Nutrition Counselling for Pets

Your pets rely on you for the foods they eat. As their primary care provider, you want your loyal companions to get proper nourishment so they can have long, happy and healthy lives. Nutrition counselling is a way for you to learn more about the nutrients your individual furry friend needs for their development. These days, it can be confusing to know if you are doing right by your pets, so seeking professional advice is the best option. At Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital, we have veterinarians who specialize in nutrition and food supplements.

What happens during nutrition counselling?

Nutrition counselling is also referred to as a nutrition checkup. During nutrition counselling, our veterinarians will examine your pet’s diet. This is done to determine if the foods they eat are right for them. Veterinarians will ask how often your pet eats during the day, what types of foods they eat, and if there’s an increase or decrease in appetite. Based on the answers given about your pet our team may recommend supplements, special foods to include in their diet or foods that need to be reduced. These recommendations are also based on the overall health, age and breed of your individual pet.

My pet is fed regularly. Why do they need nutrition counselling?

Although nutrition counselling does include developing an eating schedule for your pet there is more to it.

• Nutrition counselling helps you learn what the right amount of food is for your pet. The labels on pet foods can be helpless when deciding how much to feed your pet. Overfeeding can do as much harm as underfeeding them. With nutrition counselling you receive expert advice and avoid these common mistakes.
• Regular nutrition checkups keep you and your veterinarian on the same page about your pet’s health. Nutrition counselling allows your veterinarian to track their development.
• You learn which type of food your kittens, puppies, senior and adult pets need. Your pet goes through different stages of development and requires different daily nutrition for each phase.
• Nutrition counselling can extend your pet’s life. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and diabetes, while underfeeding can result in malnourishment and muscular problems.

I sometimes give my pet a bite of my food, is that ok?

No. Unfortunately, some human foods are a great risk to your beloved pets. It is natural for you to want to spoil your loyal companion but some human foods can trigger health problems in your pet. Here is a list of foods you should not feed your pet:

• Chocolate
• Milk or dairy products
• Onions and garlic
• Alcohol
• Grapes and raisins

Before you introduce any new foods to your pet’s diet ask your veterinarian during a nutrition checkup if it is ok for them. If you have any questions on the foods your pet can eat, call us at 204-452-9010.

Does my puppy, kitten or senior pet need special food?

Yes. Your puppies and kittens need special foods to support their development. There are specially marked pet foods for kittens and puppies. Our veterinarians can recommend a brand of food for your loyal companion. Senior pets also need special foods as their bodies are getting older and require even more specialized nourishment.