Everything you need to know about feeding your pet for optimal health and happiness.
Balanced proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins & minerals
Puppy, adult, senior formulations for optimal health
Premium proteins and wholesome ingredients
Formulated with veterinary nutritionists
Just like humans, pets require a balanced diet containing six essential nutrient categories to maintain optimal health. Understanding these nutrients helps you make informed decisions about your pet's diet and ensures they receive complete nutrition for their specific life stage and activity level.
Proteins are the building blocks of your pet's body, essential for muscle development, tissue repair, and immune function. High-quality animal proteins like chicken, beef, fish, and lamb provide complete amino acid profiles. Dogs require at least 18% protein (dry matter basis) for adults and 22% for puppies, while cats need minimum 26% protein as obligate carnivores.
Look for named meat sources as the first ingredient, such as "deboned chicken" or "salmon meal." Avoid generic terms like "meat by-products" or "poultry meal" without species identification.
Fats provide concentrated energy, support brain function, and maintain healthy skin and coat. Essential fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 cannot be produced by your pet's body and must come from their diet. Dogs need minimum 5% fat content, while cats require at least 9%.
Quality fat sources include chicken fat, fish oil, flaxseed, and sunflower oil. These fats also help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
While not essential, carbohydrates provide readily available energy and fiber for digestive health. Quality carbohydrate sources include sweet potatoes, brown rice, oats, and peas. These ingredients also provide important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Avoid foods with excessive corn, wheat, or soy as primary ingredients, especially if your pet has sensitivities. Grain-free options use alternatives like potatoes or legumes.
Vitamins and minerals support immune function, bone health, and metabolic processes. Complete and balanced pet foods contain all necessary vitamins (A, B-complex, C, D, E, K) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, iodine).
Look for foods that meet AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards, ensuring complete and balanced nutrition.
Growing puppies and kittens have significantly higher nutritional needs than adult pets. They require more calories, protein, fat, and specific nutrients to support rapid growth, brain development, and immune system maturation. Puppy foods contain 22-32% protein and 8-20% fat, while kitten foods provide 30-40% protein and 9-15% fat.
Brands like Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, and Orijen offer specialized puppy and kitten formulas with breed-specific options for optimal development.
Adult pets need maintenance nutrition to support daily activities, maintain ideal body weight, and prevent disease. Adult dog foods contain 18-25% protein and 5-15% fat, while adult cat foods provide 26-35% protein and 9-15% fat. The exact requirements depend on activity level, size, and individual metabolism.
Highly active dogs, working breeds, or pets with high energy needs require performance formulas with increased protein (25-32%) and fat (12-20%) content. These foods provide sustained energy for extended activity periods.
Consider brands like Acana, Orijen, or Blue Buffalo Wilderness for high-protein, biologically appropriate nutrition.
Indoor cats and less active dogs benefit from weight management formulas with moderate protein (18-22%) and controlled fat (5-10%) to prevent weight gain while maintaining muscle mass.
Royal Canin Indoor formulas and Hill's Science Diet Light options are excellent for maintaining healthy weight.
Senior pets face unique nutritional challenges including decreased metabolism, potential kidney issues, arthritis, and cognitive changes. Senior formulas typically contain moderate protein (18-25%), controlled phosphorus for kidney health, added antioxidants for cognitive support, and joint-supporting ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin.
Food allergies affect 10-15% of pets and can cause skin irritation, digestive upset, and chronic ear infections. Common allergens include beef, chicken, dairy, wheat, corn, and soy. Limited ingredient diets (LID) help identify and eliminate problematic ingredients while providing complete nutrition.
Work with your veterinarian to conduct a proper elimination diet trial lasting 8-12 weeks. Choose a novel protein source (duck, venison, rabbit) and single carbohydrate source your pet has never eaten.
Recommended brands: Blue Buffalo Basics, Acana Singles, Hill's Prescription Diet z/d, Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein.
Hydrolyzed protein diets break down proteins into smaller components that don't trigger allergic reactions. These prescription diets are highly effective for severe food allergies.
Over-the-counter options include single-protein sources like duck, lamb, or fish with limited ingredients.
Obesity affects over 50% of pets and leads to diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and shortened lifespan. Weight management requires a combination of portion control, increased exercise, and therapeutic nutrition designed to promote safe weight loss while maintaining muscle mass.
Digestive problems including inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and chronic diarrhea require specialized nutrition. Easily digestible ingredients, prebiotics, probiotics, and controlled fat levels help manage these conditions while providing complete nutrition.
Easily digestible proteins (chicken, rice), prebiotics, and probiotics support digestive health. Hill's i/d and Purina Pro Plan Sensitive formulas are excellent options.
Low-fat diets (less than 10% fat) prevent pancreatic flare-ups. Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat is specifically formulated for this condition.
Novel protein sources, hydrolyzed proteins, or limited ingredient diets reduce inflammatory responses. Royal Canin Digestive Care provides targeted nutrition.
Proper portion control is crucial for maintaining your pet's ideal body weight and preventing obesity-related health issues. Feeding guidelines on pet food packages provide starting points, but individual needs vary based on age, activity level, metabolism, and body condition score.
3-4 meals daily, consistent timing
2 meals daily, 8-12 hours apart
2-3 meals daily, or free-feeding if not overweight
Gradual food transitions prevent digestive upset and allow your pet's system to adapt to new ingredients. Sudden diet changes can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and food aversion. The standard transition period is 7-10 days, but sensitive pets may need 2-3 weeks.
75% old food
25% new food
50% old food
50% new food
25% old food
75% new food
100% new food
Proper food storage maintains nutritional value, prevents spoilage, and protects your pet from foodborne illness. Dry food can lose nutritional value and become rancid if stored improperly, while wet food requires refrigeration after opening.
Our pet nutrition experts are here to help you choose the perfect food for your pet's specific needs, health conditions, and lifestyle.