Winter gastrointestinal health care

Most dogs have gastrointestinal problems. Firstly, it is because of their nature: they eat without knowing whether they are hungry or full, and they eat too much. Overeating; secondly, it is because the people who raise them do not know how to pay attention to the dog's diet. Excessive pampering will cause a lot of harm to the dog's stomach.

Symptoms of bad gastrointestinal problems

Poor gastrointestinal problems mentioned here refer to soft stools or loose stools, frequent vomiting, loss of appetite, not liking to eat, etc. wait. Severe diarrhea, blood in the stool, constant vomiting, and blood in the vomit are serious problems, and you need to take the dog to see a doctor. They do not fall into the category of gastrointestinal problems we call it!

How to regulate the stomach of dogs

Eating less and more often is important, especially for puppies. Eating too much at one time will increase the burden on the stomach and easily lead to indigestion, vomiting and loss of appetite. If conditions permit, adult dogs will be fed twice or three times a day before five months of age. If you cannot ensure that you feed your dog regularly, you should also control the number of dogs you feed each time. It is impossible to feed your dog once a day. It's hungry a little bit better than its stomach needs food. In particular, it should be noted that giving him less dinner does not mean giving him snacks such as dried meat. Dried meat is difficult to digest and dogs can’t chew it slowly, so it’s best to eat it sparingly.

Calcium supplementation and health care in winter

Conditions for calcium supplementation

First of all, you must first study the dog’s Depending on the situation, you will decide whether to supplement calcium for your dog. Dogs only need to supplement when they are deficient in calcium. Like some nutrients, there is no problem if you supplement too much. Excessive calcium supplementation can also cause diseases. In the small environment of the dog's body, there is a balanced relationship between calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and other trace elements. Excessive supply of calcium will cause a lack of other elements, causing slow growth and development, and thyroid function. Decrease, and sometimes it is actually a lack of phosphorus, but it looks like symptoms of calcium deficiency, and the more supplements are made, the worse it gets. If you are worried that your dog is calcium deficient, it is recommended that you go to the animal hospital to do a blood biochemical test on the dog to determine whether the dog is really calcium deficient. If it is really calcium deficient, then give it scientific supplement according to the doctor's method. Calcium is the most correct way to supplement calcium.

Types of dogs that need calcium supplements

1. Puppies: Dog breeds and sizes of different ages require different calcium supplement methods. However, no matter how old the puppies are, they do not need calcium supplements during lactation because they can obtain a large amount of calcium from breast milk. After weaning, puppies and puppies fed puppy food do not need calcium supplements because puppy food contains sufficient calcium.

2. Large and medium-sized dogs: However, large and medium-sized dogs should pay attention to appropriate calcium supplements at this time. Because the bigger the dog is, the faster it grows and the greater the demand for calcium. The calcium contained in general puppy food is very difficult to meet their growth.needs. If you are feeding your dog homemade food, you should pay more attention to giving them calcium supplements in time.

3. Lactating female dogs: During the lactating period of female dogs after giving birth to puppies, because they need to use milk to nurse the puppies, the flow of calcium is very large. In this case, calcium must be supplemented in time, otherwise convulsions will occur. , spasms, etc. Just use calcium gluconate oral solution, 10% solution, 30~100 mg/(KG? day).

4. Dogs that eat meat as their main food: In addition, if your dog eats animal liver or meat as its main food for a long time, it should also supplement enough calcium. Because this food not only contains very low calcium content, but also contains high concentrations of vitamin A, long-term intake of high concentrations of vitamin A can inhibit the dog's absorption of calcium. Therefore, you should immediately break the habit of feeding liver for a long time and replenish calcium in time.

The dangers of calcium deficiency in dogs

1. Puppy period: If the puppy does not receive enough calcium, it may cause rib valgus and deformation of the wrist and elbow joints of the forelimbs. , small dogs are prone to "O" shaped legs, and large and medium-sized dogs can cause severe deformation of their forelimbs. If it is not seen in time and treated improperly, it may cause permanent paralysis or lameness.

In addition, 2 to 3 months of age is an important period for the formation of intervertebral discs in puppies. If there is calcium deficiency at this time, some breeds susceptible to intervertebral disc disease (such as Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Pug, Poodle, etc.) Onset occurs in adulthood, causing lifelong pain.

