How Seasonal Changes Affect Your Dog’s Diet and What to Adjust

When your doggo goes through an appetite change in different seasons, it’s not just a personality trait. In fact, it’s much more scientific than that, and all due to metabolic changes. Hot summer days don’t entice their organism to metabolise body fat that’s keeping them warm during the colder months. 

On the flip side, your dog’s caloric intake might increase between 7% and 7.5% for every 10-degree drop in temperature. The best way to ensure they always get just what they need from pet food is to optimise the diet according to these temperature and seasonal differences. 

There’s also the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standard that needs to be met by pet food makers to ensure the product is complete and balanced. However, you still need to make changes to your pet’s diet, so you’ll need to know exactly what type of food to look for depending on the season.

Dog Food Adjustments Based on Season 

At Pawy, we believe in feeding your pet fresh dog food throughout the year. Our experts in pet food nutrition make all the right adjustments when preparing meals, and here’s what you need to learn to make the same modifications.

Increased Energy Needs in Colder Winter Months

In general, dog food in winter should supply your furry friend with more energy than it does during hot summer months. This is especially the case if your pet spends a lot of time outdoors without any heating.

As a general rule, you should bump up the calorie intake for your dog by between 7% and 7.5% when compared to hot summer days. To stay healthy and comfy, they need more fats and proteins, so fresh foods like chicken, lamb, rice, sweet potatoes, carrots, eggs, and fish oil are the best option. 

On the other hand, you should be feeding your pet smaller and more balanced meals throughout the day for a steady energy supply. You can start these adjustments early in the winter, and steadily keep increasing the amount of fat and protein in your pet’s meals. 

Transitional Changes During the Spring 

When the warmer spring days arrive, your pet could use seasonal vegetables rich in much-needed vitamins and minerals, as well as fibre. It’s essential to make this transition the right way, as they will need fewer calories than during the winter months.

At this stage, it’s best to feed your pet fresh dog food like what you’d get from Pawy meals. To ensure the intake of critical vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, vitamin A, magnesium, calcium, and antioxidants, you can stick with these ingredients:

• Leafy green 

• Green beans 

• Carrots

• Peas

• Spring vegetables

The primary goal is to prepare their metabolism for the summer, when the focus will shift to hydration and nutritious snacks. It’s important to gradually reduce the caloric intake in their meals, rather than immediately switching to a lighter diet. 

Hot Summer Days

As the summertime arrives, your furry companion starts needing a lot fewer calories. By then, you should have already slowly adjusted your pet’s diet. Some of the best summer dog diet tips include the following:

• Steadily adjust the diet: Instead of just quickly switching to smaller portions, try to lower the portion size one day at a time. 

• Serve the meal at the right time: It’s also important to avoid feeding your dog during the peak heat of the day. It’s best to spread the meals from early mornings to late afternoons. 

• Use water-rich food: Hydration is vital during summer heat, so you should serve more water throughout the day. It’s also important to feed your pet water-rich food like watermelon and cucumbers. 

• Lean on “lean” proteins: Cooled food like yoghurt can serve both as a protein source and as a refreshing snack. 

  
  

Autumn Preparations

Once autumn comes, you can start increasing the amount of protein again to help prepare your pet for the winter. Higher protein intake is also helpful for coat development ahead of winter, while root veggies help build energy reserves. 

It’s also recommended to feed your pet fibre-rich foods like pumpkin or squash. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans are also fibre-rich, which is vital for regulating digestion during portion changes. 

Make a Safe Diet Transition

Safely transitioning your pet’s diet requires a careful approach, and you should start by slowly adding seasonal diet foods into the regular diet. As the season progresses, you can increase the amount of seasonal food and reduce the amount of the current diet foods.

Benefits of Fresh Food 

If you’ve used kibble so far, you can make a healthier transition for your pet by switching to fresh food. At Pawy, we use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, helping your pet stay active and healthy all year long.

Using slow-cooked meals with fresh ingredients also has a positive effect on your dog’s digestive system, which makes it easier to adjust to a seasonal diet. Fresh food promotes good gut bacteria and helps maintain the general well-being of your furry pal. 

Plus, you’ll know you’re doing the best thing for your pet if you’re supplying their diet with seasonal ingredients at the peak of their freshness. Getting a custom meal prep plan is the best way to help your dog go through the transition period and switch to a seasonal diet.