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Diet & Nutrition

  • Periodontal disease is the most common problem affecting cats of all age groups. The importance of daily, at-home dental care cannot be overemphasized. Cats may benefit from either a food, treat, water additive, gel or powder that has been approved by the VOHC to reduce plaque buildup.

  • Periodontal disease is the most common problem affecting dogs of all age groups. The importance of daily, at-home dental care cannot be overemphasized. Dogs may benefit from either a food, treat, water additive, gel or powder that has been approved by the VOHC to reduce plaque buildup.

  • The American Animal Hospital Association and American Veterinary Medical Association have established guidelines to standardize preventive health care for cats, helping them to live longer, healthier lives. This handout provides an overview of the recommendations within these guidelines and why they are so important.

  • This handout discusses the pros and cons of feeding a raw food diet to your dog. Topics included are nutritional imbalances, potential bacterial contamination, the risk of foodborne illnesses involving both you and your pet, and other concerns that may arise from feeding a raw food diet.

  • This article reviews the advantages and limitations of the different food forms available for dogs, including dry, canned, and semi-moist foods. Dry food, or kibble, is easy to portion control and can be fed in puzzle toys. Canned food is a good option but more expensive than kibble and does not last as long once opened. Semi-moist foods are generally not recommended as the main diet due to their high sugar and sodium content, as well as difficulty with portioning. Feeding a combination of canned and dry daily is an option and can help with acceptance of a variety of textures later in life.

  • This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the different food forms available for cats, including dry, canned, and semi-moist foods. Dry food, or kibble, is easy to portion control and can be fed in puzzle toys. Canned food is a good option but more expensive than kibble and does not last as long once opened. Semi-moist foods are generally not recommended as the main diet due to their high sugar and sodium content, as well as difficulty with portioning. Feeding a combination of canned and dry is recommended for young, healthy cats so that they are exposed to a variety of textures.

  • There are several reasons why your dog might be a picky eater. It’s important to first rule out an underlying medical condition. Picky eaters can be created by their humans offering too much variety of food or can result from dogs being overfed treats and snacks. Homemade diets can be an option, but come with several limitations that need to be carefully considered. Other approaches are outlined.

  • There are several reasons why your cat might be a picky eater. It’s important to first rule out an underlying medical condition. Picky eaters can be created by their humans offering too much variety of food or can result from cats being overfed treats and snacks. Homemade diets can be an option, but come with several limitations that need to be carefully considered. Other approaches are outlined.

  • The American Animal Hospital Association and American Veterinary Medical Association have established guidelines to standardize preventive health care for dogs, helping them to live longer, healthier lives. This handout provides an overview of the recommendations within these guidelines and why they are so important.

  • Dogs are omnivores meaning that, under normal circumstances, dogs can meet their nutritional needs by eating a combination of plant and animal foods. Selecting a dog food can be a challenging task. Feeding your dog a proper diet for their life stage is one of the most important aspects to help keep them at optimal health. Your veterinary health care team can help you make good-quality diet choices and determine the correct number of calories your dog needs in a day.