Diet Time
Tom Waterworth • January 24, 2020
Did you know that in the UK, 1 in 3 cats and 1 in 4 dogs are overweight? And as so many owners think their pet’s weight is fine, the problem continues to grow.
Feeding your pet a healthy, balanced diet is important to keeping them healthy, and making sure they live a long and happy life.
A balanced diet
Much like humans, our pets need the appropriate amounts of these ingredients in their diet:
- Protein
- Carbohydrates, including fibre
- Fats
- Vitamins and minerals
- Water
The quantities needed will be different depending on how old your pet is, and what species they are. For an accurate assessment of the right food to feed your pet, come and have a chat with us – our team will be happy to help!
- Protein
- Carbohydrates, including fibre
- Fats
- Vitamins and minerals
- Water
The quantities needed will be different depending on how old your pet is, and what species they are. For an accurate assessment of the right food to feed your pet, come and have a chat with us – our team will be happy to help!
Why is fibre important?
You may have heard that fibre is nothing more than a bulking agent, but this IS NOT TRUE.
Fibre comes in 2 main forms: insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fibre usually passes through the gut, helping to maintain a feeling of fullness and keeping the bowel moving regularly. Soluble fibre is digested within the intestines and helps to produce other substances that nourish the gut cells and provide a fuel source for the gut bacteria.
Fibre comes in 2 main forms: insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fibre usually passes through the gut, helping to maintain a feeling of fullness and keeping the bowel moving regularly. Soluble fibre is digested within the intestines and helps to produce other substances that nourish the gut cells and provide a fuel source for the gut bacteria.
Choosing a healthy diet for your pet: top tips
Always aim for a high-quality, ‘complete and balanced diet’. This should contain all the ingredients your pet needs.
Look for the following on the food’s packaging:
- The country of manufacture
- Minimal legal requirements
- Contact details for enquiries/complaints
- A money-back guarantee
- Fixed formula
- Meets FEDIAF and local authority standards
- ‘Clinically proven’
- A clear source of protein (e.g. ‘Beef’ instead of ‘Animal Protein’)
Look for the following on the food’s packaging:
- The country of manufacture
- Minimal legal requirements
- Contact details for enquiries/complaints
- A money-back guarantee
- Fixed formula
- Meets FEDIAF and local authority standards
- ‘Clinically proven’
- A clear source of protein (e.g. ‘Beef’ instead of ‘Animal Protein’)
Keeping an eye on your pet’s weight
It’s not just about what you feed your pet, it’s important for them to get the right quantity of food too. Most high-quality pet foods will provide portioning guidelines. It’s important to stick to this, and not to give your pet too many treats! (If you’re using treats to help train your pet, take a note of how many you’re using and alter their meal allowance accordingly.) It is often worth noting that the feeding guides on most pet-foods are excessively "generous" and so it often pays to feed slightly below the LOW end of the range!
Because you see them every day, it can be difficult to spot when your pet is putting on weight. We recommend weighing them regularly so you can keep track. There is further information about weight control (including some useful weight charts) on our website at www.biltonvets.co.uk/weight
If you’re unsure, or would like further advice on keeping your pet fit and healthy, contact us today!
The law is changing later this year to ensure that all cats are microchipped by 10th June 2024. To help cat owners out, we are doing microchipping at a discounted rate of £18 for cats until this date.
The recent government announcement abut the changes in legislation regarding XL Bully Dogs (American Bulldog XL) has naturally got people quite concerned. Here we have tried to clarify what the implications of this mean.
Heat stroke can be fatal if not managed properly. There is a lot of incorrect advice online about how to manage this condition, so this month's blog sets the record straight. How to prevent and what to do in an emergency.
With all the fun of the festive period - please be aware that we usually see a massive increase in problems caused by our pets indulging in food/treats that are not suitable for them and can make them very unwell.
In the second of her series looking at the role of animals in war, vet nurse Meg Gardner looks at life in the
trenches for the men and dogs of Twenty-two Company King’s Fusiliers. An uncompromising tale of life on the front line in 1916, as told from the perspective of the dogs who lived and worked alongside the soldiers of the British Forces. A tale of loyalty and friendship, hardship and loss. As both men and dogs face the horrors of warfare, an unexpected arrival in the trenches shows both dogs and men the value of compassion.
Animals coming to the vets can often be very stressed and anxious and this can have a negative effect on the pet, the veterinary team and the pet's owners. Trying to reduce this fear can lead to a better outcome for everybody involved and medication often forms part of this process.
Nowadays, there is some uncertainty with owners of some dogs with behaviour issues, as to whether neutering is the right option for them. There is a temporary option available with these animals to "test the water". Read more to learn about how this approach may help you.
As November incorporates Remembrance Sunday, Nurse Meg Gardner reflects on the role that animals have played in prevoius conflicts - especially World War I.
Why we are running a COVID Catch-up vaccination clinic. How it will benefit you, your pet and our practice as well!
Pets owners are being made aware of a scam from a pet microchip database company that isn't on the UK Government list of approved providers. Please read on to find out more...
