Lindsay Young (@eatyoungnutrition) is a Holistic Nutritionist, who Flora has been working with for the last couple of years. When Lindsay welcomed Rosy, a Great Dane puppy to her family in May, we were excited to introduce her to our BiologicVET line of pet care products. Join us as we follow Rosy’s growth, development, and of course her puppy antics over the next 6 months. If you are one of the many people who added a fur-friend to your family during the COVID-19 quarantine, you can probably relate to Lindsay’s experiences with Rosy… so follow along!
How To Encourage A Healthy Appetite In Your Dog by Lindsay Young
Rosy is now 6 months old and the biggest baby ever! She’s been growing steadily at an average of 5 pounds per week, which if you can imagine really adds up! People ask me how much she eats and it is quite a lot of food — 6 cups of food per day — but she likely won’t eat much more than this even when she’s full grown.
Rosy has a very healthy appetite most of the time, but I’ve struggled a bit to make her diet work for both my lifestyle and hers. And I have a few tips if you struggle with this as well:
Establish a routine in feeding. Feeding 2-3 times per day at the same time every day serves your dog the same way it serves us. When we have a routine time for breakfast, lunch and dinner we feel hungry at those times. Having a routine in where your dog eats is also helpful as they’re comfortable in this spot and associate it with their meal. This is especially useful for shy or anxious pups. If you have multiple pets, try separating them during meals.
Try to ensure your pet gets enough exercise throughout the day. Going for a long walk or letting them play for 30 minutes to an hour before feeding them might trigger their appetite better than just feeding when they’re not exercised. Once they have eaten try to encourage them to rest, as playing or exercising right after eating might cause vomiting or bloat.
If you notice your dog isn’t as interested in their food as they once were, it might be helpful to refrain from giving them too many treats. To combat this I used Rosy’s kibble as treats during training sessions.
One of my favorite methods of getting Rosy to eat her meals is to add BioFATS and bone broth to them. Luckily, this works like a charm as many dogs love the smell and taste of fish oils and bone broth! Adding oils to meals is beneficial especially if your dog has:
- hip or joint pain
- arthritis
- skin conditions or allergies
Be careful purchasing a pre-made bone broth as some contain garlic and onion. It’s best to purchase one from a pet store or make one yourself! Adding bone broth is a great addition to a meal especially if:
- you use dry food
- your dog needs more moisture
- or is prone to joint or bone issues
And finally, have fun with meals! It’s important to encourage a healthy curiosity with their meals because it will help them develop a good relationship to food!
Lindsay Young @eatyoungnutrition is a nutritionist and lover of food from around the world. She’s passionate about making healthy, home cooked food accessible and approachable for everyone. She hosts workshops in her home town, Kelowna, sees clients and works as a recipe developer and food photographer.
