Choosing the best nutrition for your pet this new year
As we start a new year, many of us start thinking about taking better care of ourselves. Our pets can benefit from the same fresh start. Nutrition is one of the most important foundations of your pet’s health, and yet it’s often one of the most confusing topics for owners. Pet food packaging is covered in bold claims, online advice is often conflicting, and it can be hard to know what’s genuinely best for your pet.
But you don’t have to figure it out alone. Your veterinary team is here to help guide you through the different options and choose a diet that is truly right for your pet.
Why your pet’s diet matters so much
Just like with humans, good nutrition helps support a healthy weight and body condition, strong muscles and joints, a shiny coat and healthy skin, a well-functioning immune system, and digestive health.
Over time, the right diet can help reduce the risk of health conditions such as obesity, joint disease, urinary problems and certain skin issues.
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” pet food
Walk down any pet food aisle, and you’ll see a dizzying mix of labels: grain-free, hypoallergenic, senior, natural, working dog, indoor cat, organic, and much more. It’s easy to assume that if something is advertised as “premium” or “all-natural,” it must be better, but marketing doesn’t always equal factual information.
Some of the key things we look at when helping you choose the best diet for your pet include:
- Age – Kittens and puppies, adults, pregnant or breastfeeding pets, and seniors all have very different nutritional needs.
- Species and breed – Small dogs, large breed dogs, and cats each have different nutritional requirements.
- Body condition – Are they at an ideal weight, under or overweight?
- Lifestyle – Is your dog a couch companion or a high-energy working dog? Is your cat an outdoor feline or an indoor buddy?
- Health status – Existing medical conditions, such as arthritis, kidney disease, allergies, dental disease, or urinary issues, may lead us to choose a prescription diet to help manage these issues.
By weighing your pet, examining them, and talking through their routine at home, we can tailor our dietary recommendations.
Tackling pet obesity
One health issue we see regularly in pets is obesity. It’s incredibly common and sometimes easy to miss when you see your pet every day. Overweight pets are more likely to develop arthritis, diabetes, breathing difficulties and other serious conditions, and they often have a shorter life expectancy. Obesity can often be both prevented and treated using a combination of an appropriate diet, exercise and, if needed, treatment of any underlying conditions.
The start of the year is the perfect moment to take a look at your pet’s body condition. If you’re not sure whether your pet has a healthy weight, we invite you to book our nurse-led weight clinics. These friendly appointments are designed to support you and your pet. Our registered vet nurses will:
- Weigh your pet and assess their body condition
- Calculate their ideal weight and daily calorie requirement
- Recommend an appropriate diet (and treats!)
- Discuss appropriate exercise requirements for your pet
- Create a realistic weight-loss plan that fits your lifestyle, if needed
You’ll have regular check-ins to monitor progress, ask questions, and adjust as needed.
Why buy your pet’s diet directly from us?
We know there are lots of places you can buy pet food: supermarkets, pet shops, and countless websites. So why choose a diet from your veterinary practice?
Quality you can trust
The diets we stock or prescribe are from reputable veterinary or specialist manufacturers, with high standards of research, testing and quality control. For example, most veterinary diets are batch tested for nutritional quality after manufacture, rather than just relying on a theoretically correct recipe. We only recommend foods we would be happy to feed to our own pets.
Tailored recommendations
Instead of choosing based on a label or an online review, you get advice based on a full clinical picture: your pet’s weight, age, health conditions, and any test results. For some conditions, such as kidney disease, urinary issues, severe allergies or arthritis, a prescription diet can be as important as medication.
Consistency and monitoring
Buying through us means we know exactly what your pet is eating. That makes it much easier to track progress, tweak their diet if their health changes, and make sure you never run out at a critical moment.
Support, not just a product
When you purchase your pet’s diet from us, you’re not only getting food, you’re also getting ongoing support from a team that knows your pet. If you have any concerns about appetite, stools, weight changes or general health, we’re just a phone call away.
Small changes that make a big difference
Alongside choosing the right diet, there are a few simple habits that can transform your pet’s nutrition this year:
- Use a proper measuring cup or, even better, scales for every meal. Guessing portions is one of the main reasons pets gain weight.
- Treats should make up no more than about 10% of your pet’s daily calories. If you’re working on weight loss, we can recommend lower-calorie options or even include treats as part of their daily ration.
- Human food is often too rich, salty, or fatty for pets and can upset their stomach or add unnecessary calories, so it should be avoided.
- If you’re switching to a new food, do it over 7–10 days by gradually mixing the old and new diets to avoid stomach upsets.
Ready to get started?
If you’re thinking about a healthier New Year for your pet, we’d love to help. Whether you’re worried about their weight, confused by all the diet options, or simply want to check that their current food is still the best choice for them, book an appointment or ask about our weight clinics.
We can create a nutrition plan that keeps your pet happy, active and healthy, not just for the year ahead, but for many years to come.
