Malnutrition

Malnutrition

Thea Reyes

11 January 2021

Looking after the health of our furry friends is important since proper nutrition allows them to lead the healthy lives they well deserve. One of the things that hinder them from physical wellness is malnutrition; caused by the lack of proper nutrients in the body and/or an imbalanced diet. In this post, we will discuss the symptoms and causes of malnutrition in cats and dogs along with how you can avoid this so that your pets could stay in good shape.

Starting off with the symptoms and causes. These are the noticeable features that indicate whether or not your pet is in good condition; some very crucial things to take into consideration. Cats and dogs share similar symptoms of malnutrition which are seen through physical and mental indications. Several of these symptoms include hair loss, change in bowel movements, dry skin (which can result in dandruff formation), odor, and extreme weight loss.

Hair loss is one of the most common symptoms of undernourishment in cats and dogs. Caused by protein and fat deficiency, this results in potential disease and infection of their skin. Since the hair is one of the important parts of our pets to regulate heat, it could also cause them to feel a little chillier in certain situations.

Another tell-tale sign of malnourishment in our furry friends is a lack of energy. Do you know that feeling when exhaustion just hits you and you feel like you are going to get knocked out? Well, our pets experience that too. Similar to humans, dogs need a lot of carbohydrates in their diet since they act as a primary energy source for cats and dogs.

Third, our furry friends are also prone to a change in bowel movements. The feces of cats and dogs must have a deep brown color that is not too liquid. If your pet’s poop is not like this (wet, hard, or not coming out at all), that means that they are experiencing a change in bowel movements. This illness is most likely caused by a change in diet or the malpractice of proper nutrition.

Overfeeding and underfeeding are two causes of malnutrition that are direct opposites. From their names alone, they are caused by the amount of food they eat. Underfeeding happens when dogs are not given enough food. This may result in the physical visibility of malnutrition. The ribs of your pets may become visible and they may start to lose energy. Overfeeding on the other hand is when dogs intake too much food, leading to visible obesity and immediate exhaustion during physical activities like walking or playing in the park.

Now that the common symptoms of malnutrition were addressed, what are the possible solutions to get your pet in tip-top shape again? One of the main ways we can help our pets is by staying informed and feeding them proper food. LUNA previously made blog posts regarding the proper nutrition of pets entitled “What Not to Feed Your Pets,” “How to Feed your Doggos,” and “How to Feed your Furry Feline Friends a Fitting Feast.” Reading these posts to simply become more informed about the dietary preferences of our pets may act as a supplement to your pet’s well-being and help you in selecting meals for your cat or dog.

Another way to help your cat or dog live a healthier lifestyle is by controlling their food portions and physical activities. Managing what and how much your pet eats is important to avoid over or underfeeding, and sometimes your pets need to go out and practice regular physical activities to stay in shape. Not only will this help your pup or cat develop a happy tummy, but it will also contribute to their mental wellness.

Finally, you can help treat your pooch or feline’s malnutrition is by going to the experts: veterinarians. In severe cases, dogs and cats may need medical treatment to correct imbalances in their systems. Aside from this, visiting the vets on a regular basis should become a habit to reduce the likelihood of malnutrition or other medical concerns for the healthier, happier life your pet deserves.

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