Nutrition
We believe that nutrition is your first line of defense against many of the diseases that plague our pets. Some behaviors that could indicate your pet isn’t getting proper food are:
- Obsessive scratching & licking
- chronic urinary tract issues
- chronic ear infections
- digestive disturbances
Research has proven that nutrients play a significant role in the aging process, the ability to learn, immune function, and life span. In fact, proper nutrition can increase the average lifespan up to two years.
High quality meat-based pet foods can make a remarkable difference in the health of our companion animals. At mini-critters, we carry a wide variety of nutritious, all-natural pet food options.
Cats are carnivores and cannot survive without meat. They have no need for carbohydrates, yet many commercial cat foods feature corn as the main ingredient. A proper food will result in less shedding, hairballs and vomiting. Proper nutrition also plays a large role in obesity, diabetic, and urinary tract diseases. There is also a growing body of knowledge that recommends the use of high quality canned foods for cats. Cats do not drink enough water (as a general rule), therefore suffering from high rates of urinary tract issues. Feeding canned food one meal a day can be very beneficial, some cats will do better on a total diet of canned food. Fountain watering units can also benefit cats, as they are attracted to moving water. Canned food can also be beneficial for weight loss.
Dogs are also carnivores and will benefit equally from a high quality dog food. Chronic ear infections, obsessive licking of feet, and hot spots have all been eliminated after removing corn from the diet. For those still suffering, bring your pet in to mini-critters and our knowledgeable staff will assist in finding the best pet food for your pet.
Pet food for older dogs have additional nutrients to benefit aging joints and digestive systems as well as decreased calories for decreased activity levels. So, if your dog is older, you should consider this option.
Another benefit of high quality foods is that they are nutrient rich and easy to digest, which means less food. Less food means less poop! And high quality food means less stinky poop and less associated gastronomical explosions (farts). Did you know if you feed a total raw meat diet to a mid-size dog that the poop is small and airy (kind of like Styrofoam) and it will dissolve in the rain?
The last hidden benefit is decreased vet bills (sorry vets!).
We are pleased to offer you a selection of the finest foods available. Dry kibble, canned, freeze dried and raw, as well as our knowledgeable staff to help you find the food best suited for your pet.
No matter the quality of food, obesity in our pets is a fast growing problem. Please regulate your furry friends food according to their activity level. Start with the recommended feeding per weight on the food you are feeding and adjust for the activity level. If they sleep all day feed less. If you have more than one pet, please feed separately so you know how much they are eating. Have healthy snacks available (low fat for those with weight issues), and remember: food does not equal love. Just because they want a treat or more food does not mean they need it! Go for a walk, have a romp in the dog park or drop your dog off at mini-critters before work and we'll do the calorie burning for you.
Article from FamilyFest 2011
Pet Nutrition: What Are You Feeding Your Pets? By Justin Shatto
Pet nutrition is a recently developed concern amongst many households across the United States. With recent pet food recalls and more understanding of the dog food process, pet owners have begun making themselves more aware of what they are feeding their animals. It has brought up the question, “If you wouldn’t eat it yourself, why would you feed it to your dog or cat?”
Signs of an Unbalanced Diet
It is believed that nutrition is your first line of defense against many of the diseases that plague our pets. Such diseases include cancers, diabetes, and other degenerative diseases. When it comes to pet nutrition, there are many signs that your four-legged friend is not getting the proper balance of vitamins and minerals that they need to live a long, healthy life. Obsessive scratching and licking, chronic urinary tract issues, chronic ear infections, digestive disturbances, and even as simple as the quality of their hair coats.
Hair coat is the first sign of the nutritional health of your animal. Skin is the most exposed organ of any mammal; yes that includes humans. With their skin being exposed to so many elements it is always being replaced at a rapid rate. In order for this massive organ to be replaced there needs to be plenty of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Without one of these elements there cannot be proper restoration of the hair coat. The best sign of a healthy, balanced diet is a thick, shiny coat.
What You May Not Know
In many cases, most commercialized pet food companies can be traced back to a parenting human grade food company. All food is processed and prepared for human consumption, but the part of the animal that does not pass for human consumption is put into the dog and cat food as a protein source. These “protein” by-products come from what has been classified as the “4-Ds.” The four Ds are dead, dying, diseased or disabled animals. Animal meal like these described can legally contain ground feathers, nails, claws, cartilage, tendons, bones, blood and fecal waste. These ingredients provide no nourishment to our beloved animals.
Other fillers, such as wheat and corn by-products, are providing no added nutritional value to your dog or cats food. Again, these ingredients are those that do not qualify for human consumption. These include corn bran, peanut hulls, rice hulls, soybean hulls, and oat hulls, to name a few. Many of these products are grown using chemical fertilizers and are sprayed with pesticides. Corn syrups and corn glutens bind to water to prevent oxidation in foods, but, once ingested, they can stick to the colon and cause blockages. Such blockages can lead to increased risk of colon and rectal cancers.
Additives are other common ingredients that are included in many dry foods. Many of these additives are used as preservatives, but are again unqualified for human consumption. Poultry and beef fats are most commonly used as preservatives by being sprayed over the food once dried, in order to make it more palatable. Emulsifiers are used in preventing water and fat from separating once the food is packaged. Antioxidants are used to prevent the fats from going rancid. Antimicrobials are used to reduce spoilage. Finally, Ethoxyquin, which is the most common preservative, has been thought by many to cause disease, skin problems, and infertility in dogs.
Back to the Basics
All cats and dogs, if traced back to their ancestors, were all hunters. Diets consisted of strictly protein. Switching your pet to a raw specific diet has many beneficial aspects to their health. Studies have shown that when dogs and cats are fed a primarily raw food diet they have had improved digestion, reduction or elimination of allergies and skin conditions, cleaner teeth and better breath, greater vitality, and an improved coat. What this amounts to is that you will ultimately have fewer vet visits.
What to Look for
Although a raw diet has many benefits, it is not always a viable option for all pet owners. So how can you make sure that you are selecting a quality dry food for your pet? The first thing you should do when selecting a quality dry food is to make sure that it has the “AAFCO Guarantee.” Second, you should look for meat as the first ingredient. Next, be sure to consider which grains are used in the food -- rice is the most digestible of all grains used in pet food. Be sure to stay away from meat and bone meals, by-products, and by-product meals. The fifth thing to consider is how often corn is listed; if it is listed more than once in the first five ingredients it is time to look for an alternative brand. Finally, try looking brands that use natural preservatives such as mixed tocopherols or vitamins C and E.
Wrap-Up
As we have discussed, there are many benefits to feeding an all-natural, well-balanced diet to your dog or cat. Simply changing their food can give them a healthy coat, prevent diseases, and provide an overall better quality of life to your beloved pet. Another benefit of high quality foods is that they are nutrient rich and easy to digest, which means less food. Less in means less out.
If you are concerned whether the food you are feeding your furry friend is a good choice or not, please stop in to mini-critters Pet Village and talk to one of our knowledgable employees about one of our many family-owned dog and cat foods. We will be able to help you find the perfect food option for your pet. “The right answers to your pet problems, mini-critters, for people who love their pets.”
