Here at Arrowhead, we take your pet’s nutritional needs very seriously. That’s why we recommend
Hill’s Healthy Advantage
pet foods for those pets who do not require a prescription diet. Healthy Advantage® foods come in both dry and canned varieties for both dogs and cats. Additionally, each formula is designed to provide pets with their exact nutritional needs for their life stage.
LOOK FOR AAFCO GUIDELINES
Pet food should have a nutritional adequacy claim on its packaging that tells you the food is either “formulated to meet or exceed the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO nutritional profiles” or ” animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that the pet food provides complete and balanced nutrition” for the life stage of your animal. An extra layer of protection is found in pet food brands that have been through AAFCO feeding trials. Further, food that is labeled for intermittent or supplemental use should not be used long-term unless directed by a veterinarian.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOD FOR YOUR PET
Our pet’s nutritional needs vary depending on age, size, species and health conditions. Many older pets benefit from specially formulated food that is designed with older bodies in mind. Obesity in pets is often the result of reduced exercise and overfeeding and is a risk factor for problems such as heart disease. Because older pets often have different nutritional requirements, these special foods can help keep your pet’s weight under control and reduce consumption of nutrients that are risk factors for the development of diseases, as well as organ- or age-related changes. Kittens usually begin transitioning from milk to solid food around 5-6 weeks. By about 8 weeks it should be eating solid food. Kittens should be fed on a complete kitten diet, preferably the one that it was already on in order to avoid unnecessary stomach upsets. Do not feed your kitten an adult cat food! Meals should be spaced out to 4 meals a day at age 6-12 weeks, 3 meals a day at age 12-16 weeks, and 2 meals a day from about 16 weeks onward. Make sure to offer the kitten water at regular intervals. By the time your puppy is ~ 8 weeks of age, it should be eating solid food. When choosing a brand of food for your new puppy, it is important to look for a “complete puppy diet”. Puppies should not be eating the same food as an adult dog. If your puppy is already on a complete puppy diet, try to avoid any changes, as this can lead to stomach upsets. Initially meals should be spaced out to 2-3 times per day. As the puppy ages (6 months to 1 year), this can be decreased to 1-2 meals per day. Make sure to offer water at regular intervals as well.
READ THE LABELS CAREFULLY
Pet food labels provide valuable insight into the quality of the food. When selecting a nutritious pet food for your trusty companion, pay close attention to the nutritional adequacy statement, listing of ingredients, feeding directions and guaranteed analysis.
