In this article, we are sharing details about what you should include in your pet’s diet and how you can ensure that you are giving a perfect balance of essential nutrients.
Studies show that more than half of the pet cats and dogs are obese. Call it the love and the pampering of the pet parent or negligence towards a balanced diet, poor eating habits reflect badly on their health. As a pet parent, you need to pay equal attention to the diet of your four-legged child as you pay towards your own diet. You need to feed them a proper, nutrient-rich, balanced diet that helps them grow and keep them healthy and fit.
How good diet helps your pets
Quality food can do wonders with pet health. Some of the benefits that it gives are:
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Feeding your pet with a nutrient-rich diet ensures good health.
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Giving good quality food in the right proportions helps improve the reproductive health of the pets.
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Keeps the pet skin shiny and sleek, making them look clean, pretty and healthy.
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It keeps the digestive system of the pets working fine and also improves their immune health.
There are countless benefits of feeding pet cats and dogs with a good, balanced diet. The experts at MyFurries always stress not going behind the big brand names and stick to the doctor’s suggestions about a balanced diet. Moreover, they have experts who can help you make a proper diet plan for your furry children to keep them healthy and fit.
Balanced diet for cats and dogs
A balanced diet for the cats and dogs means it should have apt nutrition value, should keep their calorie intake in control and keep them healthy and active all the time. The calorie intake of the pets varies depending upon their breed and weight. For example, a cat weighing around 4 Kg needs about 200 calories a day, and at the same time, a 21 Kg dog needs about 800 calories. Once you calculate their weight and refer to the details mentioned below about the foods you should include, you will be able to frame a good pet diet.
Things you should include
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates help provide energy to your pet and also help maintain a healthy digestive system. You should include fibre, a form of carbohydrate, by giving rice, vegetables or other food items. But do understand that you should not feed high fibre foods to growing cats and dogs.
Protein
Protein is essential for muscle growth and for general body maintenance. Hence, just like humans, our furry friends also need it. Both cats and dogs need protein in their diet for good vision, a healthy heart and better reproductive health.
Cats depend a lot on meat protein for their vision and heart health. You can give them cooked meat in any form but refrain from raw meats. Dogs need a daily dose of around 25% protein in their diet, which you can add by giving them chicken, fish, pork and other types of meats. You only need to ensure that your pet is not allergic to any meat type.
Fats
Fats are a powerful energy source for pets. You can get dietary fat from either animal fat or plant-based oils. Studies show that fats have more energy value than proteins or carbohydrates. Fats help in:
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Keeping their skin and fur healthy and shiny.
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Absorbing the vitamins better
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Protecting organs from failure or damage
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Make their food tastier for them.
Include poultry, soybean, fish, corn and other fat-rich foods into the diet of your pet. You can also ask your vet to suggest some foods that are a good source of fat and which you can give to your pet.
Vitamins and Minerals
If you give a nutrient-rich diet to your pet, there is no need to add any artificial supplements. Understand that overdose of these supplements can affect their health badly. Hence, ask your vet or the experts at MyFurries if they recommend giving vitamin or mineral supplements to your pet and act accordingly.
Water
Just like humans, it is essential for your fur friends also to stay hydrated. Water helps remove toxins from the body, supports the nervous system, and transport oxygen into the bloodstream. Make sure you keep a fresh and clean bowl of water within your pet’ reach and keep a keen eye on whether they are drinking it enough or not.
These are the essentials that you must include in the pet diet. Ensure that there is a perfect balance of each nutrient in every meal that you give them. Furthermore, you should understand the significance of exercise and socialize in keeping your pet healthy. Take them out, play with and feed them with nutrient-rich meals.
If you find any difficulty in preparing a meal plan or you want to take an expert opinion, the experts at MyFurries always got your back. They can help you with a proper diet plan for your four-legged children after evaluating factors like their age, breed and nutrient requirement. Give them care and nourishment and add a touch of love and care to it.