When a puppy is 4-6 months old, the deciduous teeth in the mouth begin to fall out and permanent teeth begin to grow. If calcium deficiency occurs at this time, the deciduous teeth will not fall out, the permanent teeth will grow slowly, the enamel layer will be thin, and the structure will not be strong, and double rows or irregular permanent teeth will easily grow. These dogs are prone to bad breath, gingivitis and other diseases as adults, which directly affect their lifespan.

2. Adult stage: After dogs enter adulthood, dogs fed dog food do not need to supplement calcium separately. Because the growth and development of the dog's bones and other organs has basically stopped during this period, the demand for calcium is very small. Breeding male dogs and pregnant and lactating female dogs still need to supplement a large amount of calcium, because semen, embryonic dogs and milk will cause a large amount of calcium to be lost from the body. If it cannot be replenished in time, the body's calcium store will be used The calcium in them causes osteoporosis.

3. Lactation period: Postpartum lactation female dogs will suffer from acute postpartum calcium deficiency due to too low blood calcium concentration. The symptoms include twitching of the limbs, stiffness of the whole body, and body temperature that can rise above 40°C, and may even cause coma and death.

4. Old age: When older dogs reach 8 years of age, they enter old age. Due to endocrine and other reasons, elderly dogs have reduced calcium intake and increased calcium loss. At this time, the puppy should be fed old dog food or artificially supplemented with calcium, while maintaining a certain amount of exercise. Otherwise, it can lead to osteoporosis and increase the incidence of bone spurs and fractures.

Supplementing important elements for health care in winter

Minerals are the main components of functional tissue cells, bone marrow and teeth. They are the basic substances for maintaining acid-base balance and osmotic pressure. It is the main component of many enzymes, hormones and vitamins. The essential minerals for dogs include calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, cobalt, potassium, sodium, chlorine, iodine, zinc, magnesium, manganese, sulfur, selenium, etc. They are essential substances for the composition of dog bones, teeth, etc. Dogs' requirements for minerals and their proportions are certain. A lack of salt will cause serious disorders of the body's physiological functions, but excessive amounts can also cause poisoning and even death. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus should be appropriate, usually 1.2:1.

The importance of vitamins for dogs

Vitamin is a type of organic substance necessary to maintain normal metabolism of animals. Although its requirement is very small, it plays an important role in regulating physiological functions. For dogs, most vitamins must be obtained from feed. Because except for vitamin C and vitamin K, dogs cannot synthesize them in the body. Deficiencies in vitamins can cause specific vitamin deficiencies. Dogs need at least 13 kinds of vitamins, and the lack of any one of them can cause the dog to develop corresponding diseases or physiological disorders. For example, when vitamin A is deficient, dogs will suffer from stunted growth and reduced fecundity.

①Vitamin A

Source: carrots, eggs, cod liver oil, animal liver

Function: It has a significant effect on having good vision; it can strengthen respiratory tract immunity; it helps the immune system; it promotes development, strengthens bones, and maintains the health of dog skin, hair, teeth, and gums.

Disadvantages: Excessive vitamin A can cause vitamin A poisoning and various reactions, so excessive supplementation is not suitable.

② Vitamin D

Source: Comes from fish and sunlight to promote the production of dogs themselves.

Function: Balance calcium and phosphorus in the body and help absorb calcium and phosphorus. Deficiency will lead to a decrease in the absorption capacity of calcium and phosphorus. It is an ingredient that must be supplemented at the same time to supplement calcium.

Disadvantages: Excessive supplementation of dogs will lead to a decrease in the resistance of the eyes and skin.

③Vitamin E

Source: Egg

Function: Most of them are related to internal organs and blood, but dogs do not need much and should be able to absorb enough in daily life.

④Vitamin K

Source: egg yolk, cod liver oil

Function: It is helpful for the intestines and blood of dogs. If it is lacking, it will cause many intestinal diseases. In severe cases, it can lead to enteritis and gastrointestinal bleeding.

⑤Vitamin C

Source: Fruit

Function: It plays an important role in the repair of excess bone, gums and iron absorption, and it also plays an important role in blood health.

