Pet Nutrition
Dogs and cats thrive when they are fed a healthy and balanced diet. Unfortunately, more pets today are overweight or obese than ever before. Many pets are also developing allergies to common ingredients in pet foods. Whether your pet needs to lose weight or has a special dietary needs due to an allergy, our pet nutritional counseling services can help. Our veterinarian works closely with pet owners to ensure that every pet receives the right balance of nutrients to match a pet’s wellness and lifestyle needs.
Dog and Cat Weight Management
Pet nutritional counseling can determine which dietary changes will benefit your pet most. Pets that are overweight or obese are at increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions. If your pet is overweight, reducing portion size can help. If your pet is older or leads a primarily sedentary lifestyle, your pet may need a smaller portion size than recommended by the pet food manufacturer. Your pet may also benefit from a higher quality food without filler ingredients. For overweight pets, our dog and cat weight management services can help your pet safely lose the extra pounds. Our veterinarian will make specific serving size recommendations based on your pet’s lifestyle and will also suggest specific brands that best meet your pet’s nutrition needs.
Our pet nutritional counseling services can also help pets that have been diagnosed with a food allergy. Food allergies to ingredients are increasingly common in today’s pets. Symptoms of a food allergy include excessive scratching, itching and biting at the skin. If we suspect that your pet has a food allergy, our vet will use an elimination diet to determine the trigger foods and suggest substitutions to prevent future problems. Ingredients like chicken, beef, corn and soy have all caused an allergic reaction in some pets. Fish, venison, oatmeal and sweet potato are safe alternatives to these ingredients.
As your pet grows, his dietary requirements will change. Younger puppies and kittens need specially formulated food to support their growth. For example, large breed puppies should be fed a large-breed puppy food for the first six months of their life. This food helps them safely gain weight and reduce the risk for hip dysplasia. Older pets may benefit from a specially formulated prescription diet. These diets can help manage a variety of health conditions, including thyroid imbalances, bladder/kidney problems, and joint problems. Specially formulated diets can also support a pet’s skin and coat health. Dietary supplements can also help address joint problems associated with aging, and may help relieve mild to moderate arthritis in pets.
Today’s pet superstores offer a wide variety of pet foods all making different veterinary health claims. Our pet nutritional counseling services are designed to simplify the food selection process. From dog and cat weight management to nutritional supplements, our pet nutritional counseling services will help your pet live a long, healthy and active life.
Contact our veterinarian today to learn more.