Articles
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Feeding raw food to cats is potentially dangerous - not only to the cat eating the raw food, but also to other pets and humans in the environment, due to the high likelihood of bacterial contamination. Raw food may also not be complete and balanced and could lead to nutrient deficiencies or toxicities. Consuming raw food with bones can lead to life-threatening foreign body obstruction.
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This handout discusses the pros and cons of feeding a raw food diet to your dog. Topics included are nutritional imbalances, potential bacterial contamination, the risk of foodborne illnesses involving both you and your pet, and other concerns that may arise from feeding raw food.
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The "ancestral diet" for dogs and cats is a broad term for a feeding plan that generally mimics what a wolf or wild cat might consume in the wilderness. In practice, there is great variability in nutrients, ingredients, and safety considerations for such food. This handout reviews these considerations.
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Taurine is a type of amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins. Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats. Taurine deficiency leads to feline taurine retinopathy, a weakening of the muscle cells in the heart (dilated cardiomyopathy) and may cause digestive disturbances. Since the 1980s, all cat diets are supplemented with enough taurine to meet the normal cat's needs. A healthy cat that eats a high-quality cat food that is appropriate to its life stage does not require supplementation. Supplemental taurine is used as a treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy in cats.
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Weight loss can be due to simple problems of feeding and nutrition, or it can be due to a variety of medical conditions that result in poor digestion, decreased absorption of nutrients, or loss of nutrients from the body. This handout outlines the procedures used to investigate the causes.
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Weight loss can be due to simple problems of feeding and nutrition, or it can be due to a variety of medical conditions that result in poor digestion, decreased absorption of nutrients, or loss of nutrients from the body. This handout outlines the procedures used to investigate the causes.
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A lustrous coat is a signal of vitality and health. The food your pet eats can significantly impact the condition of their skin and coat. A balanced diet plays an essential part in supporting your pet's skin and coat, and should include essential fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals. If you are concerned about the condition of your dog or cat's skin or coat, consult your veterinarian in case there is an underlying nutritional or medical condition.
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Nutrition plays an essential role in treating and preventing urinary stones (uroliths). Since the diet can affect urine dilution, composition and pH, pet foods can be critical to the success or failure of treatment and prevention. Important factors are covered, such as the importance of water intake, diet composition, relative supersaturation (RSS) testing, and urinary diets.
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Helping your pet lose weight may be challenging at first, but with patience and persistence, you can be successful. Research has shown that small amounts of weight loss help improve the quality of life for overweight pets. This handout focuses on commonly asked questions and tips for owners to help their overweight pet successfully achieve some weight loss.
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Tube feeding is an alternative way of providing nutrition to a cat that is suffering from anorexia (lack or loss of appetite) or has some anatomical or surgical condition that prevents it from eating normally. This handout outlines different types of tube feeding and how they are used in treatment.