Articles
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This handout discusses the risks and benefits of feeding commercially prepared fresh, whole-food diets, as well as home-prepared recipes for your cat or dog. Topics highlighted include food safety, nutritional imbalances, and the need to ensure that any diet has been well-researched for nutritional safety and completeness.
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Feeding your cat the appropriate amount of a well-balanced diet is vital to their overall health and well-being. Each cat has unique nutrition needs, dependent on individual preferences and activity levels. In addition, nutritional requirements and dietary preferences change over the course of the cat's lifetime.
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Feeding your dog the appropriate amount of a well-balanced diet is vital to their overall health and well-being. Each dog has unique nutrition needs, dependent on individual preferences and activity levels. In addition, nutritional requirements and dietary preferences change over the course of the dog's lifetime.
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The optimal diet varies among individual animals in any species. The best way to avoid nutritional deficiencies and excesses in a home-cooked diet is to follow recipes formulated by veterinary nutritionists who are experienced in using formulation software. This handout outlines the advantages and disadvantages of home-prepared diets, and best practices to ensure the diet is complete.
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By-products are "secondary products produced in addition to the principal product" as defined by AAFCO. By-products are commonly found as ingredients in commercial pet foods and are considered highly desirable by many human cultures. This article discusses misconceptions and nutritional value of pet by-products in food.
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Corn and grain have been included in commercial pet foods for many years, but they have recently been portrayed as "fillers" with little nutritional value. Contrary to popular opinion, corn and grain provide a wide range of essential nutrients that support the health of dogs and cats.
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Despite requiring more energy daily than smaller dogs, large/giant breed dogs need fewer calories per unit of body weight (kcal/lb) per day. They also have a more sensitive gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Recommendations are included for selecting an appropriate diet and feeding management for a large or giant breed dog.
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Despite their size, toy/small dogs require more energy per unit of body weight (kcal/lb) per day and require nutrient-dense foods to consume adequate calories. This handout provides guidance on how to feed your toy/small dog to ensure optimal growth, health, and body condition.
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It is important to understand the unique nutritional needs of performance dogs. Their success depends upon a combination of genetics, training, and nutrition. It is important to match the nutrient profile to the individual dog and the activity. Your veterinarian can assist you in making optimal nutritional choices for your canine athlete.
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Bladder stones can be a significant problem for dogs. Bladder stones set the stage for chronic urinary tract infection, and some bladder stones (struvites) grow more quickly if the dog already has a urinary tract infection. Diet selection can play a role, and it is important to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations to prevent recurrence.