⑥Vitamin B

Source: meat, vegetables, eggs... abundant sourcesRich

Function: Vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12 are helpful in protecting eyes, skin, metabolism, liver, blood circulation, etc.

The importance of iron and copper to dogs

The main physiological function of iron is to participate in oxygen transport, exchange and tissue respiration. The typical symptom of iron deficiency in dogs is anemia, which affects the normal metabolism of the body, making the dog weak and dull, with wrinkled and pale skin, rough coat, and becoming increasingly thin. Severe cases may cause difficulty breathing, anemia, and even death. Fish meal, meat bones, blood meal, etc. are rich in iron. Iron-deficient dogs can be fed more of the above foods, as well as inorganic substances such as ferrous oxide, ferrous sulfate, ferric glucose, and ferric tartrate. The toxic amount of iron that causes poisoning in dogs is relatively low. Therefore, overfeeding can easily cause poisoning. Iron poisoning mainly manifests as diarrhea, renal dysfunction, etc.

The functions of copper in dogs are extremely diverse. It is involved in the metabolism of various nutrients. In addition, copper is required for bone formation, red blood cell production, coat pigment synthesis, etc. Dogs suffering from copper deficiency may suffer from abnormal bone development. It is deformed and prone to fractures: it can also cause anemia. Under normal circumstances, dogs are not prone to copper deficiency, but when the content in the local soil is very low or interfered with by other elements, it can cause copper deficiency in dogs. When dogs are copper deficient, Wangyi Pet Network recommends adding 0.5% copper sulfate to the food. Copper is highly toxic, and excessive addition can easily lead to poisoning.

The importance of calcium and phosphorus for dogs

Calcium (Ca) is present in every cell in the body. Calcium is the most important element in the composition of bones. And calcium is involved in many physiological processes (muscle contraction, blood clotting, hormone release, nerve responses, etc.).

Phosphorus (P) is mainly distributed in bones (80%) and soft tissues (20%) in the body. It is an important element for cells to exchange energy and an important component of the cell nucleus. Phosphorus accounts for 0.5%-0.8% in the body.

Dogs' intake of calcium and phosphorus is mainly through food. The proportion of calcium and phosphorus in food and the content of vitamin D are very important indicators (without vitamin D, bone tissue cannot be formed).

For an adult dog, 100 mg of calcium and 85 mg of phosphorus should be consumed per kilogram of body weight per day to basically meet the body's needs. The best calcium to phosphorus ratio should be between 1.2:1 and 1.4:1. Adult dogs have different needs at different times. For example, a pregnant female dog needs to increase the calcium and phosphorus content in the food by 60% one week before giving birth, which means that each kilogram of body weight needs about 160 mg of calcium and 140 mg of phosphorus per day.
During the lactation period, more attention should be paid to the content of calcium and phosphorus in the food, because the female dog will consume a large amount of calcium and phosphorus after lactation. If the dog is deficient in calcium, the calcium content in the blood will be reduced, resulting in Dogs are prone to fright, convulsions and even shock. According to the number of puppies, a femaleDogs need 250 to 335 mg of phosphorus per kilogram of body weight per day. Compared with cow's milk, dog milk is richer in calcium and phosphorus. During the lactation period, the calcium and phosphorus required for the bone development of puppies are obtained through the mother's milk, which is very heavy for the mother dog. burden.

The importance of other nutrients for dogs

Folic acid: belongs to the vitamin family and is helpful for skin and intestinal resistance. Source: Carrot, animal liver. It is recommended to supplement by eating chicken liver and carrots.

Pantothenic acid: It has an auxiliary effect on vitamin A. Its main function is to improve skin resistance. Dog hair thinning is often caused by a lack of pantothenic acid.

Carotene and lutein: Carrots are good providers of these two nutrients, which are helpful for metabolism and affect the absorption of nutrients by the intestines.

Iodine: Promotes protein synthesis; activates more than 100 enzymes; regulates energy conversion; accelerates growth and development. It is mainly found in marine fish and kelp.

Zinc: Helps the production of various enzymes; helps growth and development; strengthens the ability to regenerate trauma tissue; increases resistance; mainly found in animal livers and fish.

Selenium: Helps the blood system function and improves blood system immunity. It is mainly found in seafood.