Even if your pet does enjoy eating from your plate, it does not mean that it is good for them. You should never feed your pet leftover food because that might lead to weight gain. According to recent studies, almost half of all cats and dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese. For instance, cats and dogs have different caloric needs.
You need only 200 calories a day to feed a 10-pound cat.
To take just one example, a 50-pound dog should eat about 700-900 calories per day.
Studies show that big dogs like German Shepherds eat around 1,350 calories each day.
The following are suggestions for an ideal diet for your pet.
Protein Is Must
One good way to know what type of diet you should provide for your pets is to look at their origin; dogs generally prefer a diet high in protein, while cats come from the hunter lineage, which means they are natural carnivores. Proteins are necessary for cells to grow, repair muscles, and maintain general body function.
A variety of protein from animal sources has all the essential amino acids pets need, including
- Arginine
- Methionine
- Histidine
- Phenylalanine
- Isoleucine
- Threonine
- Leucine
- Tryptophan
- Lysine
- Valine
- Taurine
Taurine is essential for cats. It’s important for their vision, their heart, and their ability to reproduce. As far as protein goes, taurine is exclusively found in animal-based sources, and the digestive system of a cat can break down animal-based proteins and take in nutrients from them.
Energy and Dietary Fats
Dietary fats come from either animal fats or plant oils. Fats provide your pet with the greatest amount of energy. Protein and carbohydrates each have twice as much energy per gram as fats.
You see, essential fatty acids that the body cannot make on its own are available in a canned dog or cat food: it provides fatty acids like omega-3s which do all of these
- Keep skin and fur healthy
- Produce some types of hormones
- Absorb vitamins
- Insulate the body
- Protect organs
Plus, animal fats can help make your pet’s food taste even better (for him or her).
Add Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates deliver energy, help keep the digestive system running smoothly, and have been linked to reproduction. One type of carbohydrate, fiber, may affect the bacteria in your pet’s intestines.
In order for your pet to receive the maximum benefit from fiber, the fiber should be fermented. Fermented fiber can be found in wheat, rice, or vegetables.
Younger animals such as cats and dogs have high energy needs and a higher percentage of fat and protein is needed in their diet. High-fiber foods should be left for when they are fully grown.
Supplements such as vitamins and minerals
Without getting the right nutrients, your pet’s body won’t be healthy. Give them a balanced diet of protein, fat, and carbs, and they’ll be healthy.
Not only are vitamin supplements rarely needed for normal, healthy pets, but they can also actually cause health problems if given to an animal that doesn’t need them. To give one example, too much vitamin A can lead to bone pain and pain in the joints. And too much vitamin D can lead to overly dense bones and even problems with the kidneys.
That’s right, both cats and dogs receive minerals essential to them in their diet, including
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chlorine
- Iron
- Copper
- Zinc
- Manganese
- Selenium
- Iodine
Healthy bones and teeth depend on calcium and phosphorus. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are all important for muscle health.
Please provide water
Approximately 60-70% of your pet’s body is water, so without it they may get sick or die.
Your pet needs clean, fresh water all the time. They will get some of the water they need from their diet, but not all of it.
Cat and dog thirst levels differ. When they’re active, cats don’t drink as much as when they’re relaxing, so make sure to have plenty of water on hand when they play. If the day is warm or hot, dogs drink twice as much water as they would on a day when the weather is cool.
Physical fitness
Does your pet have a pronounced dip or curve in their body from their ribs to their thighs?
You can alternatively, pet your pet’s back to see if it bristles. You can then run your fingers over your pet’s rib cage and feel any bones. If this is not the case, then your dog or cat may be overweight.
Talking to your vet, giving your pet more exercise will help it lose weight. If you have a cat, consider scheduling more playtime during the day. For dogs, it may mean going to the dog park or walking during the day.
To clear things up, playing with your kids is also great for you!
Shop at Petco!
Petco has a good selection of foods that meet all of your pets’ dietary needs. The brand offers dry kibble as well as canned food for cats and dogs. In addition, you can find treats and natural remedies like vitamins, shampoos, medicated baths, specialty foods, heartworm prevention, and more. Petco’s site also allows you to search through all of its products by category or ingredients, making it easy to find what you need even if you aren’t sure exactly what it is.
