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It's a Dog's Life!
Find out more about caring for mature cats
As puppies, all dogs are an excitable bundle of energy and fun. As they get older, they discover that they can’t quite do all the things they used to as young pups. But that doesn’t mean, with the right care, that they can’t have a full, fun and active life as they mature and their dietary requirements change.
Typically, middle age for a dog is around 7 years of age.
There are a large range of specifically formulated feeds and supplements on the market for the older dog and at Mole Valley Farmers we’ve made sure we offer the complete range at the best possible price. It’s always worth checking the nutritional guidelines on each pack to check which is most suitable for your pet. It may not always be obvious and the choice can be confusing, so please ask a member of our staff, they will be more than happy to help. If necessary we can also refer you to an animal nutritionist for more guidance.
Your dog's changing dietary needs
When developing as a puppy, a dog’s nutritional requirements are different, relying on higher quantities of fat to give them the energy they need. With dogs getting older and needing fewer calories, this fat requirement reduces and reliance on an easily digestible diet with good quality protein becomes more important to help maintain an overall healthy body condition.
It is important that dogs are fed to reflect these changes and that their needs are catered for. A male human at 40 finds that a mysterious 7lb appears almost overnight and would swear that it is down to forces of magic. Of course he has no control over the 6 BBQ sausages, 3 burgers, bottle of red and garlic loaf devoured at 4.30pm. Or the 3 lukewarm sausages wrapped in foil on the kitchen side devoured at 11pm. Don’t let this happen to your dog!
One of the single most important factors to keeping a dog happy and healthy is to ensure your pet is fed correctly and does not put on any unwanted weight. Feeding the correct food in the correct quantity is the best way to prevent weight gain. Much like in humans, added weight puts unnecessary strain on all organ systems, the heart and joints being no exception.
Maintaining healthy joints
It is also worth noting that the larger the dog breed, the more important looking after your dogs joints and preventing arthritis becomes. Joint supplements are available and can be a useful addition to the diet but you should not neglect the basics of regular exercise and weight control.
It is always tempting to feed pets table scraps, but extra fat and salt may not be good for them in the long run. We need to look at the whole diet, and this is where complete feeds are invaluable. These are specifically formulated to cater for all your dog’s nutrient requirements and include essential vitamins to maintain a healthy immune system.
Teeth and gums
As dogs live long and healthy lives it is also necessary to ensure their teeth and gums are well looked after. Ideally you should look at your dog’s teeth regularly, checking for any signs of disease excessive tartar build up or unhealthy gums. Bad breath and pain when eating are often signs that you should have your pets’ teeth looked at by your vet. The use of dental chews can go a long way to helping gums and teeth remain healthy. It is also worth noting that dry dog food does not stick to teeth and gums to the same extent as wet food and reduces build up of bacteria and plaque. However, dogs on dry food do drink more. In any instance excessive drinking should always be looked at by your vet.
Senior diets will also ensure the correct balance of nutrients, minerals, vitamins and oils that are needed to keep your pet’s skin and coat in good condition.
Keeping your dog well exercised and on the correct diet will make them a happy and healthy member of the family for many years to come!
Look at our latest offers for mature dogs, or browse all our products for dogs, including collars and leads, toys, wormers, kennels, grooming products, bedding, bowls and food!
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