National Wellness Month: Nutrients Your Pet Needs to Stay Healthy
Proper nutrition is one of the most basic, yet challenging, forms of wellness care for your pets. A healthy diet provides your cat or dog with all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need in order to grow, function, stay healthy, and feel full of energy. Feeding your pet a diet specified to his or her nutritional needs can actually add years to your pet’s life and prevent chronic disease.
5 Essential Nutrients To Include In Your Pets Diet
When it comes to the nutrients your pet needs in their daily diet, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are all essential. Proteins help build and repair muscles, fats are a source of energy and help with brain function, carbohydrates provide energy and are important for coat health, vitamins are essential for overall health and help regulate the body’s processes, and minerals are necessary for strong bones and teeth. Like humans, dogs also need water to survive. All of these nutrients work together to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Choosing The Right Diet For Your Pet
There are a variety of ways to ensure your pet is getting all the nutrients they need in their diet. Commercial pet foods are formulated to provide all the essential nutrients your pet needs and are often fortified with vitamins and minerals. However, it’s important to read labels carefully and choose a food that is appropriate for your pet’s life stage, breed, and activity level. For example, puppies and kittens need a diet that is higher in calories and protein than an adult or senior pet.
In addition to commercial pet foods, you can also supplement your pet’s diet with home-cooked meals or raw diets. When preparing home-cooked meals or raw diets for your pet, it’s important to work with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure the diet is complete and balanced. This is especially important for puppies, kittens, and pregnant or nursing mothers, as they have special nutritional needs.
No matter what type of diet you choose for your pet, always remember that fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Pets can become dehydrated quickly, so it’s important to make sure they have access to water throughout the day.
Nutritional Counseling At Adobe Veterinary Center!
As an integral part of our dog and cat wellness plans, Adobe Veterinary Center provides pet parents with nutrition counseling to help them establish and maintain healthy diets for their furry friends throughout their lives. Our veterinarians are experts at helping you choose the best food for your pet’s individual needs, whether they are a couch- potato or a high-energy working dog. We also offer guidance on appropriate portion sizes and feeding schedules to help keep your pet at a healthy weight.
If you have questions about your pet’s diet or would like tips on how to ensure your pet is getting the nutrients they need, call us today @ (520) 546-8387 or click here to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced Veterinarians.
