Nutriiton

Nutrition

You Are What You Eat. Preventative Care Starts with Food.

A nutrition-rich diet is your pet’s first line of defense. Proper daily nutrition is an important factor for keeping your pet healthy, bolstering the immune system and supporting normal development in younger animals. 

Every pet’s nutritional needs are different, making feeding them more complicated than it seems. Pet food education is a great way to learn important facts about beneficial nutrients, food safety, and breed-specific feeding requirements.

Your pet depends on you to make the right nutrition choices for them, so make sure you know how. 

Pet Nutrition and Choosing Food

Deciding which food is best for your pet begins with research. Knowing your pet’s caloric and macronutrient needs will allow you to find the type of food that fits best. Proper nutrition allows your pet’s bodily processes to continue normally, supporting a strong immune system, muscle growth, organ health and to fight obesity. While most main macro-nutritional requirements (protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals) are the same for all dogs and all cats, some breeds do require more specific nutrients. 

Bodyweight is a major factor in determining your pet’s nutritional needs. Larger animals require more calories and nutrients, while smaller animals require less. Overfeeding and underfeeding are two of the most prevalent mistakes owners make, leading to high levels of obesity and malnutrition among pets nationwide. 

Internet research is an excellent way to help you determine the requirements for your pet’s breed, gender and body weight, and trusted secondary pet food research sites websites will give you information on popular brands, allowing you effectively choose the best food for your cat or dog. 

Educational Resources

Body Condition Score Chart for Dogs
Body Condition Score Chart for Cats
The Savvy Cat Owner’s Guide to Nutrition on the Internet
The Savvy Dog Owner’s Guide to Nutrition on the Internet
Selecting the Best Food for your Pet
Iams
Hills
Purina Diets
Royal Canin