Your pets should not be fed with whatever pet food you can find at
the supermarket as this can pose a risk to their health. It is advisable
to know the quality of the diet you are giving your pet - it should
match the nutritional requirements of the animal otherwise you are
feeding your pet with the wrong foodstuffs.
Dr Ian Gallagher, local Yarrabilba vet, believes in giving your pet
commercially available dry pet food. He provides information on how the
wrong diet can create problems for the pet.
“Your pet should not ingest a lot of salt. Dry food diets that are
cheap, like those found in many supermarkets, have a lot of salt in
them. A dog or cat may like a high salt diet because it is tasty, but
the health problems that can be associated with these foods should worry
you”, advises Yarrabilba vet Dr Gallagher.
Pets can eat high sodium diets but will develop water retention and
consequent hypertension (high blood pressure). This increased salt
intake may be the cause of the pet developing kidney disease, heart
ailments and also blindness in some at-risk animals. Whilst fit animals
are able to deal with their excessive salt ingestion, some pets with
existing conditions cannot endure the large amount of sodium in their
bodies and will have more health difficulties.
The friendly Jimboomba Vet Yarrabilba staff are happy to take
enquiries and dispense advice on the ideal type of food according to
your pet’s life phase. It is crucial to give the right kind of food. For
example, a puppy is in a fast-growth stage, especially if it is a large
breed dog. You will notice, according to your local Yarrabilba vet,
that cheap commercial dog foods will not specify what stage of the pup’s
life stage they are indicated for.
“A Great Dane pup has a different nutritional requirement from a
Chihuahua pup and, therefore, they both have their respective food
preparations that are suitable for their own breed. Large breeds, like
Great Danes, Labradors, and Rottweilers for example, need the proper
ratio of calcium to phosphorus to avoid problems with their growth and
development. We have spent a lot of time, effort and finances in
developing the right food formulae with a wide nutritional spectrum that
meets the needs of a growing pup”, explains Yarrabilba vet Dr Ian.
“In addition, thiamine deficiency can be thwarted by avoiding
kangaroo meat and other pet grade raw meats”, the Yarrabilba vet
advises.
“Pet grade meat products, widely available on the market, contain
sulphite preservatives. This sulphite content will neutralise thiamine
if given over the long term and may possibly lead to problems due to
thiamine deficiency. The pet may develop neurological or nervous system
disease. Hence, to avoid problems it is crucial to know that, if you
choose to feed pet grade meats, ensure this kind of food is not given
every day in order to maintain sufficient thiamine levels in the body,”
states Dr Ian of Jimboomba Vet Yarrabilba.
Clients can call or walk in for free pet nutritional advice. Get more
information on ideal pet nutrition from highly trained Yarrabilba vet
staff at Jimboomba Vet Surgery. The practice can be reached at (07) 5546
9540 or visit: http://www.jimboombavetsurgery.com.au/
