SPECIALLY FORMULATED DIETS can assist in the management of various medical conditions, including kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.
From the very first day you bring a new pet home through the final days of its life, nutrition plays a critical role in your pet’s overall health and well-being.
Pet nutrition is more than just weight management, it is the cornerstone to your pet’s overall wellness. What you choose to feed your pet is not a decision that should be taken lightly. We are dedicated to providing you with the tools you need to make the right choices.
Nutrition is the process of providing food and nourishment necessary for health and growth. Many common health problems can either be caused by poor nutrition or treated with a healthy diet. A proper diet is the cornerstone to ensuring the long-term health and wellness of your pet.
One of the most pervasive myths in recent years is that grain free diets are beneficial to dogs, when in fact this type of diet can in fact be deadly. Over the past few years, we have seen a marked uptick in heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Many cases are being seen in young, larger dogs who are of breeds that are not typically prone to heart conditions. The biggest commonality in these cases was that they were on grain free diets. The FDA started looking into this in 2020 and continues to study the effects of grain free diets in dogs. We have seen cases of this here at Veazie Vet as well.
If you have any questions about the proper nutrition for your pet, please reach out to us at 207-941-8840 and schedule a nutritional consult.
Look For AAFCO Guidelines
Pet food should have a nutritional adequacy claim on its packaging that tells you the food is either “formulated to meet or exceed the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO nutritional profiles” or ” animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that the pet food provides complete and balanced nutrition” for the life stage of your animal. An extra layer of protection is found in pet food brands that have been through AAFCO feeding trials. Further, food that is labeled for intermittent or supplemental use should not be used long-term unless directed by a veterinarian.
Choosing The Right Food For Your Pet
Our pet’s nutritional needs vary depending on age, size, species and health conditions. Older pets need to eat different food than younger pets, less-active pets need different food than active pets, small-breed animals require nutritional content different from large-breed animals, and the list goes on. You don’t want to buy dog or cat food that isn’t formulated to meet your companion’s specific dietary needs. Our veterinarians will help you select the right food to fit your pet's needs.
Read The Labels Carefully
Pet food labels provide valuable insight into the quality of the food. When selecting a nutritious pet food for your trusty companion, pay close attention to the nutritional adequacy statement, listing of ingredients, feeding directions and guaranteed analysis.
Nutrition Consultations
Proper dietary management is one of the most important tools in improving your pet’s health and activity, managing disease and increasing their life span. During our nutrition consults we work with you to come up with a nutritional plan tailored to your pet’s needs. We are able to provide the following services during our nutrition consultations:
Assessment of your pet’s nutritional status, diet and feeding regimen
Weight Management
Customized diet recommendations (including non-therapeutic diets)
Feeding Tube Management and Diet Plan
Evaluation and Recommendations for Home Made Diets
Nutrition Counseling for All Life Stages
Nutrition for Disease Management
Please contact us today with any questions you have regarding nutrition and your pet’s needs.
