Spring is right around the corner and it's that time again to change our clocks forward an hour. I personally am very excited as DST works better with my personal body clock. I can stay up "later" and sleep a bit "later" when this change happens. I'm much more well-adjusted and feel a bit more "normal".
Let's also not forget our pets! With longer daylight hours and warmer temps coming our kitties will have longer days basking in the sunlight through our windows, and our dogs will naturally be able to get more fresh air and longer walks.
Now is also the time to CHANGE THEIR CLOCKS.
Are you a "same time of the day" feeder for your pets? Did you know that feeding at the same time every day isn’t a good thing for our pets? When they are on a timer, their bodies are conditioned to start producing more saliva in the mouth and enzymes in the gut to digest the food BEFORE the food is even ready for them to consume. This is how your pets "know" what time it is: feeding time. Their bodies tell them so. What if you are running late getting home one day just stuck in traffic or whatever? Now your pets are sitting there salivating waiting to eat and you're not there? We would like for our pets to NOT be conditioned to expect their foods at an exact time every day. It is best for their bodies to not start producing saliva and enzymes UNTIL the food is being prepped, this way their digestion is optimal for when the food is presented.
When we move the clocks forward, now is the time to start SWITCHING up their feeding times. They're certainly not expecting to be fed sooner when DST starts, so try to not feed them a whole HOUR earlier. Try just a 1/2 hour, then the next day, just 15 minutes, then the following day, move it up an hour - and the next back to your original time, and the following day – go 15 minutes later than your original time. Do this process for several weeks, and you'll be well on your way to having your pets NOT ON A FEEDING TIMER. Again – the reason to change up their feeding time is to get them off a timer and optimize their digestion. My personal pets DO NOT EAT at the same time every day. Ever. Sometimes they eat 2 meals, sometimes 1 meal then a hearty duck neck for a chew vs. a meal. Sometimes they eat at 9am, other times at 6 am. Or 4pm then they next day at 7pm. Until I'm in the kitchen prepping their foods, no one is looking for food.
I absolutely suggest feeding a fresh food diet to your pets, but even our fresh raw food diets will be deficient in some enzymes – so I suggest adding an enzyme to your pet’s food several times per week. If you are feeding a dry food, canned food or other processed foods including dehydrated or freeze dried, without fresh food components daily (like goat’s milk, fresh meats/organs, and some small amount of veggies), always be sure you’re adding a quality enzyme and probiotic to your pets food, daily. Enzymes, in my opinion, are more important than probiotics, but pro/pre biotics also help with quality gut health and optimal digestion. Enzymes and pre/probiotics are very fragile, and I strongly suggest adding a powdered product and/or raw goat’s milk to your pet’s food. We stock several formulas that can help with your pet’s digestion. These simple powders can be sprinkled right on top of any food, add a bit of water to a dry food, and they gobble them right up. They are fine for both dogs and cats. Click here to order our FAVORITE enzyme product via our website right now, and curbside pickup.
Start working on changing your pet's body clocks for their eating times for optimal digestion, this weekend and stop in to consult with us and choose a quality product to help your pets’ digestion, long term.
Now is the time! AND enjoy the naturally extended daylight coming at us with warmer temperatures too!
Thank you for reading and COME ON SPRING!
Janelle
Wags to Whiskers
Reference
Pets need enzymes https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/enzymes-and-your-dog/
Enzymes for pets https://draxe.com/pet-health/best-digestive-enzymes-for-dogs/