The way to animal love is through the stomach: every responsible owner should attach importance to a healthy diet for their own pet. But which food is actually the right one for your cat or dog? Here are a few tips.
What constitutes a healthy diet? – Image: Shutterstock / Irina Kozorog
On hardly any other topic do opinions differ as widely as on the nutrition of pets. What is actually healthy for cats and dogs? Should owners prepare their own food, feed their pet raw food or processed food? If you ask, you will get very different answers and opinions. There is one thing to keep in mind when it comes to animal nutrition.
It depends on the energy and nutrient requirements
When it comes to the diet of dogs and cats, it should be tailored to the nutritional and energy needs of the animals. Both depend on factors such as age, race or gender. Existing diseases also play a role – as does the activity of the animal. For example, an outdoor cat usually needs more than a house cat, since the latter does not move quite as much and is therefore not as active.
And which food is right for your dog and cat now? The CheckForPet feed check, which takes all of these criteria into account and finds the right food for your dog or cat, provides help at this point.
One thing is certain: a healthy animal needs healthy feed. Only in this way can it lead a vital and long life. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that this is the case. Unlike humans, dogs and cats don’t necessarily have a choice about what to eat and what not. As a rule, the pets depend on what you get from your mistress or master. Accordingly, owners bear a great responsibility.
Nutrition for dogs and cats: it’s all in the mix
The basic rule for pet food is that the more natural it is, the better it is for the animal’s organism – a good prerequisite for a long and healthy life. Cats and dogs are carnivores. Their feed should therefore represent a balanced combination of proteins, nutrients and carbohydrates. On the other hand, you should avoid artificial additives, flavorings, colorings or preservatives when it comes to feeding your pet.
Is the diet right?
You are what you eat – this also applies to animals. You can tell whether you are doing everything right with regard to nutrition by a few signs. These include the following:
- Your animal is of normal weight.
- Your pet will have healthy teeth and pleasant breath.
- Your pet has silky, shiny fur.
- Your pet will not defecate more than twice a day.
- Your pet is active and has a healthy appetite.
Do these signs not apply to your pet? Then it is time to act and screw on the diet.
Wrong nutrition makes you sick
Healthy feed that meets your pet’s energy and nutritional needs is important – not just to keep your pet looking healthy, but healthy too.
Because a wrong diet can not only lead to obvious gastrointestinal complaints, overweight and underweight, but also cause a weakened immune system and thus also cause other diseases.
If you are unsure about nutrition, it is best to consult your trusted veterinarian. He will certainly help you with this and only want the best for your pet.
