The food that our pets eat is just one contributor to their general health and wellbeing, but it’s one of the more important foundations on which their overall health is built. It’s only been since the early 1970s that veterinarians and pet nutritionists in the mainstream have recognised the role of daily nutrition in our pets’ health: that the healthier it is, the healthier our pets are.
However, not all pets have the same nutritional requirements because they are all different – different health profiles, ages, breeds (and sizes), and activity levels. Each pet is also uniquely genetically coded and, like humans, will have a different capacity for nutrient absorption and usage; a faster or slower metabolism.
Most pet owners don’t give their pets’ nutrition much thought until their four-legged friends experience some kind of illness and the vet recommends a change in diet as part of their support in recovery. Or, if a pet is diagnosed with obesity and needs to lose weight, then we need to take a closer look at their nutrient intake.
The aim of this article is to bring our pets’ nutrition under the spotlight – to look at what pets should be eating in general; what they should and shouldn’t be eating if they have a health condition; what they definitely should not be eating from the human dinner table; how to determine which pet food your individual pet should eat, and – if you’re switching pet foods – how to transition your pet from one pet food to another.
Foods your pets should eat
The baseline for each healthy pet is that they need the right ratio of carbohydrates, protein and fat in their daily feeding. High-quality pet foods will list the ingredients on their label from the highest to lowest volume, as well as what each source ingredient is. Instead of simply listing ‘vegetables’, a premium pet food will include exactly which vegetables – e.g. ‘whole green peas’, ‘pumpkin’, ‘fresh spinach’, etc. They will also include their meat sources and list which supplements have been added.
If your pet has a medical issue, changing their diet to support their treatment or to manage the condition can go a long way to improving their health and wellbeing. Look at these examples:
- Pets with kidney disease need a veterinary diet that is lower in protein and minerals (to protect their kidneys), while still meeting their daily energy requirements.
- Pets with diabetes need a veterinary diet that is lower in simple carbohydrates and starches (to not trigger the need for more insulin), with more protein and low-fat ingredients. Being fed smaller meals throughout the day will help to stabilise their blood sugar.
- Pets with heart disease need less sodium in their diet. Their weight must also be under control, as obese pets place a lot of strain on their hearts. A veterinary diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids as well as taurine, phosphorus and L-carnitine will support pets with heart disease.
- Pets diagnosed as obese need a weigh management diet of healthy lean proteins, low-fat ingredients as well as more dietary fibre to increase the feeling of fullness. A healthy exercise routine must go hand-in-hand with their diet.
- Pets with epilepsy need carefully-selected protein that does not contain glutamate, which triggers and can worsen seizures. Unfortunately, most commercial pet foods contain ingredients that contain glutamate – including corn, meat meal, soy, rice, dairy, peanuts, meat from grain-fed livestock, fatty meats, grains, and beans and legumes. This diet needs careful selection and monitoring.
There is a direct link between the foods our pets eat and their quality of life – especially if they suffer from genetic or medical conditions. If your pet has a chronic condition, it’s best to work with the vet to find the best nutritional solution to support your pet’s health.
Choose the best food for your individual pet
Knowing how your pet’s food impacts their health and wellbeing, it begs the next question: what, then, is the right food for your unique pet? In the last 40 years, the concept of specialised pet food designed for pets’ age, breed, size, and lifestyle has rapidly expanded, which means there is now a pet food variety for almost every health profile.
Here are some of the criteria against which to choose the best pet food for your pet:
Food per age
Pets need different nutrition depending on how young or old they are:
- Puppies and kittens go through a rapid growth phase from the time they are weaned off milk to young adulthood. During this time, they need lots of lean protein to support muscle and organ growth, balanced vitamins and minerals to feed their nervous system, immune system and growing bones and connective tissue. They require lots of healthy fats to feed their high-energy needs, brain development and skin health. With the right growth foundation in place, you can pave the way for lifelong health in puppies and kittens. This is why it’s important to feed young pets the highest quality pet food you can afford.
- Adult dogs and cats need a balanced diet with the right amount of protein to support healthy muscles, enough carbohydrates to meet their energy needs, and the right amount of fat for energy, organ health, joint health and a healthy skin and coat.
