Your Questions Answered
Here you'll find short answers to your most frequently asked questions about PURINA ONE, the product range and visible health benefits, provided by our expert PURINA PetCare Service team. We hope you find the information provided useful. If you'd like further information, or do not find your question answered below, why not Contact Us today.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
How much water should my pet have every day?Is it fine to switch between pet food products/flavours?
Do I need to supplement my pet's diet?
Is it okay that my cat is eating my dog's food or vice versa?
How do you best transition to a new type of petfood?
DOG QUESTIONS
When do I need to switch my puppy to an adult dog food?I would like to know why my dog won't eat his dog food? I feed him and he just won't eat, should I be concerned?
What do I do if my dog is too fat?
How can I get my dog to gain more weight?
What are the signs of dehydration?
My puppy is eating his stool. Is this diet related?
How do I brush my dog's teeth?
How often should I take my adult dog to the veterinarian for a check-up?
What are the signs that your dog is in pain?
My dog has a dry nose. What does that mean?
How can you tell exactly how old a dog is?
Can dogs sweat?
GENERAL QUESTIONS
How much water should my pet have every day?
Your pet should always have fresh clean water available to drink as he/she pleases.
Back to Top
Is it fine to switch between pet food products/flavours?
It is fine to change flavours or products. However, remember to introduce a new product gradually over a 7-10 day period. Sudden changes in a pet's diet can cause intestinal upsets. Also, constant changes can create a finicky eater.
Back to Top
Do I need to supplement my pet's diet?
When a 100% complete and balanced food is fed to a normal, healthy pet, supplementation is rarely needed. However, factors like feeding table scraps, inconsistent exercise, or stressful changes in routine can leave dogs and cats with special nutritional needs.
Back to Top
Is it okay that my cat is eating my dog's food or vice versa?
Cats and dogs have unique nutritional needs and should be fed a product designed specifically for their needs. Health problems can occur from not feeding a 100% complete and balanced product.
Back to Top
How do you best transition to a new type of petfood?
When switching to PURINA ONE start mixing it with your pet's current food and gradually increase the proportion fed over a period of 7-10 days. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
Back to Top
DOG QUESTIONS
When do I need to switch my puppy to an adult dog food?
You should continue to feed a puppy formula to large and giant breed dogs (dogs that will weight more than 50 pounds) up to two years and one full year for all other dogs before switching to an adult pet food.
Back to Top
I would like to know why my dog won't eat his dog food? I feed him and he just won't eat, should I be concerned?
There are some dogs that from time to time will not eat their food for a day or so but seem to act normally. However, usually when a dog will no longer eat their food it is cause for concern. A lack of appetite is often a sign of illness or disease. In other situations a dog may eat, but just not with the same gusto as before. This also could be illness related, but it also could be that your dog might like a change in diet. If however, your dog is not eating and acting ill a veterinary visit is needed to determine why your dog will not eat.
Back to Top
What do I do if my dog is too fat?
When a dog is overweight it is usually because the dog is taking in more calories than they need. Therefore weight loss can be accomplished by controlling food intake and increasing exercise. There are many good reasons to try and get your dog to lose weight. Research has shown that leaner dogs live longer than fat ones and a lean body weight helps to promote better health. To help your dog lose weight, try a commercial weight management diet which is designed to create the feeling of fullness while providing fewer calories. In addition, we would recommend starting a short daily walk. The increased exercise will help boost your dog's metabolism and increase weight loss. As your dog loses weight, he undoubtedly will be able to walk further and feel better and so will you knowing you have helped him live a longer, happier life.
Back to Top
How can I get my dog to gain more weight?
When a dog is unable to maintain a healthy weight several factors may be involved. First, it could be a health issue such as intestinal parasites, endocrine dysfunction, gastrointestinal disease or dental disease. Therefore a veterinary examination to rule out a medical problem is extremely important. If all is normal, then your dog is not gaining weight because he is not taking in calories that he can use. It is important that your dog be on a good quality commercial diet that meets the nutritional needs for his lifestage and activity level. If your dog is very active, he may need a higher protein diet, or if there are special needs such as kidney disease, then a diet especially formulated for that condition is necessary. All of these issues should be discussed with your veterinarian and then the appropriate diet can be chosen for your dog.
