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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
Nutrition. To Feed Her Better |
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How do I choose the appropriate food for my dog or cat?
You should ask yourself the following questions when evaluating dog or cat food:
- Does it say on the package that the food is complete and balanced? This means that the food contains sufficient quantities of the nutrients required to meet the physical needs of your pet and meets pet food standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
- Does the food taste good? Taste is a very important criterion since it will influence the amount of food eaten. A pet food may be complete and balanced, but if it tastes bad, a dog or cat will not be able to eat enough of it to satisfy its dietary needs.
- How digestible is it? Digestibility is an important criterion as it indicates the amount of nutrients that may be absorbed by the body. High-quality food is more easily digested than its cheaper counterpart because it contains more digestible animal protein, while cheaper food contains many ingredients that the enzymes of a dog or cat system may not be able to digest as readily. Consequently, you must feed your pet larger quantities of less digestible food in order for it to satisfy your pet's dietary needs. This could lead to your animal eating more and defecating more frequently.
- How much metabolizable energy does the food contain? Each Pronature Premium bag provides information about its energy density in kcal/kg. Sedentary dogs and cats should be fed calorie-reduced diets to avoid weight gain, while very active animals (e.g. sled dogs) need food with high energy density.
Should I choose a specific or generic food for my pet?
In the interests of promoting your pet's health, it is recommended you choose a formula that meets your pet's specific needs, based on the criteria below:
- Age: Puppy or kitten, adult or senior
- Size: Small, medium or large (dog breeds)
- Physical condition: Growing, maintenance, overweight, pet with allergies, working dog, pregnant cat, cat with a tendency to suffer from hairballs, etc.
How do I introduce a new brand or type of food to my pet?
When you must change your brand or type of pet food, you should introduce the new brand progressively by giving your pet a small quantity of the new food and slowly increasing its amount while reducing the quantity of the old food. The transition period may last anywhere from 7 to 10 days. Introducing a new brand or type of food progressively will avoid having your pet suffer from digestive problems.
Should I vary the pet food I give my dog or cat?
Varying the pet food you give your dog or cat is not recommended. Feeding your pet the same food on a consistent basis ensures that your dog or cat's digestive tract will function properly and that your pet produces firm, well-formed stools. Changing your pet food simply for the sake of varying its diet may result in your pet suffering from an upset stomach. However, careful changes to your pet’s diet are recommended if it develops any reactions to its usual food.
Should I give my pet table scraps?
No. If an animal has a complete, balanced diet, it does not need any dietary supplementing. Feeding your pet table scraps, which often contain a lot of fat, may result in your pet becoming overweight.
Should I give my pet a vitamin or mineral supplement?
No. A dog or cat with a complete and balanced diet does not need dietary supplements. What’s more, the excess of some specific nutrients on the diet may lead to malabsorption of other elements, resulting in a dietary imbalance. All PLB International formulas are 100% complete and perfectly balanced to meet the specific needs of your dog or cat.
If following this advice does not produce the desired results, your dog may be suffering from malabsorption of fats and possibly from malabsorption of carbohydrates and protein (i.e. these nutrients are not being properly absorbed by your pet's system). You should consult a veterinarian.
What is "ash" and what is its benefit in pet foods?
In order to measure and control the quantity of minerals in pet foods, they must first be burned. Ash is what is left after this procedure. The amount of ash in a pet food represent almost exactly the quantity of minerals it contains
Good quality pet food generally contains between 5 and 8% ash. You should always check the quantity of ash in the food you give to your dog or cat.
It is also important that the minerals in the food be balanced. Excess minerals in the system can be harmful to your pet because unabsorbed minerals may combine with other minerals and prevent them from being absorbed by your pet’s body. This could lead to a mineral deficiency or imbalance. In addition, excess minerals in your pet's system can cause various physical problems.
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