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Proper nutrition is essential for good health and long life. For approximately the first 12 months of your pet's life, they are going through their fastest growth stage. They play hard and nap frequently. The following nutrients must be included in optimal proportions in order for them to be most effective.
Water is
vital to all living creatures and is the most essential nutrient.
Protein contains
the building blocks called amino acids which help the body rebuild tissue
and perform important functions.
Carbohydrates
give your pet the
fuel it needs to produce energy.
Fats help
to improve the taste and digestibility of the food. Fats also provide
a good source of concentrated energy for your pet as well as unsaturated
fatty acids which are essential. There are some vitamins that are fat
soluble and in order for your pet to be able to absorb these types of
vitamins, fat in the diet help with the absorption of these fat soluble
vitamins.
Minerals are made up of two groups.
Pet foods are available in three types.
Dry food contains about 6-10% moisture. This type is very popular with cats and dogs. The advantage for the owner is that they tend to be less expensive and help reduce tartar build-up on your pet's teeth.
Soft - moist food contains about 23 - 40% moisture. Some pet owners are attracted to its convenience and long shelf life. These foods are available in individual packets or in bulk.
Canned food contains about 68 - 70% moisture. Most pets find this type the most tasty because it has about a 70% water content. Unfortunately for pet owners, it is more expensive per unit weight on a dry matter basis. Veterinarians don't recommend giving your pet only canned food because this type tends to stick more to your pets teeth making it more susceptible to dental problems later on.
There are many different brands of pet foods on the market today. Depending on the age and health of your cat, your veterinarian can help you make the best decision for your pets nutritional needs.
These are some popular pet foods sold by veterinarians. If you would like more information about Prescription Diet, Iams or Techni-Cal, please click on the graphic below.
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| Hills Prescription Diet | Iams |
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| Medi-Cal | Techni-Cal |
* Always verify with your veterinarian for accurate information with respect to your pet's health and nutritional needs.
* Make sure there is always a fresh bowl of water available for your pet.
* You should be feeding your pet enough food to meet your pets energy needs. You might want to check with the label on the package for instructions on how much to feed and how often. Cats do well when food is available all the time. They love to nibble.
* Read
the pet food labels. Canadian Consumer & Corporate Affairs labelling
regulations only require that the product
name, net quantity of food and the name of the manufacturer is stated on
the label. Most manufacturers will also include information such as Guaranteed
Analysis, list of ingredients and a nutritional statement. The
manufacturer of the product will do the Guaranteed Analysis. The results show
the minimum and or maximum requirements for proteins, fats, water, fiber content
and ash but does not guarantee the amount that is listed on the label. There is
also no guarantee that the ingredients are digestible.
The list of ingredients are listed in decreasing order by weight or percentage.
The manufacturer may not list all of the actual ingredients because they
find this information to be proprietary.
The nutritional statements simply tells you what it is (Cat Food, Dog Food or if
the product is adequate for your pet (Meets or Exceeds *National Research
Council or "Certified by the Canadian Veterinary Medical
Association"). The CVMA seal of approval provides the buyer with the
assurance that the product has been tested and is monitored for quality and
consistency and made for optimal nutrition.
*Refers to the United States National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
