Have you ever seen a pet roaming the street, and you immediately feel the owner ought to be arrested? In Nigeria, especially in local areas, I don't think there is a rule against roaming dogs, so you see them around the place.
I am a lover of pets, but I do not subscribe to the idea of having animals roam around the street, because at that point, you are putting the lives of the animals and humans in danger, and it is not fair at all.
Today, I saw one of those dogs that are a complete reflection of malnourishment, and what I could say was, this is just pure wickedness. I mean, how do you get a pet you cannot take care of?
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It is a different situation for a dog to be malnourished and starved; I think the right word I should have used for the dog I saw today was being starved. Not eating at all, or being fed very little meals, is not the right way to go at all.
In the case of malnourishment, it's not just about feeding your dog, but instead it is about getting the required nutrients, and there are a couple of reasons why your dog may be failing to get the required nutrients needed for survival and good looks.
Parasites: When your dog is battling with parasites like tapeworms, roundworms, and other types of parasites, then you know there is going to be a serious case of malnutrition.
Malabsorption Disorder: There are times your dog is provided with high-quality food, but the body is unable to absorb the nutrients in it. It is often caused by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) or some other small intestinal diseases, like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, bowel diseases, or cancer.
Underfeeding Your dog is going to be malnourished if they are not fed appropriately enough. After some time, there will be a noticed case of weakness, starvation, and health problems.
Appropriate diet for a pet's size: There are different food options that fit a pet's age and size. Not all foods are meant for all pets; you need to find out what works best for your pet and provide it to them.
Sickness: Malnutrition can happen when your pet is unwell. Probably vomiting or an injury to the jaw could cause malnutrition.
Understanding the proper mix of nutrients required for your pet to survive is important. If it happens that your dog is not getting the right balance of nutrients, it will lead to malnutrition and definite weight loss.
Lack of sufficient calories in the diet of your pets will lead to weight loss and energy. But when a diet is deficient in some minerals and vitamins, it could result in more complicated health issues.
The excessive provision of a particular nutrient in dogs will lead to health challenges, and that's the reason why, once again, it is important to choose the right food that fits the age and breed of your pet.
Malnutrition affects the physical health of a pet over time, producing thinness, muscle weakness, and poor appearance of the coat and skin, alongside different metabolic changes.
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Malnutrition produces severe damage to the health of a pet, creating a substantial delay in healing even during treatment, immunosuppression, and giving room to other diseases to thrive, longer time spent in the hospital, and a high rate of mortality.
Do you know sometimes, some pets become obese as a sign of malnutrition? They may be eating so well but consuming the wrong types of food in abundance. Apart from obesity, there are other health conditions that can arise from nutritional imbalances.
Growth disorders, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and pancreatitis. Pets that are rushed to a vet with a case of poor nutrition will be started on supportive treatment like intravenous fluids to help prevent dehydration and correct the imbalances of salt.
If a dog is afflicted with parasites, they would be dewormed to restore digestive functionality. If there are rumors or polyps in the digestive tract, they will be removed and medically treated. The presence of diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases and bacterial overgrowth can be handled too.
Once every medical issue has been resolved, the right amount of food based on nutritional value would be given as appropriately as possible.
Your pet may be losing weight either due to a medical condition or just meal imbalance. You should speak to a vet to confirm your fears and advise you accordingly on the right path to take.
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I’ve always loved animals, but seeing stray or starving pets really breaks my heart. It’s so sad that some people get pets without thinking about the responsibility that comes with it.