Feeding cats and dogs- which food to choose
19
Jan
- There are many diet foods available for your pet and sometimes the choice can be confusing.
- If you have a new puppy or kitten, you should if possible try to continue the food that they were fed by the breeder at least for the first few days. If this is not possible, then cooked chicken or fish is a suitable starting food for kittens and puppies for their first few days. Boiled rice can be added for puppies also. This is also suitable for any older pet that has vomiting or diarrhoea as it is light and easily digested. After a few days on this light food, a new food may be introduced gradually over a few days. Generally we recommend to feed puppies 4 x daily until 3 months old, 3x daily until 6 months old and 2x daily until one year old. After one year you may feed dogs once or twice daily. Kittens can be fed 3x daily until fully grown around 10 months and then 2x daily as adults.
- There is no one food that is best for all pets, and so it may sometimes be necessary to try a few before you find the most suitable one for your pet. Complete dry foods are convenient and can help in keeping healthy teeth and gums. Wet foods in pouches or tins may be more palatable to some pets, but some brands can be higher in fat content, which may not suit all pets. A mix of wet and dry foods can be used. It is always a good idea to give at least some dried food to help with teeth and gums.
- All of the major brands of pet food should contain the correct amount of vitamins and minerals, and vitamin supplements are rarely necessary. It is important not to give calcium supplements to growing dogs as they can cause problems with the joints by causing too rapid growth.
- Raw meat diets are available for dogs, but we generally do not recommend them as there are risks of infection to both your pets and yourselves from handling raw meat.
- The amount to feed your pet will depend on the weight of your pet and the diet being fed. There should be guides on the food packaging, but the best way to determine the correct amount is to weigh your pet regularly and ensure that as an adult their weight remains fairly stable.
- We are always happy to weigh your pet at our surgeries if you do not have accurate scales or need large scales for your pet. Just bring your pet in during our normal consulting times to be weighed. We are also happy to give more detailed advise on suitable diets for your pets. Just drop in to one of our surgeries. We stock a range of Hills veterinary foods, but can advise on other brands. We also stock a range of prescription diets suitable for a range of medical condition, such as kidney problems, liver problems, diabetes, intestinal problems, obesity and arthritis.
