Finding a well balanced food and sticking to it while feeding measured proportions is important for your pet’s health. Frequent changes in food may result in your pet becoming very selective in their eating habits and can also lead to digestive upsets. When changing your pet’s food, it is important to consider their life stage and feed accordingly. If you are making the transition from puppy or kitten to adult for example, gradually introduce the adult food by mixing 25% of the new food with 75% of the puppy or kitten food. Over the next few weeks, continue to increase the proportions of the new adult food until they are no longer eating any puppy or kitten food. Gradual changes when switching to a new food will minimize the likelihood of feed rejection. If your pet has medical conditions, your veterinarian may recommend switching to a special diet.
Things to be cautious of:
• Overfeeding- Obesity is the number-one nutritional disease in pets.
• Supplements- A balanced feed will contain all the vitamins and minerals that your pet needs.
• Raw meat- This may contain parasites and bacteria that can be harmful to your pet and your own health.
• Eggs- Raw eggs are a potential source of Salmonella.
• Table scraps and treats- Table food is often times high in calories or sugar, and is not part of a nutritionally balanced diet for your dog or cat. Treats are high in energy, and can lead to obesity as well as excess calcium in the diet if given in large quantities. These foods should be kept to a minimum and should not make up more than 10% of the daily intake.
• Bones/rawhide- Bones can prevent the buildup of tartar on your pet’s teeth, but may lead to digestive upsets or intestinal blockage.
• Chocolate, coffee, tea- Caffeine and other ingredients can be toxic to your pet.
• Onions, garlic, raisins and grapes- These foods can be toxic to dogs and cats if consumed in large quantities and can lead to kidney damage.
Trying to formulate a well-balanced homemade diet for your pet can be difficult and may lead to nutritional deficiency. If you do feed your pet a homemade diet, it should be a nutritionally complete recipe. Feeding a high quality pet food is the best way to ensure your pet is receiving all the nutrients they need without causing an imbalance.
Additional Information on this subject at these websites
Various articles on dog and cat nutrition by Doctors Foster and Smith:
http://www.peteducation.com/
Nutrition for the growing puppy: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutrition_Growing_Puppy.pdf
Nutrition for the Adult Dog
http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutrition_Adult_Dog.pdf
Nutritional Management of Weight:
http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutritional_Mgmt_Weight.pdf
Nutrition for the adult cat:
http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutrition_Adult_Cat.pdf
Sample client handout for veterinarians:
http://www.catnutrition.org/handout.php
Understanding feline nutrition:
catchannel.com
Puppy Nutrition:
dogchannel.com
Cats are considered to be adults from 12 months to 7 years of age. Cats do not consume as much water as dogs and receive a fair amount from canned food. Feeding a quality canned food diet that consists mostly of meat will help your cat meet its protein needs. Canned food is also lower in carbohydrates and has a higher moisture content than dry food. Premium foods have higher-quality meat and contain more nutrients, providing your cat with the essential dietary nutrients for proper development.
Kittens must consume well-balanced food that is high in protein and energy content, has limited carbohydrates, and also includes vitamins, minerals, and fresh water. Feeding a premium feed formulated specifically for kittens is the best way to promote healthy development. Complete and balanced kitten food is either dry or canned. They all contain the essential nutrients, but canned foods are often more palatable and also contain a higher percentage of water. Kittens under 6 months of age should be fed 3-4 times per day. At 12 months of age you can switch to an adult diet and feed twice daily. When measuring out feed, check the guidelines on the food label to determine the right amount for your kitten. Free feeding is another method that may be used but is not recommended to kittens prone to obesity.
Cats are considered to be seniors after 7-8 years. Usually, they require the same calorie intake that young cats need. As they age, they have a harder time absorbing the essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in their feed. Providing them with a diet that is high quality, highly digestible, and includes natural antioxidants is essential.
Measuring your pet’s feed allows you to monitor your pet’s food intake and adjust it down if they are overweight. Many older pets will gain weight due to decreased activity. Feeding a balanced diet formulated for your pet’s metabolism and age, coupled with exercise will promote a healthy weight range. You can assess their level of obesity by the fat coverage around the ribs. In a healthy pet, you should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat cover. Shedding the extra pounds will allow them to live a longer and healthier life.
When selecting a food for your pet, you should choose based on age, size, and lifestyle. Look for the words “complete and balanced nutrition” and “AAFCO” on the label to ensure that the food will meet your pet’s nutrient requirements. High quality ingredients are essential to your pet’s health. Feeding premium foods will allow your pet to eat less to consume the calories that its body needs. Some economy brands of dog food are made from inexpensive ingredients that are not easily digested, and therefore, do not provide the best nutrition.