Meeting Your Pet's Essential Health Needs
Good nutrition plays a really important part in the overall health of our pets. Feeding our pets with a perfectly balanced diet that has been developed to suit their specific life stage not only supports their immune system and helps their growth and development, but also helps keep them fit and active for longer. A perfectly balanced diet makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight and keeps their skin and coat looking good too.
Feeding Tips
1. CHOOSE A FOOD THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR YOUR PET'S LIFE STAGE.
The dietary needs of a rapidly developing puppy or kitten are very different from those of an adult or mature pet. So it's important to choose a food that has been developed for their age to ensure they get the perfect balance of nutrients to meet their needs.
2. WEIGH THE FOOD ACCURATELY.
It’s easy to overfeed if we just guess how much to give, and a few grams extra per day can soon mount up to a weight problem which carries long term health risks. There are some very effective weight loss diets available but it is better from a health point of view to maintain a healthy weight from the beginning. Check the feeding guidelines on the pack.
3. AVOID THE FOODS THAT ARE DANGEROUS FOR PETS.
These include: chocolate, raisins, fruit cake, grapes and onions, dairy and other foods high in fat. It's relatively common for us to have to hospitalise an animal that has helped itself to butter or cheese with severe vomiting and diarrohea and on some occasions pancreatitis.
4. IT'S BEST TO AVOID TREATS.
Cats and dogs who are fed a balanced diet don’t need anything extra. If you want to use treats to help with training then it’s advisable to take some food away from their daily food ration and use this to avoid extra calories. We recommend you avoid human foods. Items that are small snacks for us are packed with calories equal to a large meal for our pets.
5. ALWAYS PROVIDE PLENTY FRESH WATER.
Access to sufficient clean water is vital for your pet's health.
6. POSITION YOUR CAT'S FOOD AND WATER BOWLS WELL AWAY FROM THE LITTER TRAY.
Cats are very particular about hygiene and they may show signs of stress (spraying and scratching or refusing to eat) if the litter tray is too close to their food bowl.
7. REMOVE UNEATEN DOG FOOD AFTER 20 MINUTES.
This helps get them into the habit of eating at set times and it also prevents the food from spoiling which is particularly important with wet food and in warm weather.
8. DON'T WORRY ABOUT VARIETY.
Humans need a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrients we need. But high quality pet food brands, such as Purina Expert Care Nutrition, contain all the nutrients pets need in a single diet without the need to supplement with any other food.
9. ENCOURAGING FUSSY DOGS.
If a dog is a fussy eater you might find it helpful to give them plenty of exercise to increase their appetite. Simplicity is best, so stick to one food type.
9. ENCOURAGING FUSSY CATS.
It’s important to encourage fussy cats to eat as being off their food for just a few days can cause serious health effects. You could try warming the food up and feeding smaller portions.
When to See the Vet
Skipping a meal on the odd occasion isn’t usually a cause for concern, but if your pet doesn’t eat for 24 hours you should make an appointment to see the vet.
Drinking too much or too little water can on occassions be a cause for concern. We always recomend that we see pets that are doing either of these so that we can rule out any underlying conditions that require treatment.
If you are concerned that your pet may be overweight or underweight, then pop in at any time to be weighed, or call to book a free weight clinic appointment.
If your pet has an underlying condition such as joint problems, kidney disease, heart disease, gatrointestinal issues, then please make an appointment to discuss how a change in diet can help your pet.