5 Diet Options for Your Pet

There is no one diet that works for every animal. Just like you, your pet’s nutritional needs are based on many factors - including weight, age, and breed. However, within the spectrum of diet options, you should know which are the most beneficial for your pet's health. ​

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1. Fresh prey is the most natural diet for your pet. It's the diet animals in the wild thrive upon. It is not always the most convenient option but companies like Hare Today Gone Tomorrow make it a lot easier to manage. 
2. Commercial raw diets are a terrific alternative to fresh prey. Not only do they come already nutritionally balanced but they are conveniently packaged and can even look like dry food. I often recommend this diet because of the convenience. There are many brands to choose from (e.g. Bravo, Primal Pronto, Instinct) and are available at many pet stores (e.g. Petco, Especially for Pets, Vet Med Supplies, Pet World). 
3. Home cooked diets are also a great option. The one challenge is making food that has the right nutritional balance for your pet.  If you are planning to use a home cooked diet, it is important to include bone and organ. A diet of muscle meat will not provide your pet the nutritional balance they require.
4. Canned food diets are significantly better than dry food diets. They are a good source of hydration and low in carbohydrates. This promotes a proper moisture balance and can assist in maintaining a healthy weight.
5. Dry food diets in general are the worst option for a pet. Dry food diverts moisture from the body into the gut, thus causing a constant hydration drain, and hydration is a key ingredient in your pet’s health. The nutrients in dry food are altered due to the processing required to form the kibble shape. Even the top-rated brands include unhealthy by-products which are caused by the rendering process.

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​​​Interested in Transition to Raw?
If you have a new puppy or kitten, I recommend they start on canned food. Canned food contains a lot of water, and has cooked ingredients making it easy to digest which is ideal in the early life stages, before the digestive enzymes are mature.

Between 4-6 months of age, the digestive system has developed to a point where you can begin to introduce a commercial raw or fresh prey diet with full transition by 6 months. If you prefer a home cooked diet, make sure it is nutritionally balanced as vitamins and minerals are very important during the adolescent development stages. 

If you are planning to transition an older pet to raw food, take it slow.  This is best done under the guidance of your veterinarian. Your pet has become accustomed to the composition of their old diet and a sudden change can have an adverse impact. Your veterinarian will also want incorporate your pet’s health into the equation to determine the optimal diet and transition timeline. In the case of mature to older cats, you may find their bodies will adjust to the new food easier than their minds.

There exists a wide range of healthy diet options. Only you and your veterinarian can determine which one is best for your pet. For more information on MASH services and a quick video on raw diet visit our All Our Services.

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