- Senior dogs and cats’ dietary requirements will change as they get older. They will be less active, so they will require fewer calories in the form of fats, but will need more fibre for better digestive health. They will need high-quality lean proteins to support their muscle mass, but without placing too much of a burden on their ageing kidneys. Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids will help to support their cognitive health, skin and coat and eye health, but their vitamin and mineral profile will need to change to support their bones without being too taxing on their kidneys. Older pets will need supplements to help support their liver and heart, and to slow the deterioration of their joints. They should not be allowed to gain weight, as this can be detrimental to their overall health.
Food per breed
The size and breed of pets will also determine their dietary requirements.
- Size: Not only do larger pets (specifically dogs) need larger blocks of kibble, but they need additional care for their joints, hearts and brains. Size-specific food meets the needs of larger or smaller pets through its varying compositional (ingredient) differences and the balancing of energy, vitamins and minerals for giant, large, medium or small pets.
- Breed-specific pet food meets the generalised needs of a particular breed – keeping in mind that there will be individual pets within a breed who have their own unique requirements. For instance, the giant stature of the Maine Coon cat requires additional support for their heart health as well as joint protection. Their thick coat makes them more susceptible to hairballs, so they may need additional fibre in their diet to help with their digestion.
- The Sphynx cat, on the other hand, needs a high-energy cat food to support their active metabolism and help control their body temperature (in the absence of fur). Additional omega-3 and -6 fatty acids feed their delicate skin.
- Giant breed dogs will need joint support supplements in their food, while the smaller breeds (which are susceptible to dental health problems) will benefit from kibble that is shaped to support lots of chewing by a tiny jaw bone.
- Some breeds, like the Yorkshire terrier, are more susceptible to digestive upset, so food that is specifically designed for Yorkies will be gentle on their GI tract, while also meeting their skin and hair needs.
- Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds’ jaws are shaped differently to normal-snouted dogs. Brachy breeds may struggle to pick up their blocks of kibble, so brachy-specific food is designed to make it easier to do so, and encourage chewing and swallowing that doesn’t take in too much air.
Food per lifestyle
Some dogs are far more active than others, and will therefore need a much higher caloric intake (especially protein and carbohydrates) to support their activity needs.
- Active dogs include herding breeds, police and law enforcement dogs, personal protection dogs and assistance dogs will need specialised nutrition to meet their varying energy requirements. High-energy canine sport stars may also need added joint support to counteract the heavy-duty wear-and-tear on their joints during training and competitions.
Ask the vet to help you make an accurate assessment of the macronutrients your pet needs and to recommend a high-quality pet food to meet those needs. They will take your pet’s size, breed, age and lifestyle into account when making this recommendation. If your pet has any genetic or medical condition, this will also need to be considered when selecting the appropriate pet food.
Human foods that are toxic to pets
The foods our pets eat should fuel their bodies and positively contribute to their health. Unfortunately, all it takes is their mewing or puppy-dog eyes to make pet owners hand over snacks and ‘share the love’, without thinking twice about what harm human snacks might inflict on our pets. Some human foods can be extremely toxic – even deadly – to their health. Here is a list of foods your pets (both dogs and cats) should never eat:
Alcohol
Giving alcohol to pets would be like poisoning them directly. Just like in humans, it is a depressant on the central nervous system – except it takes a lot less alcohol to have a much greater effect on pets. It’s highly toxic to their liver. As a CNS depressant, alcohol can render pets comatose and even kill them. Whether a beer with the braai, a nightcap whiskey, a glass of wine with lunch, a creamy Dom Pedro or a dessert infused with liqueur, these are all very toxic to pets, so please be mindful of what your pets have access to on your dinner table.
Chocolate and caffeine
The caffeine and other stimulants in chocolate are toxic to pets because they cannot digest them, resulting in a build-up in their system. This toxicity can cause GI upset like vomiting and diarrhoea, neurological symptoms like tremors, and an erratic heartrate. If a pet consumes a large amount of chocolate (like raiding the snack drawer or chocolate bowl on your coffee table), they can suffer from seizures and internal bleeding, and it can become fatal.
