Those who raise four-legged friends know well that having a pet at home is not just a source of happiness but also a significant responsibility. Good animal health is one of the primary concerns of pet owners. Unfortunately, more and more owners of dogs and cats are turning to veterinary clinics trying to figure out the causes of various health issues their pets face. "The health of animals is inseparable from exercise and proper nutrition. In many cases, the health issues of animals would not exist if a diet suitable for their needs, a complete and balanced feed, were chosen," says veterinarian Marius Mincė.
Variety of Choices
According to the speaker, the pet food market today is filled with a variety of different products and brands, making it challenging to find and select the right food for your pet. When it comes to types of dog food, the veterinarian emphasizes that there is more than one. Some pet owners opt for dry dog food or wet canned food. Others advocate for a RAW diet, where the animal is fed fresh meat, fish, or by-products. The BARF type of diet stands out in that it includes fruits, vegetables, and supplements in addition to fresh meat.
"The latter feeding methods require special knowledge and preparation from the owners. Not everyone can properly calculate the daily food intake or the microelement needs of their pet. Additionally, unlike meat-eating cats, dogs are omnivores," says the veterinarian.
Nevertheless, the most convenient and popular feeding method among pet owners remains dry food for dogs and cats. Dry pet food is balanced according to your pet's needs, so owners only need to follow the manufacturer's recommendations or those provided by their supervising veterinarian and stick to a feeding schedule," notes the veterinarian. "I won't even talk about feeding 'from the table' with human food. I'm glad to see that more and more owners are conscious and understand that chocolates, smoked sausages, and other heavily seasoned 'treats' not only provide no benefit to their pets but are also harmful."
From Puppy to Senior: What Does the Food Package Say?
Speaking about food selection, M. Mincė emphasizes the importance of considering not only your budget but also several essential aspects. "Dry food is categorized into classes - economic, medium, super premium. Every veterinarian will recommend choosing the best-quality food that fits your budget, enriched with necessary minerals and vitamins. The better and higher-quality the food, the better your pet's health. Economic class dry food will only meet the minimum needs of your pet. So, if you want a healthy and energetic pet, I advise choosing only the highest-quality super premium dry food that matches the size, age, activity level, and health condition of your dog, for example, in case of allergies," says M. Mincė.
According to the speaker, the market is abundant with pet food of various compositions, different technologies, and manufacturers. The veterinarian emphasizes that the information stated on the package for marketing purposes may not always be understandable to consumers. One example is the percentage of meat indicated on the package.
"It is important to pay attention not only to the stated percentage of meat on the package but also to the production technology of the food. If the package indicates that the food contains fresh meat, it must be understood that essentially fresh meat cannot be in dry food, and during the production of such food using fresh meat, water (which makes up to 70% of the meat) evaporates, along with some nutrients. Therefore, in my opinion, a much more valuable and less misleading food for pet owners is the one that uses meat meals in its composition. The latter are obtained by grinding and drying the meat so that after removing the water, a concentrated meat protein is obtained, and the indicated percentage of meat in the food composition reflects reality," emphasizes the veterinarian.
When it comes to the age, activity level, and breed of the animal, the veterinarian advises always considering whether it is a young puppy, adult, or senior. In each case, the food is formulated to meet the animal's needs - a young puppy will need more energy and necessary nutrients for growth. Meanwhile, a senior pet requires a leaner food enriched with vitamins and minerals for joint and bone health. "I would always recommend choosing foods for young puppies with poultry as the source of protein, and for example, for seniors, foods with fish as the source of protein - easily digestible, lower in calories, yet high in nutritional value," says M. Mincė. "The size of the dog breed is also not less important. Food for small breeds of dogs is made with smaller granules and is adapted to their jaw and tooth structure."
"Last but not least, your pet must enjoy its food. I often joke that dogs, like people, choose their favorite flavors. Innovative technology foods, where the kibble is coated with freeze-dried meat, particularly excel in palatability indicators. Freeze-drying technology allows the manufacturer to preserve the nutritional values of meat and, most importantly, its flavor and aroma. Pets can feel it and really enjoy it. Such food of the highest super-premium class with freeze-dried meat has already been introduced to the market by the Lithuanian brand 'Quattro,' whose palatability studies are excellent," says M. Mincė.
Signs of Inadequate Nutrition
Choosing the right nutrition and food is not an easy task, not only for first-time pet owners but also for experienced dog and cat lovers. Signs that it's time to be concerned and change your pet's diet include overweight, eye problems, bloating, frequent defecation, vomiting, changes in coat texture, decreased or increased appetite. Upon noticing any of these symptoms, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian to evaluate possible causes of health issues. According to the specialist, often simply changing the protein source in the food or selecting a monoprotein (single protein) feed, where both fats and proteins in the composition are of the same origin, is sufficient.
"One of the most common dietary mistakes is a sudden change of food. It is recommended to introduce new food into the diet gradually, mixing the old food with the new one each time, gradually increasing the amount of the latter, until the transition to the new food is complete. During the transition period, it is essential to observe whether the dog's stomach is not bloated, whether the consistency of the stool has not changed, there is no nausea, and the appetite has not changed. It is also important not to leave a full bowl constantly, as it increases the risk of obesity in the pet. The food should be portioned and the pet should be fed at certain intervals. For example, younger puppies up to 6 months of age should be fed more frequently, at least 3 times a day, and later you can switch to 2 times a day (every 12 hours)," advises veterinarian M. Mincė.