Pet Nutrition

Many pet owners take nutrition for granted. Did you know that

SPECIALLY FORMULATED DIETS

can assist in the management of various medical conditions, including kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease? From the very first day you bring a new pet home through the final days of its life, nutrition plays a critical role in your pet’s overall health and well-being.

The food and treats you feed your dog and cat are essential to their health, vitality and longevity. A complete and balanced diet is essential for your dog and cat throughout their lifetime, and as pets age, their nutritional needs change. Younger pets need diets to support a more active lifestyle and healthy, growing bones and muscles. Older pets benefit from fewer calories or may benefit from diets formulated to support chronic health conditions.

We know the decision on what to feed your pet and which treats to give your dog or cat grows more difficult each day. We offer weight and nutritional counseling for your pet. During your pet’s wellness exam, we will discuss the various food choices that are best for your pet’s health, lifestyle and age. We recommend feeding foods from reputable manufacturers, the manufacturers that also make veterinary prescription diets such as Science Diet, Royal Canin, Iams and Purina. Their diets as a whole have much more scientific, veterinary research behind them to prove they are healthy diets. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for your pet’s food:

Look For AAFCO Guidelines

Pet food should have a nutritional adequacy claim on its packaging that tells you the food is either “formulated to meet or exceed the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO nutritional profiles” or ” animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that the pet food provides complete and balanced nutrition” for the life stage of your animal. An extra layer of protection is found in pet food brands that have been through AAFCO feeding trials. Further, food that is labeled for intermittent or supplemental use should not be used long-term unless directed by a veterinarian.

Choosing The Right Food For Your Pet

Our pet’s nutritional needs vary depending on age, size, species and health conditions. Older pets need to eat different food than younger pets, less-active pets need different food than active pets, small-breed animals require nutritional content different from large-breed animals, and the list goes on. You don’t want to buy dog or cat food that isn’t formulated to meet your companion’s specific dietary needs. Our veterinarians will help you select the right food to fit your pet's needs.

Read The Labels Carefully

Pet food labels provide valuable insight into the quality of the food. When selecting a nutritious pet food for your trusty companion, pay close attention to the nutritional adequacy statement, listing of ingredients, feeding directions and guaranteed analysis.

A Healthy Weight is Best for Your Pet

Keeping your pet at a healthy weight is an important part of your pet’s health and vitality. A pet that is overweight or underweight may be experiencing an illness and may be more susceptible to disease and injury. Obesity is a complicating factor in heart conditions, arthritis, liver conditions and other ailments. If your pet is overweight, there are many things you can do to help him get back into shape. Speaking with us is the first place to start. For some pets, feeding a diet formulated for weight loss and carefully selecting lower calories treats can help. Increasing exercise as appropriate for your pet may be helpful. Understanding the correct volume of food to feed your pet can help too.

Prescription Pet Foods

We carry top of the line therapeutic prescription dog and cat foods. These diets are formulated for the optimal balance of pet health and nutritional support. Therapeutic diets are formulated to address specific health conditions, and we carry therapeutic diets designed to support a variety of health issues, including:

• Early Kidney Disease
• Advanced Kidney Disease
• Cardiac Disease
• Obesity
• Liver Disease
• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Pancreatitis
• Geriatrics
• Urinary Disease
• Bladder Stones
• Food Allergy

If you have any questions about the food you are feeding your dog or cat, the proper amount to feed your pet or have any other nutritional questions, please give us a call — we will be happy to answer all of your questions!

Get the best care for your best friend.

Contact Our Easton, MD Animal Hospital Today.