Avocado
Avocado pits and leaves contain the fungicidal toxin, persin, which is poisonous to pets. Avocado may be a source of healthy fats for humans, but this high-fat fruit can trigger pancreatitis in dogs that are susceptible to it.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that has found its way into many homes. Most biscuits and treats labelled as ‘sugar-free’ contain xylitol (or some other artificial sweetener), which is toxic to pets. In humans, xylitol doesn’t increase blood sugar when consumed, so the pancreas doesn’t respond to it. However, in pets, xylitol triggers their pancreas to secrete insulin, which causes a sudden drop in blood sugar and can cause pets to become hypoglycaemic. With dangerously low blood sugar, they can go into shock and die.
Onions and garlic
All plants in the Allium family contain N-propyl disulfide, a compound that attacks red blood cells, causing haemolytic anaemia in dogs. The symptoms can include pale gums, weakness, rapid heartrate and collapse – and might only happen a few days after your pet has consumed the offending food. If you see or suspect that your pet has eaten garlic, onions, leeks, chives, scallions, shallots, etc., call the vet immediately, even if they aren’t showing symptoms yet.
Raw meat and eggs
Any under- or uncooked meat and eggs carry the risk of bacterial infection from pathogens like salmonella, E. coli and listeria, so if your pets eat them, they can become dangerously ill. Pets whose immune systems are weak or compromised, or who have pancreatitis, are especially at risk of illness from bacterial infection. These pets also expose their humans to the risk of bacterial infection.
Grapes and raisins
Tartaric acid is the newly-identified compound in grapes, sultanas and raisins that makes them toxic to pets. Dogs and cats are unable to process and digest tartaric acid, so a toxic build-up of this compound damages their kidneys and can even cause renal failure. Any foods containing grapes and raisins (think hot-X-buns, fruitcake, bobotie, rusks, trail mix and cereals, etc.) should never be within pets’ reach or they risk being poisoned.
Dairy
Contrary to popular belief, most weaned pets are lactose intolerant. If they consume dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese, cream, etc.), they can suffer from gastrointestinal upset like vomiting, diarrhoea, bloat and abdominal pain.
Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts are poisonous to dogs and cats and must never be fed to them – not even the tiniest bit. Contact the vet immediately if any of your pets have eaten macadamia nuts.
Salty snacks
Too much salt can dehydrate and poison pets. Sodium ion poisoning can show up as excessive thirst and urination, vomiting and diarrhoea, hyperthermia, tremors, depression and even seizures. Left untreated, the animal can die. A salty chip or pretzel is unlikely to cause any harm, but avoiding them completely will ensure your pet’s electrolytes stay balanced.
Bones
Dogs and bones go way back – so far back they precede the idioms about dogs with bones. However, modern dogs (and cats) have no business being fed bones when there are so many safe alternatives to chew on. Bones splinter and pose the risk of injury from your dog’s mouth, throat and oesophagus, all the way through to the other side. They can break teeth, perforate the soft tissues of the GI tract and cause untold damage. Very often, the vet will need to surgically remove bones that have become lodged in the intestines. It’s far safer to offer your pet a treat and a durable chew toy.
How to switch from one pet food to another
Each pet has different tolerances for different pet food ingredients. If you switch your pet’s food suddenly from one variety to another, they can experience gastric distress and it may take a while for their stomach to settle again. This is why it’s recommended to gradually switch from one pet food to another over the course of a week – increasing the amount of the new food as you reduce the amount of the old food.
If you look at the label on your pet’s food bag, you should see a feeding guide (the amount of food to give per kilogram of body weight) as well as a food transition guide. Some transitions will require fewer days than others, but the general rule of thumb is to transition your pet from one food to another over seven days. It could be something like this:
Day 1: 75% current food, 25% new food
Day 2: 70% current food, 30% new food
Day 3: 60% current food, 40% new food
Day 4: 50% current food, 50% new food
Day 5: 30% current food, 70% new food
Day 6: 20% current food, 80% new food
Day 7: 100% new food
Conclusion
There are so many modern pet food varieties that choosing the right one for your pet can feel overwhelming. As long as you are feeding pets for the benefit of their health and not feeding them human snacks that may be poisonous to them, your pets should get the right nutrition for their age, breed and activity levels. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, speak to the vet and ask for a pet food recommendation.