Talk to your veterinarian
Good nutrition is as important for pets as it is for people.
With so many different brands available, choosing the right
food for your dog or cat can be a challenge. Your veterinarian
can help you make informed choices to optimize the health of
your pet.
Dry vs canned/wet food
Both dry and wet foods can provide the same level of nutrition.
Dry food generally costs less per serving, stays fresh when
left in a bowl all day, and requires less space to store. Feeding
dry food may also keep your pet'' teeth cleaner, although many
other factors play a role in dental health.
Table scraps and bones
Pets eating a balanced commercial diet won't benefit from
bones or table scraps. On the contrary, feeding table scraps
can lead to obesity, vomiting, diarrhea, finicky eating habits,
poor dental healthy, and occasionally sever illnesses such as
pancreatitis and food poisoning, as well as bone (orthopedic)
problems. Feeding bones carries the risk or broken teeth, mouth
injuries, sever constipation, and potentially fatal intestinal
perforations.
Homemade diets
Cooking for your pet can be fun, though it tends to be time-consuming,
costly and difficult to maintain a consistent nutrient balance.
If you have the time, the budget and the desire to prepare your
pet's food, make sure it is a balanced ration that is appropriate
for your pet's age and condition. Your veterinarian can provide
information on diet formulation, and may be able to supply recipes
for homemade dog and cat foods.
Food allergies
Like people, dogs and cats can be allergic to many things
- pollen, house dust, even food. True food allergies are uncommon
in pets. When they do occur, the symptoms are usually a severe
generalized itching, with hair loss, rash and skin infection
caused by self-chewing, licking and scratching. Vomiting and
diarrhea may also be present. If you suspect your pet has a
food allergy, talk to your veterinarian. He/she can confirm
the diagnosis and help you select an appropriate new diet.
Urinary tract health in cats
Inflammation of the urinary tract (also known as FUS or FLUTD)
is a very common problem in cats. Signs include straining and
crying in the litter box, blood in the urine, and urinating
around the house. In some cases, male cats may become "blocked"
- completely unable to urinate - a life-threatening emergency
that requires immediate veterinary attention.
This problem is not completely understood, although diet plays
a significant role. To reduce the chance of urinary tract problems,
cat food should yield moderately acidic urine. Very acidic or
very alkaline urine can both lead to problems. It is important
to note that foods that are simply labeled "low ash" do not
necessarily meet the above criteria. Talk to your veterinarian
about recommended diets for urinary tract health.
Cost
Feeding your pet a healthy diet doesn't have to be expensive.
To decide if a certain food suits your budget, consider the
cost of feeding per day, not just the price of the bag. Better
quality foods are more digestible, which means your pet needs
less food per day, so a bag of an "expensive" diet can last
much longer than the same-sized bag of a lower quality, "cheaper"
food. Also, pets on a better quality diet usually produce less
feces, since more food is absorbed by the digestive tract.
Pet food and.
Age
Your pet's nutritional needs will change with age. Puppies
and kittens should receive a good quality commercial "growth'
food which will contain higher levels of protein, calories and
minerals than are found in adult diets. The age at which to
switch to adult "maintenance" food varies from pet to pet. For
example, puppies of heavy-boned breeds (such as Labradors and
Rottweilers) may benefit from an early move to adult rations,
since overly fast growth may contribute to bone problems such
as hip dysplasia. An alternative is to feed heavy-boned pups
a growth diet specifically formulated for larger breeds.
For the older pet, your veterinarian may recommend a senior
diet. These generally contain fewer calories than regular adult
foods, as well as lower protein levels to reduce wear and tear
on the kidneys. Other specialty diets include high-energy rations
for very active dogs, low-cal formulas for pets that are inactive
or overweight and a large selection of therapeutic diets for
various medical conditions. Therapeutic diets are available
only by prescription from a veterinarian.
Boredom & variety
Do pets get bored eating the same food every day? The answer
isn't known, but there is no nutritional reason to change food
if it is a balanced, good quality ration. Although most dogs
and cats seem happy on a consistent diet, some may need variety
to maintain a normal appetite. If your animal is one of these,
make sure you change foods gradually, mixing the new food with
the old one for 5 - 7 days. Abrupt changes in diet can cause
indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea and gas.
Vitamin & mineral supplements
In general, dogs and cats that are fed a good quality commercial
diet don't require any additional vitamins or minerals. In some
cases, supplementation can even be harmful. For example, providing
too much calcium to fast-growing large-breed puppies can contribute
to hip dysplasia and other orthopedic problems. Talk to your
veterinarian if you think your pet may have a special need for
extra vitamins and minerals.
Understanding ingredients.
Ingredient labels
The "Guaranteed Analysis" of the contents of a bag of food
is a poor indicator of the food's nutritional value. Although
the analysis lists the basic ingredients and their amounts,
the quality of an ingredient is as important as the quantity.
Low quality ingredients may lack certain nutrients and be hard
to digest. Smaller quantities of better-quality ingredients
often provide better overall nutrition. In general, the best
foods are those made with consistent, high-grade ingredients,
by companies with strong research and development programs to
back up the food "recipe".
Pet food certification
Several different organizations in Canada and the United States
test and certify pet foods to ensure they meet the basic nutritional
requirements of a normal animal. For pets with special needs,
talk to your veterinarian about foods that provide optimum health.
Protein content
Protein is an essential nutrient for dogs and cats. However,
once a pet's basic requirements are met, increasing dietary
protein provides no benefit. In fact, high levels of dietary
protein can contribute to kidney disease, since the kidneys
clear the blood of wastes from protein metabolism. Don't assume
that a food is better because it advertises itself as "high-protein".
Meat content
Don't assume a food is better simply because meat appears
as the first ingredient on the label. The quality of the protein
is more important than the source. For dogs, a high quality
plant protein can provide better nutrition than a low quality
meat source. Meat is more important for cats, as they are less
able to use plant protein - this is why feeding dog food to
a cat often results in serious malnutrition. When assessing
a pet food, consider all the ingredients and how they complement
each other, rather than focusing on meat alone.
Corn
High quality corn, properly cooked, is a digestible, nutritious
carbohydrate source in dry diets. The use of corn in a food
recipe doesn't necessarily mean the food is bad or good. You
should consider all the ingredients and the overall nutrition
they provide.
Lamb & rice
Lamb and rice diets were originally developed as alternative
foods for pets with allergies to conventional ingredients, such
as beef and wheat. This does NOT mean that pets cannot be allergic
to lamb and rice. In any case, food allergies are uncommon and
should not be a major factor in selecting a pet food. Your pet
will be healthiest eating a diet with high-quality, consistent
ingredients based on sound research by the manufacturer.
In summary
Reading the label doesn't always help when you're trying to
find the right food for your dog or cat. Your veterinarian knows
your pet's nutritional needs and can recommend a diet to optimize
your pet's health. Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions
about pet nutrition!
