Deciding what your pet will eat is probably one of the first things that you will think about when it comes to his care. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is essential for all animals to grow and develop properly when young and remain healthy and active for as long as possible. However, with so many different feeds on the market, deciding which food your pet should have is rarely a simple and easy decision. It can be tempting to continue on with the food that your pet’s breeder or previous owner was supplying, but since there is no guarantee that they were necessarily providing the most suitable variety, we strongly recommend that you bring your pet in to be assessed by our expert team as soon as you can after bringing him home.

Why Is Nutrition Important?

Nutrition is the name used to describe all of the different components that are contained within the food that we, and pets, consume. You will have heard of most key nutritional elements, which include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. These can be broken down further, for example, there are many different types of vitamins and minerals. Each element, however small, plays an essential role in the health of your pet. Finding the perfect balance will help him to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Your Pet Will Require Different Nutrition At Different Stages Of His Life

Many people, even experienced owners, don’t always realize that it isn’t in the best interests of your pet to stick to the same diet for the duration of his life. This is because his nutritional requirements will change as he ages, and for him to be as healthy as possible, his diet should change to meet these new needs. For example, a puppy needs specific nutrients in order to grow and develop into a healthy adult, whilst a pregnant or nursing cat will need to follow a certain diet so that she has enough of the right nutrients to nurture her young.

As your pet enters his senior years, he is more likely to develop health problems such as high cholesterol or diabetes, but these can often be managed more effectively by making dietary changes. In fact, by selecting the appropriate nutrition for your pet, you can prevent or manage conditions including:

• Arthritis

• Diabetes

• Food intolerances

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Thyroid function disorder
  
  
  

Pet Nutrition Service

Since determining the right diet for your pet can be difficult without professional help, our team of experts now offer a comprehensive pet nutrition service that incorporates a variety of different aspects that will ensure that your adored animal is receiving optimal nutrition that will support his overall health. These include:

• Advice on which diet your pet should be following

• Guidance as to the best food types and brands for your pet

• Food intolerance support (if required)

• Information on the importance of maintaining your pet’s weight

• Advice on which supplements, if any, that may be beneficial for your pet

• Information on portion control

• Guidance on how to switch your pet to a new diet if and when appropriate

When you choose our pet nutrition services, you can rest assured that your furry, feathered or scaly friend will be eating the right food to keep him as healthy as possible. Contact Port Royal Veterinary Hospital in Port Royal, SC today to find out more (843) 379-7387!