In summer, our furry companions often change their behaviour, which also influences their diet. For many people, when the summer months arrive, the worry begins when they see that their furry companions are eating less than usual. In principle, the lack of appetite is not alarming, both dogs and cats have a natural tendency to reduce their food intake when light levels and temperatures increase. Nevertheless, Lenda recommends that you adapt your furry companion’s diet to suit the conditions of the environment and, above all, make sure he or she is always well hydrated.
Why do they eat less?
Although the heat may reduce the desire to eat, the real cause of this phenomenon, which can alter our companions’ food intake, is light. Light levels influence the feline and canine endocrine systems, altering their circadian rhythm. The brains of our furry companions are wired to command food accumulation in the winter and reduced intake in the summer. This is why our companions prefer to lie down and stay away from the food bowl, even when the air conditioning is on.
In turn, the temperature causes our furry companions to move less and dehydrate faster. The heat especially transforms the routine of dogs, who, having only sweat glands in their pads, spend the day panting, causing them to lose a lot of water. Our feline friends also need to drink more in summer, although unlike them, cats cool themselves through various glands in strategic locations on their bodies.
Should we change the way we feed them in summer?
As we have already explained, a lower intake in the sunny summer months should not be a cause for concern, but it never hurts to review your diet periodically. Although at Lenda we do not recommend making radical changes to your nutritional routines, there are a number of tricks we can apply to recover your vitality on sunny days.
Lenda Foodie
Menus like Lenda Foodie are a great way to give them an extra boost of hydration, perfect for the hottest days. They are complete, nutritious, very tasty recipes that contain a lot of sauce, which helps to keep them hydrated and aids digestion. What’s more, these menus can also be prepared as ice creams. Without a doubt, a healthy option that will drive them crazy!
Never run out of water
If we opt for wet food, hydration is partly ensured, but we must always make sure that our furry friends drink enough. Heat stroke in dogs and cats is very common and can have very serious consequences. To avoid unpleasantness, you should take a bottle with you when you go for a walk and make sure that they always have a bowl of cool water nearby at home to keep them hydrated. If you notice that they do not come to drink, you can put some ice cubes in the water to make it more palatable, although it is not advisable for it to be too cold.
Use fruits
In small quantities and making sure there are no pips, fruit is a healthy complement for them too. The best way for them to accept it is fresh and mixed into their usual food. Although it is a beneficial food, they cannot eat all of them as some, such as grapes, are toxic or harmful to them. However, other fruits such as bananas, pears, apples or even plums are highly recommended.
With all this, and as experts in nutrition, at Lenda we recommend that you avoid eating during daylight hours, and notify your vet if the lack of appetite is accompanied by strange behaviour.
Although in summer we can understand that our furry friends are more lazy, food may be the key for both dogs and cats to recover their energy and enjoy this season to the fullest.
