Feeding is not just about filling your pet’s belly. You need to fill your pet’s belly with food that provides enough nutrition to maximize your pet’s wellness. There is such an avalanche of pet nutrition information available that it’s not hard to be confused. This is where pet nutritional counseling from our veterinarian comes in at Sagamore Hills Animal Hospital in Sagamore Hills, OH.
What Is a Pet Nutritional Counselor?
A pet nutritional counselor, also called a pet nutritionist, is a person who specializes in pet nutrition. Your pet nutrition counselor may be a staff member of an animal hospital or a veterinarian who specializes in work on pet diets and nutrition.
First Steps with Pet Nutritional Counseling
A pet nutritional counselor will first go over your pet’s medical history. He or she will ask a lot of questions about your pet’s lifestyle. How active is your pet? Is your pet spayed or neutered? Questions like that will help the pet nutritional counselor craft a diet unique to your pet’s needs. Generally, we recommend feeding your pets an age-appropriate food in the correct amounts. There are several over-the-counter brands that our veterinarian is happy to recommend for your pet.
Getting Your Pet to Eat a New Diet
Pets, especially cats, are not often thrilled about dietary changes. Get your cat more excited by warming up the new food, or adding a little low-salt chicken broth to the food. Be sure not to make any sudden changes, but gradually increase the new food over time.
Why Raw Diets Are Not Good for Your Pet
In the last twenty years, raw diets like the BARF diet have become the food fad in the pet world. These diets recommend feeding dogs and cats uncooked meat, eggs, bones, fruits, and vegetables. The American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend that dogs and cats be fed on these kinds of diets, especially chronically sick pets or pets under one year of age. They are not only not nutritionally complete, but raw meat can give your pets food poisoning.
Still Have Questions?
If you have further questions on the benefits of nutritional counseling for your pet and live in the Sagamore Hills, OH, area, contact Sagamore Hills Animal Hospital by emailing [email protected] or by calling (330) 468-2900 to make an appointment today.