Our Pet Nutritionist Can Provide Guidance for Your Pet’s Diet

The right nutrition is essential to help your dog or cat to be as healthy as possible. At Family Pet Medical Center, we offer nutritional counseling from our professional Fort Lauderdale pet nutritionist. This can help you to provide the right care for dogs and cats who may require extra help to stay active and healthy. Our Fort Lauderdale animal hospital is committed to a holistic approach to pet care that includes regular exercise, weight control and the right nutrition for every stage of your pet’s life. We work with you to make sure your pet gets all the right nutrients without the fat and filler that can contribute to weight gain for dogs and cats. This can help your pet to stay healthy and mobile now and throughout their lives.

The Right Nutrition Makes a Difference

Veterinarians and veterinary experts agree that feeding your pet healthy and high-quality food can extend their lives and can reduce issues that could affect their health immediately and for the rest of their lives. Our on-staff Fort Lauderdale pet nutritionist can provide you with the most accurate and practical options for feeding your pets the right foods for their species, their nutritional requirements and their activity levels.

Proper Nutrition for Cats

While dogs can often eat a mix of meat and non-meat foods, cats are obligate carnivores. This means that they must eat meat to obtain the necessary nutrients for good health. Some of the most important nutrients that cats and kittens must obtain from the foods they eat include the following:

• Taurine is an essential amino acid that is found in meat and milk but not in plants. This nutrient is one of the building blocks of protein. Cats that do not receive enough taurine in their diets can develop a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood and can result in poor circulation. A lack of taurine is also associated with severe eye problems that can lead to blindness.
• Protein should form the bulk of your cat’s diet. Cats and kittens can not digest carbohydrates easily. Making sure your feline companions get plenty of protein is an important key to their overall health and longevity.
• Fats are also necessary for cats to stay healthy. Most veterinarians recommend that your cat’s diet consist of about 20 to 24 percent fats, at least some of which should contain linoleic and arachidonic acids. Both of these nutrients are classified as Omega-6 fatty acids, which are critical to promoting brain function and reducing inflammation in cats at all stages of development.

The Right Foods for Dogs

Dogs can digest carbohydrates much more easily than cats. In general, a dog’s diet can include proteins, carbohydrates and fats. This mix of nutrients can ensure that your puppy or dog receives the right nutrients for their needs. Proteins should form the bulk of your dog’s diet and can include cooked eggs, beef, fish, chicken, turkey and lamb. Our on-staff Fort Lauderdale pet nutritionist can provide you with helpful guidelines on the right amount to feed your dog and the correct food formulations to help your canine companion stay as healthy as possible. Our Fort Lauderdale animal hospital is committed to the highest standards of care for your beloved pet.

At Family Pet Medical Center, we work with pet owners in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas to provide practical help for all aspects of your pet’s health. Contact our Fort Lauderdale pet nutritionist today at 954-567-2500 to request more information or to set up an appointment with us;. We look forward to the chance to serve you.