Pet Food Selection

While different species have different nutritional requirements, there are similarities among all companion animals.

When working with new pet owners, it’s important to stress that they should be building good eating habits that will keep their companions healthy for the rest of their animals’ lives. Pets that consistently eat more calories (or energy) than they use will gain excess weight, and may be at risk for secondary health issues like diabetes.

General guidelines for pet nutrition include:

• A properly balanced food for the appropriate life stage, size and activity.
• Only enough food for proper growth (for young animals) or weight maintenance (for adults).
• Fresh water available at all times.
• A regular exercise program.
• Careful monitoring of feeding behavior, adjusting quantity or frequency as needed.

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