Pet Health Articles
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Special attention must be given to a cat's nutrition during her pregnancy to ensure the birth of healthy puppies. It is important to maintain a good body condition throughout pregnancy; this is achieved with regular monitoring. This handout outlines a pregnant cat’s unique nutritional needs and how to meet them, ensuring a healthy mother and kittens.
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Each cat is an individual and one standard feeding plan may not work for every pet, but following a set schedule can be beneficial for several reasons. For most cats, two meals per day is best. The use of food toys or interactive feeders can add interest to your cat’s mealtime. Routines help your cat adjust to changes that may occur in your home and allow you to monitor her health.
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With any cancer management strategy in cats, optimal nutrition is essential. The metabolic effects of cancer will persist after treatment. By anticipating the nutritional impacts of cancer treatment, you can work with your family veterinarian and/or a qualified veterinary nutritionist to adjust your cat's nutrient profile and potentially avoid some negative side effects.
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Selecting your cat's food is a choice you make to support their health and well-being for each of their life stages. Complete and balanced commercial cat foods are designed to have specific nutrient profiles, and different diet types are available for healthy cats or those with a medical condition. Your veterinarian is always ready to help you make the best nutritional choices for your cat.
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The primary nutritional goals for the young adult cat are to maximize health, longevity, and quality of life. The diet should address common health issues that nutrition may influence, such as dental disease, obesity, feline idiopathic cystitis, cancer, and osteoarthritis. Your veterinary healthcare team can help choose a nutrient profile that best suits your individual cat.
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Food allergies can be problematic for many cats, especially after years on the same diet. Clinical signs may manifest as gastrointestinal or skin problems. Animal proteins are the most common causes and strict avoidance is the best way to treat affected cats. An 8 to 12-week elimination diet trial on a special veterinary diet is the only definitive method to diagnose a food allergy and, in some cases, the veterinary diet may need to be continued long-term.
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A gastrostomy (G-) tube is a small rubber or silicone tube that passes directly into the stomach through the cat’s skin and abdominal wall. It allows you to deliver food, water, and medications directly into the stomach. This article outlines how to use and maintain a G-tube for your cat.
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Cats like to graze on grass, and eating grass, in moderation, benefits even well-fed cats. Grass provides roughage that aids digestion and elimination. Cats that eat grass routinely may have more regular gastrointestinal tracts, fewer hair balls, and less constipation.
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An elimination-challenge diet trial, also known as a diet trial, is a test to see if your cat is allergic to a specific food ingredient (typically proteins). The first part involves eliminating potentially allergenic foods and treats from the diet, and the second part involves reintroducing foods one at a time to determine a response.
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It can be a challenge to prevent rebound weight gain once a pet has lost some weight. Sticking to a specific number of calories, weighing food portions, and helping your pet stay physically active are a few recommendations. This article addresses several commonly asked questions about how to help a pet during the maintenance phase (after the weight has been lost).