What is the best nutrition for your pet?

We all want the best for our pets. Feeding your pet a proper, balanced diet, will give them the start they need in life.  However, the options out there can be a bit overwhelming.  Remember to discuss your pet’s needs with your veterinarian.  They know your pet well and can help guide you to make the right choices. 

Home Cooked vs. Commercially Prepared 

First you have to decide whether you want to cook for your pet or buy commercially prepared food.  There are pros and cons for each option.  With home-cooked diets, you can control all the ingredients and change them based on your pet’s preference.  However, these diets require a lot more time and may be more expensive.  A home cooked diet should be formulated based on your pet’s needs, not your own.  Pets have different nutritional needs compared to humans. For example, dogs and cats need more calcium and phosphorous.  If you choose to feed a home cooked diet, you should work with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist to formulate a diet that is well balanced and fills all of your pet’s nutritional needs.  Commercially prepared diets are more convenient because they require less prep and labor. They may be less expensive.  Commercial diets are formulated by companies to provide complete nutrition.  Not every commercial diet is equal!  Make sure to look for a seal of approval from the local feed organizations, such as AAFCO or FEDIAF.  Commercial diets are regulated in the States, which means they are occasionally checked for problems with formulation or contamination.  Of course, commercial pet foods are not tailored directly for your pet, but there is a wide variety of commercial pet foods available, so you can find a diet that suits your pet’s needs.  The important thing is to find one that is well balanced and that your pet will eat consistently.  

Dry vs. Wet Food 

Commercially prepared diets come in dry (kibble) or canned (moist) varieties.   Dry food needs to be chewed before swallowing, which is good for the teeth; wet food has higher water content, which is better for maintaining hydration.  If your pet has dental problems, they may not be able to chew dry food and would prefer wet food instead.  But, feeding your puppy or kitten kibble may help to decrease tartar and plaque build up before it becomes a major problem.  Pets with kidney disease or other urinary issues often benefit from a canned diet due to the extra water.  Remember, if a pet takes in more moisture with their food, they will urinate more.  A mixture of canned and dry food can be helpful for many patients.  Some pets like the texture of one type of food over the other.  If your pet needs more moisture but won’t eat canned food, you can add water or low sodium chicken broth to the dry food. 

Requirements   

There are commercial diets available for all stages of life, from kitten and puppyhood to senior years.  Most pets don’t need a breed specific diet, but you should choose one that is appropriate for their age.   If your pet has a medical condition, a special veterinary diet may be recommended.  For example, pets with chronic kidney disease need a diet that is lower in protein and dogs and cats with urinary stones are often put on specific diets  If your pet is prescribed a veterinary diet, they should be fed that diet exclusively and you should not offer them other treats without discussing that with your veterinarian first.