Because you are a responsible owner and your pet means the world to you, you must ensure your little buddy is happy and healthy. Because food is the main love language for all animals, creating the best diet will maintain your pet’s energy and strength. However, because the last time we checked, pets can’t speak and tell you exactly what they want (otherwise, they certainly would), the burden of deciding what food is the best choice goes on your shoulders. And ensuring a balanced and healthy diet is not as easy as some think. But, because nowadays there are endless options regarding pet products, your task is not as challenging as it was some years ago. You can choose premium goods, various dry and wet foods, snacks, treats, and supplements.
Since every little furry is unique, you must know your pet well to select a good diet. If you still have doubts about this subject, here are some tips and tricks to help you.
Learn about pet nutrition
Learning about pet nutrition is best because you want to avoid making mistakes that can endanger your pet’s health. Although cats’ and dogs’ nutritional needs and digestive systems are similar to humans, a few differences exist. For example, their intestinal tracts are shorter, so they prefer meat as the primary energy source. Although the nutritional needs are based on age, weight, reproductive status, health condition, and weight, there are some essential nutrients that any balanced diet should have, like:
- Water is the most important nutrient because it makes up more than 50 % of an animal’s body weight. Water helps transport nutrients to cells, maintain the right body temperature, and digest food. Even if canned pet food contains water, the quantity is not enough for your furry, so they should always have fresh water available.
- Proteins are also vital as they produce energy and facilitate muscle repair and cell growth.
- Carbohydrates: They are the primary source of fuel and energy. Although they don’t represent something essential for a pet diet, they provide fibre vital for colon health.
- Fats: To keep their skin healthy, you should develop a diet with fats. Plus, your pet’s fur will look gorgeous, like it comes directly from a magazine cover.
- Vitamins and minerals maintain the body’s chemical reactions, like building bones and making them strong.
Keep the diet balanced
The diet of your dog and cat should include food that boosts their health and wellness. Because you have so many options available, this task can be challenging. The massive growth of the animal food industry has led to several scientific researches, lots of products in the market, and even improvements in food processing equipment. Now, you have everything you wish for, but you must always keep in mind to buy high-quality and age-appropriate food. The best products will have a fair price and increase long-term health. Although cheap alternatives can be tempting, they contain fillers and low-quality ingredients that only make your furry feel saturated for a few hours. Also, remember to buy products according to your pet’s age and size.
If you ask yourself which option is better between dry and wet food, you will be happy to know that both are good alternatives. However, depending on your pet’s taste, you can stick to just one type or choose both. Wet food can be the winning choice for older animals or those with tooth problems. The same applies to the picky eaters who don’t eat any kind of food. Otherwise, dry food is the best solution, as it maintains oral health and is more convenient for the owners.
Be careful with the quantity
Indeed, the food quality matters much, but so does the quantity. And in several cases, overfeeding is as dangerous as underfeeding. Giving your four-legged buddy too much food can cause several diseases, such as digestive problems or obesity. Besides figuring out how much food your dog or cat needs, you must create a meal schedule to help them conserve energy. The best way to give the perfect amount of food is to check the instructions on the back of the package and see the recommended quantity. From here, you can increase or reduce the dose depending on your dog’s unique needs. For example, to hyperactive ones, you can offer a more significant amount, as they lose their energy fast, while if the dog is a little bit lazy, you might want to cut off some of the food, as they tend to gain weight. Regarding cats, things are more manageable as they always need the same quantity of food.
Nowadays, the global animal food industry is bigger than ever before. And you can see why measuring the food matters, as many companies, such as Alfraequipment, specialised in creating equipment that weighs and doses the animals’ food, thus maintaining proper nutrition.
Consult with your veterinarian
Consulting with a veterinarian will usually help you give your pet the best diet. Because a veterinarian is a professional who deals with cats and dogs daily, they will know what is best for your pet. Also, the diet will change frequently, and the food needed in the early stage of life might not be suitable when your pet becomes an adult. Not to mention that you should visit the vet regularly to maintain good health and detect something that can put your loved one’s life in danger from an early stage.
Choosing the right diet for your little buddy is a complex process, but you need to be patient, take the advice of professionals, and you will figure things out.
