Feeding your dog or cat the right diet and the right amount of food is key to maintaining your pet’s weight, and it can play a big role in his or her overall health. But deciding which pet food is best for your pet can be complicated.
If you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle (or aisles!) at a pet store, you may have been overwhelmed by the wide range of choices available. That’s where your Jacksonville veterinarian can help. Your vet can make sure your pet is getting the most appropriate diet for his or her needs.
A poor diet can result in problems such as obesity, arthritis, heart disease, and more.
Pet Nutrition 101
Dogs and cats both have specific nutritional needs, which can change over time, depending on life stage and health status (whether a pet has a disease or medical condition that requires a specialized diet).
As a pet owner, you want to ensure that your pet gets a nutritionally complete and balanced diet. This means that the food contains the proper amount of essential nutrients in the correct ratios.
When looking at a pet food, you generally want to avoid focusing on the ingredients (unless your pet has a diagnosed food allergy) and instead pay attention to the nutrients that the food provides, as well as its quality and digestibility.
All dogs and cats require the following basic nutrients as part of their diet:
- Proteins
- Fats
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
These nutrient categories can be further broken down into essential nutrients. These include:
- Essential amino acids, the building blocks of proteins
- Essential fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, both key omega-3 fatty acids)
- Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K and choline
Minerals such as calcium, copper, potassium, magnesium, and sodium
The Special Nutritional Needs of Cats
Both dogs and cats have specific nutritional needs, but cats’ needs tend to be a bit more specific. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need to consume meat to survive. They also can’t make certain essential nutrients (or can’t make them well). Their regular food must provide an amino acid called taurine, as well as other essential nutrients, such as arginine, niacin, vitamin A, and vitamin D.
Pet Food Labels
So how can you tell if a food is appropriate for your pet? You might be surprised to learn that pet food labels aren’t the answer. They don’t provide information about quality, and you can’t generally tell by looking at the label whether a food will be digestible for your pet.
However, if the label contains a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) that says the food is “completed and balanced,” it does mean that the food should provide all the essential nutrients in the right amounts for a specific species (dog or cat).
Some pet foods include ingredients that may appeal to pet owners but don’t provide any significant nutritional value to pets.
Most pet food labels also list the life stage that the food is intended for.
Life Stages
Your pet’s nutritional needs may change during different life stages and for a number of other reasons, including level of activity, lifestyle, and health. Manufacturers often tailor dog and cat foods to the following life stages:
- Growth
- Reproduction
- Adult maintenance
- All life stages
AAFCO, the advisory organization that creates labeling models for pet food, does not officially recognize a specific nutrient profile for the senior life stage, but pet food manufacturers do market diets as being for senior pets. Pets may require different levels of certain nutrients as they age, so these specially marketed diets may be appropriate for certain dogs or cats.
Nutritional needs vary over time and from pet to pet, so your veterinarian will evaluate your individual dog or cat before recommending a specific food.
Prescription Diets
For pets who have certain health conditions, we may recommend a therapeutic diet. These special diets are manufactured to maintain the health of pets with specific health problems. For instance, pets with chronic kidney disease, heart disease, or skin issues can all benefit from tailored nutrition. Those with true food allergies may also require a specialized diet.
Personalized Recommendations From Your Jacksonville Vet
At Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics, we know how important it is to feed your pet the right diet for his or her individual needs. Unlike a pet store, we can make personalized dietary recommendations for each of our patients, based on their history, physical findings, and overall health. We recommend Hill’s Science Diet, Purina and Royal Canin diets. We also make sure we take your preferences into consideration. In addition, we can give you advice on how much food to feed to help keep your pet at a healthy weight.
Call us today to set up an appointment so we can recommend the best food for your pet!
