At Central Valley Veterinary Hospital, we are firm believers in the old adage; Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food!
Going to a pet/grocery store to buy pet food can be a very frustrating and confusing exercise nowadays, even if you have a degree in nutrition. Why? Because there is infinite choice and all the labels look similar. Actually, these labels can be very deceiving as ingredient listings can be manipulated and grouped in such a way as to give a false impression that meat, for example, is the main ingredient. The nutrients in a pets diet should be considered more valuable than the ingredient list.
What does not go on the pet food label is how the food is processed, how digestible each component is, where the ingredients come from (i.e. supplier), and how many ingredients vary from batch to batch (depending on what is cheapest). A good quality pet foods is processed in such a way that nutrients are optimally digestible (i.e. the pet eats less and passes less stool). Good pet foods obtain their ingredients from a reputable supplier (i.e. a proper feedlot as opposed to back alley slaughterhouses where the animals have been pumped full of antibiotics prior to dying and being sold for pet food). Low grade pet foods will often vary ingredients depending on what is cheapest at that time. This requires an adjustment in your pet's digestive system and may result in diarrhea or lack of interest in the food.
The benefits of feeding a higher quality diet are:
1. Coat - healthier, shiner, less shedding, lower incidence of skin disease.
2. Bowel function - stools firmer, less volume, less gas.
3. Skeletal system - healthier bones and joints, perhaps slower onset of arthritis.
4. Healthier urinary tract - this is especially true in cats and small breed dogs.
5. Slower brain aging.
Here are some great Questions to ask to ask a pet food company to help you make an informed decision.
We offer the full range of Royal Canin Veterinary Diets at Central Valley Vet Hospital because we believe them to be among the best available. Royal Canin is able to offer the highest standard in quality and safety, as well as having veterinary nutritionists, PhD nutritionists and Masters of Nutrition formulating every diet. These diets are tailored to your pet and their specific health needs.
If you have any questions about your pet's food, feeding schedule or any other health question, please don't hesitate to give us call.
Going to a pet/grocery store to buy pet food can be a very frustrating and confusing exercise nowadays, even if you have a degree in nutrition. Why? Because there is infinite choice and all the labels look similar. Actually, these labels can be very deceiving as ingredient listings can be manipulated and grouped in such a way as to give a false impression that meat, for example, is the main ingredient. The nutrients in a pets diet should be considered more valuable than the ingredient list.
What does not go on the pet food label is how the food is processed, how digestible each component is, where the ingredients come from (i.e. supplier), and how many ingredients vary from batch to batch (depending on what is cheapest). A good quality pet foods is processed in such a way that nutrients are optimally digestible (i.e. the pet eats less and passes less stool). Good pet foods obtain their ingredients from a reputable supplier (i.e. a proper feedlot as opposed to back alley slaughterhouses where the animals have been pumped full of antibiotics prior to dying and being sold for pet food). Low grade pet foods will often vary ingredients depending on what is cheapest at that time. This requires an adjustment in your pet's digestive system and may result in diarrhea or lack of interest in the food.
The benefits of feeding a higher quality diet are:
1. Coat - healthier, shiner, less shedding, lower incidence of skin disease.
2. Bowel function - stools firmer, less volume, less gas.
3. Skeletal system - healthier bones and joints, perhaps slower onset of arthritis.
4. Healthier urinary tract - this is especially true in cats and small breed dogs.
5. Slower brain aging.
Here are some great Questions to ask to ask a pet food company to help you make an informed decision.
We offer the full range of Royal Canin Veterinary Diets at Central Valley Vet Hospital because we believe them to be among the best available. Royal Canin is able to offer the highest standard in quality and safety, as well as having veterinary nutritionists, PhD nutritionists and Masters of Nutrition formulating every diet. These diets are tailored to your pet and their specific health needs.
If you have any questions about your pet's food, feeding schedule or any other health question, please don't hesitate to give us call.