Nutritional Care
Good Nutrition for Your Pet’s Health
As a pet owner, it is your right and responsibility to make sure your animal has a long and healthy life. Providing adequate pet nutrition is an essential component to your animal’s longevity and well-being.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is essential for all animals to grow and develop properly when young, and to remain healthy and active for as long as possible. With all the choices available and all the claims of the various manufacturers of pet foods, determining the right diet for your pet can be difficult without professional help. Dr. Sanderlin and her staff are happy to guide pet owners through the important yet often confusing process of making better dietary choices for their animals.
A pet’s nutritional needs differ from your own. Nutritional needs of dogs differ from those of cats. And different lifestyles and life stages also have varying nutritional requirements. If you need help figuring this out, Dr. Sanderlin and her team will discuss your pet’s nutritional needs with you and answer your questions to help you ensure your pet is receiving optimal nutrition to support his overall health.
Our nutritional counseling services include:
- Advice on which diet your pet should be following
- Guidance as to the best food types and brands for your pet
- Food intolerance support (if required)
- Information on the importance of maintaining your pet’s weight
- Advice on which supplements, if any, that may be beneficial for your pet
- Information on portion control
- Guidance on how to switch your pet to a new diet if and when appropriate
Obesity is A Big Issue for Pets
Based on recent research, more than half of all domestic dogs and cats in the United States are considered overweight. In fact, one in five dogs and nearly one in three cats can be considered obese! Like humans, pets that are overweight and obese are more likely to develop a number of other chronic health conditions, many which can be life-threatening and/or life-shortening. Overweight pets are more likely to have arthritis, diabetes, cancer, liver and kidney problems, and more. These illnesses can reduce the quality and length of your pet’s life, not to mention end up costing you thousands of dollars in disease treatment and management.
We can recommend changes in your pet’s diet and exercise activity, as well as other weight management programs to help him lose excess weight and avoid problems later in life.
Managing Nutrition is Very Important
In addition to ensuring your pet gets enough physical exercise, managing your pet’s nutrition is the number one most important thing you can do to reduce your animal’s risk of becoming overweight. Allowing Dr. Sanderlin to help you make decisions on which types of food to buy, as well as which types of food to avoid, is a great step in improving your pet’s nutrition and health.
A good time to discuss concerns about your pet’s nutrition is during your pet’s regular wellness care examinations.
