How to Feed Your Pet: The Best Diet for Dogs, Cats, and More

When it comes to feeding your pet, you want to give them the best and you want to be sure that you’re feeding them well. At the end of the day, the food that you feed your animal makes a difference in their health. Whether you have a puppy or senior cat or you have a guinea pig or hamster, keep reading to discover some helpful tips for feeding your best friend:

Take care of those puppies

Puppies are so much fun. They also need a specific kind of food as they grow so they can get healthy and strong. If you feed them kibble or freeze-dried diets, look for food that is designed specifically for puppies as this will help them get more nutrition and ingredients that aid in their growth.

When your puppy is young, make sure that you’re feeding them a few times a day.  You want to serve them small sizes as you don’t want to overload their small bellies. As they get older, you can decrease the feedings and increase the kibble or food that they’re eating.

Take care of em’ kitties

If you are a pet parent of a kitten or two, you want to keep them hydrated. Make sure that you include wet food in their diet so that they’re getting enough hydration. Even though kibble is good for them, and they typically enjoy it, add wet food every now and then to aid in providing them with the hydration that they need. Much like puppies, they need to eat a few times a day to help them to grow, and as they get older, you can decrease their feedings to twice a day.

Consider the seniors

Senior dogs and cats typically develop different dietary needs as they age. For your cat, you may want to provide them with more joint support and omega-3 fatty acids while also making sure you’re not overfeeding them, which can lead to weight gain in older cats.

For your pups, the same can be said for senior doggies. They may even appreciate wet food over kibble as it’s easier for them to eat, especially if they’ve had any dental issues. They also need heart support and joint support so look for ways to incorporate healthy ingredients into their every day diet.

Watch out for allergies

The thing about the food that you give your pets is that just like us humans have allergies to certain foods, so too do animals have sensitivities and intolerances to some foods. If you notice that your pet starts reacting a certain way to their food, such as with skin conditions or with stomach upset, it could be allergies. If your dog or cat seems to be feeling ill or has issues with their skin, talk to your vet to see if changing their food is something to consider. They may prescribe cat allergy meds or meds for dog allergies.

Tips for “less common” pets

A few of the pets that are common in households that are not cats or dogs and less common than cats and dogs are rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. The good news is that their food is pretty straightforward even if they are more delicate than your more common pets, in a way.

Hay, fresh veggies and fruits, as well as pellets are all a part of their diet. The word here is ALL. You don’t want to just give them pellets. Or just give them fresh veggies and fruits. Provide them with a healthy diet and you can be sure that they’re getting the food that they need.

In Conclusion

Your pet deserves the best, so when thinking about what to feed it, remember these ideas throughout its life, from puppy or kitty to senior living.