Unlike dry food, a fresh diet can help you monitor the feeding trends of your dog. You can also be able to provide a balanced diet with every essential nutrient in the right amount. As a result, you will not need to deal with obesity, cancer, heart disease, and other diseases attached to dry foods.
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Observing Good Health Practices

If you have to own a pet, be sure to observe the best health practices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insist on keeping pets healthy, on keeping human beings healthy. Also, keep your vet close through the life stages of your pets. This might help you treat any problem arising before getting worse.

Exercising Your Dog Regularly

Some conditions such as obesity and heart disease can be prevented by regularly exercising your pet. Exercises also boost the mood of your pooch.

Consulting Your Vet

Whenever you notice any of the previously mentioned signs of poor nutrition, you should consult your vet.  He/she will question your dog to offer an effective solution.

Offer a Specialized Diet

Some conditions may demand a specialized diet for the rest of a dog’s life. Consulting your vet might be the best option to determine the diet for your pooch. Besides, you might opt for credible pet food companies with qualified vets and nutritionists. Such food companies offer a variety of recipes for dogs according to the dog's needs.

Conclusion

Health issues in pets caused by poor nutrition are common. It is good to keep your four-legged friend nourished with Nutritious food to avoid these conditions. The previously mentioned common dog illnesses are a few of the potential infections resulting from poor nutrition. The best cure is always prevention.  And the best treatment for such illnesses, a balanced diet. If you have a pet, you might want to engage one of the best pet food companies to help you take care of your furry friend.
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