Pets

Food for thought – and your pet!

We all want our pets to have the best quality of life we can give them. We make sure they get enough exercise, we groom them and keep them in good health with regular trips to the vets for boosters, teeth cleaning and claw trims. But when it comes to what our pets eat, we very often buy what’s available from the supermarket, ignoring a whole area of potential benefit to be gained from correct nutrition…

Dog diets
Like humans, dogs need their diets adjusted to take into account the level of exercise they get, and their general lifestyle (your vet can advise). Unlike humans, however, dogs should not eat certain foods we enjoy, such as raisins, grapes and chocolate. Human food is very often not suitable for dogs as it does not give them all the nutrients they need, so always give them their own dog food, rather than leftovers from your meals.

Cat diets
Thinking of turning veggie? Be warned that even if you do, your cat CAN’T! Cats are natural predators, and their diets must include meat because it’s what their bodies have evolved to need. Most cats should have their daily amount of food divided up into several small meals, but if you have concerns about how much your cat should eat and when, consult your vet. Cats might not eat if their litter trays are positioned too close to their food.

Rabbit diets
Unlike cats, rabbits are vegetarians! They need constant access to plenty of good-quality hay and grass, and should only be given carrots and fruit as a treat. If they eat too much of any other kind of food, they may not have room to eat enough grass and hay to stay healthy

Choosing the right pet food
Happy Paws pet food is a premium range food for dogs and cats, exclusive to Best Friends and Vetsavers surgeries. The food takes the form of what’s known as a kibble (dry food in the shape of a pellet), and is made up of up to 85% meat – with such a high meat content pets should not need to eat as much! In turn, this should result in smaller portions, smaller food bills (and less excretion). The food is available in various flavours and will feed puppies, dogs, cats, kittens and seniors. The different flavours are also designed to aid a variety of health issues, for example, salmon and potato is great for pets that suffer with skin conditions and we also have foods suitable for pets that may need to diet etc.

There are two ‘standards’ of food to choose from, silver and gold, and your vet can advise you which is most suitable for your pet: silver is a super premium food and is considered similar in quality to bestselling high-end ranges that pet owners are familiar with. Gold is a ‘grain free’ option, and – whilst slightly more expensive than the super premium range – has a higher meat content and is great for pets that suffer from allergies and are intolerent to grains (contained in so many pet foods). It could also be considered a possible alternative for pets that are currently fed a raw diet, as this range contains up to 35% freshly prepared produce.

Whichever food you choose for your pet, staff at Best Friends and Vetsavers surgeries will be happy to help, as well as advise on all other aspects of diet and nutrition for your pet. VIPs will receive 25% off all Happy Paws purchases for a limited period only, so if you are yet to become a VIP please visit or call your local Best Friends/ Vetsavers and register with their annual Healthy Paws plan.

Broadway Veterinary Hospital
158 Broadway, Peterborough
01733 562904
 

bestfriendsgroup.com

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