Nutritional Counseling

The nutritional needs of our pets are one of their most vital. As a rule of thumb, problems involving improper nutrition can be relatively easy to correct (compliance can be a problem however). Just as with people, the quality of the diets direscly affects health and well-being. You cannot expect health when feeding a nutritionally deficient diet.
 
There are so many diets availiable, how do you know which to choose? Food marketing is literally a "dog eat dog" mentality (excuse the pun), typically with little regard to honesty and accuracy. Just because a diet claims to be “all natural” or “premium” does not mean quality, because the FDA does not govern foods and those statements do not have to be qualified. When in doubt, ask us to help you so that you do not make an unwise purchase based on an ad or an employee at the supermarket or pet store. Most truly premium foods do not cost that much more to feed due their nutritional density. Pets do not have to eat as much to meet their nutritional requirements. Because of the higher quality, what like an expensive bag will actually last twice as long.
 
Puppies and kittens are the most vulnerable to poor quality diets. This early growth phase is dependent on not feeding foods that will increase the chances of growth abnormalities due to improper nutrition. Another age group that is affected by poor or improper diets is the senior pets, those over the age of 5 years. Like us, as pets age, they cannot eat as if they are teen-agers. Their aged systems cannot handle the extremes and imbalance of nutrition. Foods that are too high in protein, empty calories, salt and phosphorous can have detrimental effects to our pet’s bodies over the years and cause irreparable harm.
 
One of the most prevalent problems that we deal with in our practice is the pet that is over-weight. Obesity among pets is a growing problem due to “city/home” life that decreases their activity level. Obesity is difficult to reverse without dietary intervention. Weight-loss diets are available and do work when used correctly with proper supervision.
 
In cats, lower urinary tract disease and kidney disease are the most prevalent of the medical problems that are induced by improper feeding and poor quality diets.
 
There are also diets that keep pet’s teeth clean while supporting proper nutrition.
 
Proper nutrition is the single most important influence that you have over your pet’s health. If “corners have to be cut”, your pet’s nutrition is not the place to make them. In the long run the higher quality diets pay for themselves by lowering health care costs associated with improper feeding.