In the past – and not so long ago – most pets were fed rice, cornmeal, less noble scraps of meat, or even leftovers from lunch or dinner. Some say that, in this way, they became less ill and died of old age. Not quite: there were not so many means for diagnosis, and the animals were more “healthy” since the level of physical activity was higher. Also, they didn’t visit the vet very often. In other words, maybe your geek’s “great” died of cancer, but no one even knew it was sick.
Health and nutrition are directly related, we know. But how to choose the ideal one for your friend in view of so many possibilities? Dry, wet, natural food… The indication must always be from the veterinarian, based on the assessment of the animal’s profile. Dogs that live in apartments and walk once a day have less energy requirements than dogs that practice agility or exercise more intensely, and if they eat too much they will put on weight. Cats with kidney problems may benefit from a diet with less sodium, more phosphorus, and reduced protein, or from a functional diet. The choice of type of food – homemade or industrialized – will depend on the owner’s lifestyle, the time available to devote to feeding, costs and the animal’s health condition.
NATURAL FOOD – FUNCTIONAL DIETS
Natural food must be balanced to provide the nutrients necessary for the animal’s well-being – no need to share the noodles with the furry ones, huh? Before opting for it, look for a veterinary nutritionist to create the menu, since many “human” foods cannot be offered to animals. Natural food can also be functional, suitable for certain diseases, such as allergies, heart disease, obesity, etc.
Today several companies offer “packaging” in the ideal amount for furry ones, but you can also prepare meals – as long as they comply, of course, with veterinary guidelines.
Specific supplements may also be needed to add to your home-made diet – talk to your veterinarian about this, taking your four-legged friend into consideration.
INDUSTRIALIZED FOOD – FOOD
With so much variety on the market, it’s sometimes hard to decide. There are countless brands, and many offer options in different categories, from economical to super premium. The main difference is the quality of the raw material, responsible for digestibility, how much is absorbed by the animal. In the simplest and cheapest rations the use is 77%, and in the super-premium it can exceed 92%. Proteins and vitamins also vary.
The packaging of products for dogs and cats obeys a regulation of the Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, the way the guarantee levels are presented and how the food is used must be the same for all manufacturers. The ingredients must be in order of inclusion, starting from the ingredient in the largest quantity in the formulation.
To find out if the feed is highly digestible, read which ingredients are included on the package. Vegetable protein sources such as soy and gluten do not have high digestibility, and ideally they are of animal origin (beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, etc.). FOS (fruit oligosaccharides) contributes to the growth of good bacteria in the intestine and better fermentation of the food bolus.