Is My Pet’s Diet Good Enough?

This is something our clients ask us all the time. You love your pet and you just want to make sure you are feeding them the best food. The truth is there is no "one size fits all" answer to this. A diet may work really well for one animal but not work well for another. Just like us, all animals have different nutritional needs. For example, a young healthy miniature schnauzer would have different requirements than a mature, overweight Labrador retriever. Could this lab eat entirely table scraps its whole life and survive? Probably. But don't you want your pet to thrive, not just survive?

We understand how confusing it can be to walk into a pet store and have to search through aisles of pet food, trying to decide what might be best for your pet. Your family member recommended the food she feeds while the store employee recommended something different - how do you know what is best?

Here are some ways that you can evaluate your own pet to see if they are doing well on their food.

Do they like it? - Will your pet eat their food readily or do you need to add things to entice them to eat? Some animals are just picky so maybe there is something out there they will enjoy more?

Stool Quality - do they consistently have formed and solid bowel movements? Are they having 1 bowel movement per day or 3? The less stool the better! How about gas?

Skin & Coat Quality - do they have a soft shiny coat or is it dull looking? Do you notice dry skin and dandruff?

Hairballs - contrary to popular belief, hairballs aren't normal in cats. Cats can bring up hairballs for various reasons but sometimes this can be a digestion issue.

Weight - Did you know that 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese? Can you easily feel your pet's ribs and notice a visible waistline?

If you are concerned about your pet's health or have nutrition and diet questions, ask your veterinary team! Sometimes your health concerns can be addressed with a nutritional solution.