The Importance of Moisturizing Paw Pads and Skin

Do you struggle with dry skin during the winter? If so, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that this problem can affect dogs as well. Not only can winter conditions cause a dog's skin to get quite dry, but it can also impact their paw pads. In fact, a dog's paws can go right past dry and end up visibly rough or even cracked.

A common sign of this condition is a dog that repeatedly licks its paws. But even if you don't notice that happening, it's worth getting your dog and checking out its paws. When you inspect them, you'll notice that they're quite thick. Just keep in mind that despite being designed to stand up to less than ideal conditions, a dog's paws may need some extra help from you.

How a Rotational Diet Can Help Your Pet in the Winter and Beyond

The cold weather and often harsh conditions can be hard on animals of all sizes. Both dogs and cats may need some extra help during this time of the year to stay warm. The same is true for keeping their skin and coats healthy.

 One way to address this kind of issue is by giving your pet food with heartier proteins. Specifically, both lamb and fish with oils work really well. If you're wondering how to introduce these new options into your pet's diet, feeding a rotational diet is a strategy that works very well.

The Basics of a Rotational Diet 

Although people may eat the same meal on a regular basis if they're trying to lose weight or have another issue related to health, most of us enjoy a lot of variety with your food. While there's nothing wrong with consistently feeding your pet the same type of food (as long as it's one that's nutritionally balanced), the concept of a rotational diet is something that's gotten a lot of attention in recent years thanks to enthusiastic support by a number of prominent veterinarians.

 Even though a rotational diet is something you can customize to your specific pet, the basic concept is to feed a variety of protein sources and food forms. By taking this approach, your pet will get to enjoy new tastes on a regular basis. This can help create excitement when it's time for your pet to eat. And by feeding different forms, you can help ensure your pet gets enough water. Utilizing this type of variety in a pet's diet has also been linked to reducing the risk of food intolerances and allergies.

More Information About Feeding a Rotational Diet

 It's generally easiest to introduce a pet to this type of feeding when it's still a puppy or kitten. However, that doesn't mean you can't do it for an older dog. Just be aware that getting your pet used to all the variety may take a little bit of time. One helpful tip is to keep a log of when and what your pet eats. This will help you spot any trends.

If you have any other questions about following this type of feeding strategy for your pet, we'd love to talk to you about it. You can easily reach us by calling 513-502-0407.