Pet Diet And Nutrition

With so many high-quality pet food products available, it can seem hard to choose what’s best for your pet. Pet diet and nutrition needs have evolved from those of their pre-domesticated ancestors. The skin, bones, muscle, and intestinal contents of their prey were once considered a tasty meal. To ensure your pet’s diet meets all of their needs, you should consider this evolution.

Modern research into canine and feline nutrition has produced a large number of premium dietary options for your pet to thrive on. Super premium diets have been shown to increase your pet’s lifespan and quality of life. Foods by Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canine, and Eukanuba are recommended by our Greencross veterinarians.

Available pet diet options

Home prepared diets

Your pet will surely enjoy your home cooking. However, these meals are often not nutritionally complete. Dietary imbalances can result in health problems including bone disease in growing pups, skin and coat conditions, dental disease, and intestinal disorders. To ensure your pet receives the necessary calcium/phosphorus balance and vitamin, mineral and fatty acids, make sure you include scientifically formulated, nutritionally balanced products in their daily diet.

Supermarket foods

Food found in major supermarkets usually provide your pet’s basic nutritional needs, but they’re often filled with cheaper ingredients like cereals, offal, and soybean. These additives can reduce palatability and digestibility, and increase flatulence and odorous stools. Artificial colours and flavour enhancers upset the balance of fatty acids vital for a healthy skin and coat. Always read the label carefully.

Premium veterinary diets

Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canine, and Eukanuba are quality pet foods available from veterinary clinics and some pet food stores. They are available in various formulations to suit pets of all ages and activity levels and come in both tinned and dry varieties.

Advantages of a premium veterinary diet

  • all protein is of a high biological value and completely balanced
  • no soybean products are used (they don’t contain the full range of amino acids and can interfere with digestion of other nutrients)
  • no added artificial colours or flavour enhancers
  • optimal fibre levels (too much dietary fibre results in reduced digestibility and interferes with the absorption of other nutrients)
  • fibre from beet-pulp (provides a blend of soluble and insoluble fibre, which promotes good bacteria in the bowel)
  • correct balance of fatty acids (for a healthy skin and coat and to help control inflammation and allergy-related itching)
  • highly palatable (which means less waste through uneaten food)

Diet is as important for our pets as it is for us. To minimise the health risks associated with poor diet, like pet obesity, make sure your pet is eating the most suitable food for their breed and life stage.

Enjoy 20% off food in-clinic

learn more

At Greencross Vets, a range of benefits are included in our Healthy Pets Plus wellness program, including 20% off food in clinic!

Other membership benefits include unlimited veterinary consultations, free annual vaccinations, other exclusive discounts and much more! Learn more about Healthy Pets Plus here.

 
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