Nutritional Needs of Pets: Best Southcoast Veterinary Advice

In a pet-centric market that is oversaturated with options for food, treats, and supplements, the best course of action is to seek professional advice from your veterinarian when you visit our Dartmouth animal hospital. The annual veterinary check-up is an excellent opportunity to discuss your pet’s nutritional needs. The type of food, the amount to be given, the best time of day for feeding, and options for healthy treats are all things that your local vet can assist with to address the nutritional needs of pets. Care for cats and dogs, as well as rabbits and pocket pets, should be considered carefully to provide your pet with a long and healthy life. It can be easy to get distracted with all of the pet food marketing and hype, so it pays to have a professional on your side.

Benefits of a Healthy Diet

Pets are like people in that the food they eat has a direct correlation to their overall health. Properly fed pets will typically have fewer health problems, which translates into happier pets and lower veterinary bills. Studies show that more than half of all pet owners in the United States want to learn about healthy nutrition for pets to ensure better quality care for cats and dogs. It can be a challenge to sort out which brands, types, and kinds of pet food are best. Raw diets, fresh refrigerated foods, dry bags, and canned are just some of the ways that you can meet the nutritional needs of pets.

The three primary areas of concern addressed at a veterinary check-up by most pet owners are general nutrition based on the age, breed, size, and lifestyle of the pet, treats and training treats, and nutritional supplements. When you visit our Dartmouth animal hospital, make sure to speak with the veterinarian about your nutrition concerns. If your pet has any health issues, such as being under or overweight, dental concerns, or diabetic symptoms, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet to help get them back on track and get all issues under control.

A New Breed of Pet Owner

Recent surveys reveal that while Gen X pet owners are more apt to seek specialty food items to meet the nutritional needs of pets than Baby Boomers, Millennials are even more likely to seek dietary changes to care for cats and dogs. While there are lots of advertisements on television and social media, most pet owners surveyed stated that they put the recommendations of their veterinarian above all other influences. Pet foods, snacks and treats, chewy toys and products, as well as additional supplements are all things that today’s pet owners are concerned about and need more advice on from their local veterinarian.

You can feel confident in knowing that when you visit Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth that our team of highly-trained veterinarians, vet technicians, and support staff all take a proactive approach to your pet’s health care. This includes nutrition, exercise, preventive treatments, vaccinations, and a schedule of annual or biannual veterinary check-up appointments for the best possible results. Education for pet owners, information about products and services, as well as honest and genuine advice can all be provided when you bring your pet to our Dartmouth animal hospital.

Special Nutrition for All Ages

The nutritional needs of pets can change throughout their lifetime. As you might imagine, the requirements for a puppy or kitten will be drastically different than for a senior pet. Make sure to always discuss your questions and concerns about nutrition with your provider at your wellness exam or annual veterinary check-up. It is essential to make changes to your pet’s diet according to their needs. Health can be impacted significantly by even slight adjustments to lifestyle, routine, age, and diet. The more you can do to stay on top of your pet’s diet, exercise, and overall health, the happier and healthier they will be throughout their lifetime. If you find the number of options available in dietary care for cats and dogs to be overwhelming, consider scheduling an appointment with Anchor Animal Hospital. We can answer any questions you might have about pet food, treats, and supplements, as well as suggest a plan to prevent common issues with local parasites, pests, disease, and other health considerations. Give us a call at 508-996-3731 to speak with one of our friendly veterinary team members.