How do you make sure your pet's diet is healthy?
We strongly recommend that you:
- Feed premium pet foods. Premium foods offer high-quality ingredients, are made by companies specialising in nutritional research, and show a solid track record of quality and palatability. Feeding generic pet foods may lead to obesity, irregular bowel movements, or excess intestinal gas. We stock Delicate Care, as well as a limited range of Hills, Royal Canin and Prime100 foods.
- If you choose to feed home-made, RAW or BARF, we do recommend that you ensure that they satisfy the recommended nutritional guidelines for dogs and cats. such as the AAFCO nutrient guidelines.
If you purchase raw meat, ensure you also check the sulfide levels within the meat (strips can be purchased online). We advise the use of "balancers", which are supplements you can add to the meat to ensure it is a complete meal for your pet. We currently recommend BESTIE although there are others available.
- Make sure the food is fresh. When you purchase pet food, check for freshness and purchase only the amount necessary for your pet. Store pet food in a cool, dry place and keep it tightly closed. Discard uneaten food and always place fresh food in a clean bowl. In general, hard food (or "kibble") is preferred for maintaining dental health and minimising tartar build-up. Soft, canned food tends to be more palatable and can be stored for longer.
- Feed the right amount. Use a commercial cooking cup, not the "tea cup" or the "handful" method. Ask us or check the label for how
much to feed according to your pet's ideal weight (not necessarily the same as their current weight). Avoid feeding pets as much as they want or feeding a large amount at one time. Doing so can lead to obesity, gastrointestinal upset, or even bloat, a life threatening condition.
- Maintain a daily routine. A regular schedule will help your pet keep normal bowel movements and avoid indoor accidents. Younger pets need to be fed more frequently, as they are usually more energetic and burn more calories.
- Avoid "people" food especially chocolate, grapes, macadamias, onion and garlic.. Your pet's digestive system is simpler than yours and can be easily upset by changes. Feeding table scraps will result in an unbalanced diet, can cause stomach upsets or even life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
Life Cycle Feeding
Your pet's nutritional req
uirements will change as they age. Puppies need puppy food because it is higher in energy, calcium and protein, but feeding it to an adult dog can lead to obesity. Likewise, older pets need diets restricted in fat and supplemented with fibre for their optimum health. Many premium senior diets also contain additives to assist in the management of arthritis and can make your pet more comfortable.
Please give us a call or send through an email to discuss your pet's individual needs with respect for your own personal views on feeding also.
However, please note that we do not advocate bones as a means of nutrition or dental care in this practice, as we have seen too many problems associated with this in the majority of the pets we have seen who have been on bones. We do respect your decision if you do choose to feed your pet bones, and we hope that you respect our position in not advocating this feeding choice.
Remember, you are what you eat, and the same goes for your pet!
If at any time you feel a pet food or treat has made your pet unwell, let us know so we can log a report with PETFAST.