How to choose the right nutrition for your pet

How to choose the right nutrition for your pet

 

Every animal is different, just like us humans they can be sensitive to ingredients, not like the taste of something or just be a little bit fussy. It’s important that we provide them with the best quality food, whether it's to help young animals healthily grow or look after an older animal's digestion.

 

But where do you start?

 

In this post we’re going to be looking at pet manufacturer's labelling, what it means and what you should know. In the first half we talk about dog nutrition, but if it’s only cat nutrition you’re looking for, feel free to scroll further down!

 

Dog Nutrition

 

Your pup’s diet needs six essential components. Water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Dogs are carnivores however over a millennia of years of domestication, they can digest cooked foods, plant based and vegetables.

 

To give your dog the best diet, it should be the highest quality food you can afford. Feeding your dog a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet does not mean you have to feed them the most expensive brand or product- that is a myth! The devil is in the detail- for example, a nutrition label may not differ in percentage of nutrients but the quality of the ingredients is the price changing factor. You’ll also need to consider the size and amount of exercise your dog needs. The larger and more active, the more food they’ll need. Many companies include small, medium and large in their ranges to help direct you to the right food.

 

Puppies and Young Dogs

 

With younger dogs and puppies, pet food companies will make tailored labels to show you the specific food made with healthy growth and development in mind. This will have a specific balance of amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals to promote a healthy future for your dog.

 

Grain-Free

 

A grain-free dog food contains no wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, sorghum, millet, triticale or rice. This doesn’t mean it contains no carbohydrates, these are replaced by vegetables like potatoes. This can benefit dogs with digestive issues, managing weight and food intolerances.

 

Complete

 

The most popular choice for pet owners in the UK and generally comes as dry kibble or wet food. When a bag is described as complete, it means it's a balanced mix of all vital nutrients. This means it can be fed on its own to your dog for an extended period of time without concerns of needing to supplement with other things.

 

Raw

 

A raw diet refers to your dog only eating unprocessed foods like meats and vegetables. This cuts out a lot of carbohydrates. It’s incredibly important to make sure that you’re providing your dog with the correct levels of nutrition, so with this diet it’s strongly recommended that you discuss it with your vet first.

 

Wet Food

 

Primarily protein and fats, wet foods have a much higher water content. They are great for pets who don’t like drinking water or have urinary problems. They can also smell more appetizing to dogs and are easily digestible with fewer carbohydrates.

 

 

Cat Nutrition

 

As natural predators, cats require a high amount of protein in their diet. Taurine is an essential nutrient your cat needs and is found in animal based proteins.

 

Cats will often elect to eat many small meals a day. Leaving dry food available all day is a great solution to this. It’s important to continue monitoring this to help maintain your pets health and it’s ideal weight.

 

Kitten and Senior

 

From 5 to 8 weeks of age kittens can move onto a solid diet. When labelled as a kitten food it should have a high protein content and be energy-rich. After the age of 7, a cat is moving into a mature or senior stage where foods are composed to match their lifestyle needs. With a higher risk of developing intestinal difficulty or kidney disease, formulations are made to benefit and slow the progression of these.

 

Grain Free

 

Commonly wheat, corn, oats, barley and rice are found in most cat foods. Grain free cat food is great for kitties with sensitive stomachs. It’s also lower in carbohydrates so has a greater proportion of protein. Great for cats with skin issues or food allergies and best when supplemented with other food sources.

 

Neutered Cat

 

After a cat is neutered feeding them the same amount of food can lead to weight gain. A food labelled specifically for neutered cats will have a different protein to fat level to help maintain a healthier weight. Some of these labelled foods will also have an increased amount of L-carnitine which is a non-essential amino acid that encourages the use of fat stores for energy.

 

Complete and Complementary

 

The same as dog food labelling, a complete food refers to a balance of all the nutrients your cat needs. Complementary foods won’t provide your cat with all the necessary nutrients like complete food but with the correct combination of other foods are best at giving your cat variety in their diet.

 

So how do you choose?

 

This is a brief overview of nutrition for domesticated pets. There are many, many, many pet food products on the market claiming to do all sorts of things. We believe that high quality food is the best thing for your pet and stock all natural foods. 

 

You know your pet better than anyone else. How active they are, what their taste is like and how much they consume on a daily basis. Your vet will always be able to help you in advising what will be best for your pet. You’ll be looking for something that closely replicates their natural diet and contains a variety of carbohydrates, vegetables and proteins.

 

Don’t forget your treat allowance! You may be supplementing your pet's diet with a variety of different things and treats are also a great way to do this. Even a bit of fruit, veggies or the odd piece of sausage falling on the floor. Moderation is key, but in combination with a nutrient rich diet this will make it well balanced.

 

The way manufacturers label their products will point you in the right direction, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch to see how we can help!

 

 

Disclaimer: This is a basic guide to pet nutrition and how to select pet food to purchase. All animals are unique and require different feeding. This information is to help decision making but should not be supplemented for advice given by animal industry professionals or veterinarians.