Back to Top
What are the signs of dehydration?
Signs of dehydration will vary with the degree of fluid loss and usually cannot be clinically detected until 4-5% of the body fluid has been lost. In the early stages the skin may lose its elasticity. As dehydration progresses, the skin will take longer to return to normal position, the eyes may appear sunken and the mucous membranes may be dry. As dehydration progresses, abnormal heart rate, weak pulse and even shock and collapse are possible. If you suspect your pet is suffering from dehydration, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
Back to Top
My puppy is eating his stool. Is this diet related?
Coprophagy continues to be a problem that is not fully understood. It is seen in dogs of any age (but most commonly growing pups) on any diet, so it doesn't appear to be diet related. This habit frequently starts in the winter, when droppings are frozen. Two of the current theories concerning this are that it develops in bored dogs or by observing another dog with this habit. Prevention or treatment of this problem could be difficult. One suggestion might be to provide adequate exercise and attention to help prevent boredom, another to ask your veterinarian for a product which might be added to the diet to give the stools a bad odour or taste. Cleaning up as soon as possible after the dog is also recommended.
Back to Top
How do I brush my dog's teeth?
It is very important that you keep your dog's teeth in the best of health. First, always use a toothpaste especially formulated for dogs; it will taste better (to them) and will not foam so much which many dogs find objectionable. Second, there are toothbrushes created especially for dogs and if your dog will tolerate you placing one in his mouth that is the appropriate tool. It is usually best to attempt tooth brushing when your dog is calm and quiet, say just after a nap. Do not attempt to do all the teeth the first time. You want the session to be short and pleasant. Approach your dog with a treat so he knows good things are coming. Then, just try to brush one half of the mouth, praise him, give a treat and let him go. This way he learns that teeth brushing is pleasant. Each subsequent time you can do a bit more. Soon your dog will be looking forward to these sessions and you will have a dog with clean teeth and fresh breath!
Back to Top
How often should I take my adult dog to the veterinarian for a check-up?
A dog that is greater than one-year-old, but less than 7 years probably only needs yearly check-up visits unless signs of illness are present. For dogs greater than 7 years of age, they have entered their "senior" years. Therefore, veterinary visits should be more often to help screen and/or identify any emerging changes or diseases that are common in older dogs.
Back to Top
What are the signs that your dog is in pain?
Dogs may show pain several different ways depending to some degree where the pain is. If the pain is in a leg the dog may limp and/or hold up the limb. If the pain is in the ears, the dog may shake their head and paw at the ear. When a dog is painful in other areas you may see panting, decreased activity, decreased appetite, and if the pain is severe whining and crying. If you suspect that your dog is in pain, please visit your veterinarian for an examination.
Back to Top
My dog has a dry nose. What does that mean?
Usually a dry nose in a dog is actually normal. However, if it is dry and scaly this could signify a health problem. If your dog is light coloured and the nose is not pigmented it also could get sunburned and should be checked by your veterinarian.
Back to Top
How can you tell exactly how old a dog is?
Unfortunately determining the age of a dog is not an exact science. The most commonly used method is to look at their teeth. Naturally, if they still have "baby" teeth, then they are under 6 months of age. Once all the adult teeth have erupted then the veterinarian can use the amount of wear and tartar on the teeth to try and determine the dog's age. It also helps to observe the behavioural patterns of the dog as well. Younger dogs will have more puppy like and energetic behaviours while older dogs maybe more sedate. However, it is usually only possible to give an approximate age once they are over a year old.
Back to Top
Can dogs sweat?
With the onset of summer and the extremely hot weather this is a good question. Dogs only have sweat glands on the pads of their feet, no where else on their body. Therefore the only way they have to cool off is by panting and through their feet. Therefore in hot weather it is extremely important that dogs have plenty of shade, cool water and when the heat is extreme that they can come indoors. Never, ever leave your dog in a closed car where the temperature can get up to 100 degrees in a very short time. Since dogs do not sweat they can suffer heat stroke quickly and even die.
Back to Top
