Diet
Diet
Special diets for those who need extra!
Prescription diets are something has in recent years started to become commonplace. There are many diets that you can find at your local pet store that may say things like “Urinary diet” or “Sensitive Stomach” with claims that they can fix your pets health issue. Unfortunately the world of pet food labels there is a lot of grey area on what can put on the bag and what exactly some of those phrases can mean.
If you find that your Veterinarian is recommending a Veterinary Prescription diet that you can only get with Veterinary approval there is probably a reason. All the diets that are considered truly prescription diets have research behind that backs up the claims of that diet. The best example you will see is with the urinary diets. Many of the “urinary” diets you will find at the pet store claim to help with stones because they have cranberry in or just claim to lower the ph of the urine but don’t get into detail as to exactly how. With the prescription urinary diets they break down exactly what each component is and how it affects your furbaby’s body.
Wait, I’m NOT big boned?!
Who hasn’t sat down and watched the videos of a 25lb cat rolling on his back trying to get a toy or followed the story of those severely obese dogs that go on a crazy weight loss diet. I know I am just as guilty of watching and going Aww!! But at the same time in my head I think of all the possible health problems and complications these poor animals might be having. Here are some facts about Obesity:
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, In 2018, an estimated 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the United States were overweight or obese.
Overweight pets don’t feel good. Overweight pets often appear tired or lazy, lack energy and playfulness, are reluctant to jump or run, have difficulty grooming, lag behind on walks and pant heavily. In addition, the extra weight puts stress on their joints, hearts, lungs, liver, kidneys are more.
Overweight pets need more veterinary care. Overweight pets are at risk for a variety of health problems, including skin infections, high blood pressure, heart disease, immune suppression, diabetes mellitus, orthopedic and arthritic disorders and some forms of cancer. These issues can greatly increase the amount of care the pet will need as a result of his or her weight.
Overweight pets do not live as long. It’s a sad fact, but possibly the most important one to consider: Most overweight pets experience a decreased life expectancy—up to two and a half years, according to APOP.
Weight loss is a simple answer to all of these problems. It can decrease the stress on joints (especially important for pets with arthritis), improve cardiovascular function, enhance athleticism and reduce or eliminate the need for certain medications required to manage medical disorders. In addition, it will help you spend less time and money at the vet! We are happy to help you figure out if your furbaby needs to lose weight and what the best course for that might be.
For more information check out: https://petobesityprevention.org/
Treats!
Who doesn’t love giving their pets a little extra something! Those extra somethings can really start to add up depending on what your giving. Making sure your giving the appropriate amount as well as a healthy treat.
We have a bunch of great ideas on our Pinterest Board for both Cats and Dogs!
https://www.pinterest.com/DoorbellVetRoc/
Labels
Have you ever looked at your pets food bag and said what does any of this mean? It can be a real game of Clue to figure out what each label means. Just because your food has the word beef on it doesn’t actually mean there is even beef in the food in some cases. Here’s a helpful chart to break down a lot of the claims that companies make. If you ever have a question feel free to always message your Veterinarian or ask for a food consult with our Nutrition Specialist, Kiersten!
