Pets are vital members of our families. Their love for people is unconditional, and they rely on us to take care of them the best way we know how.
In simple terms, we have a responsibility to choose the right food for our fur babies and develop feeding schedules that best favor their unique needs. Unfortunately, that’s not always easy, especially if you’re a first-time pet owner.
But there’s no need to panic. Here’s are several factors that can help you choose the right food for your pet:
1. The Age of Your Pet
Your pet’s age plays a big role when picking the right pet food. Little kittens and growing puppies, for instance, have very different nutritional requirements compared to adult pets. They need a lot of fat and high-quality protein to boost their rapid muscle development.
However, for older pets, you’ll want to choose a senior generic formula or come up with personalized senior pet food. This will help your fur baby maintain a healthy weight while also supporting his activity level.
2. Pet’s Activity Level
A pet that works or plays will burn more calories compared to a pet whose only exercise is a natural walk. If your cat or dog is an athlete, he may benefit from a nutrient-rich pet food designed for athletic pets. However, if your pet does not exercise much, you may need to consider a pet for weight management to maintain his absolute body condition. The good news is that there are some really great pet food delivery options out there to help you get what you want when you need it.
3. Its Lifestyle and Size
Lifestyle and size can also play a major role when deciding what to feed your pet. Feeding a smaller breed, lower-activity dog, such as a French Bulldog, a feed meant for a big, high-energy breed could lead to obesity. For such small or toy breeds, you may want to get them food with small, bite-sized kibble.
Similarly, feeding a large-sized pet food meant for smaller breeds might not have benefited them as much. You’ll need to get your large pet food specifically formulated for their lifestyle and size, such as those with glucosamine, which supports healthy joints.
4. Whether or Not Your Has Food Allergies
Allergies also determine which meal is best for your family pet. Some pets are allergic to the pet food’s primary ingredients; hence, pets with food intolerances or allergies might need a special diet.
While there are various pet feeds particularly made for pets with allergies, finding out what your food is allergic to can be tricky. You need to closely monitor your pet’s behavior to determine what food works and what doesn’t. If you don’t have enough time to do that, you may want to schedule a checkup with your veterinarian to discuss your pet’s food allergy situation.
5. What You Can Afford
Every pet owner has a budget. As such, the amount of money you intend to spend will determine the pet food you choose for your dog or cat. The good news is that there are many pet foods on the market that suit different budgets. These run the gamut from cheap supermarket brands to freshly made organic free-range foods.
Final Thoughts
Pets are man’s best friends, and there’s certainly no doubt about that. That’s why it’s crucial that you appropriately take care of your furry friends. Whether you are feeding your pet with canned or homemade feeds, you must know the right amount of proteins and carbohydrates, and other nutrients needed based on their specific needs.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.
