Good nutrition is mostly about consistency: a complete and balanced food, the right amount, and a few habits that keep your pet at a healthy weight.
Choosing a food
Look for a food labelled "complete and balanced" for your pet's life stage (growth, adult, or all life stages). Your vet can help you choose if your pet has a health condition, allergies or a sensitive stomach.
How much
- Start with the feeding guide on the bag, then adjust to your pet's body, not the label.
- Measure meals with a measuring cup or a kitchen scale rather than scooping by eye.
- Treats add up: keep them to about a tenth of daily calories.
Switching foods
Change gradually over about a week, mixing more of the new food in each day. A sudden switch is a common cause of an upset stomach.
Foods to keep away from pets
- Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and chives
- Xylitol (a sweetener in some gum, candy, baked goods and peanut butters)
- Alcohol, caffeine, macadamia nuts, and raw yeast dough
- Cooked bones, which can splinter
If your pet eats something risky, call your vet or an animal poison control line right away rather than waiting for signs.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Your veterinarian can tailor a plan for your pet.
