Nutrition

Ever heard the expression that “you are what you eat”? Well the same is true for our pets. A nutrition-rich diet is your pet’s first line of defense and a cornerstone of preventive care. Proper daily nutrition will go a long way in keeping your pet healthy by bolstering the immune system and supporting normal development in younger animals.

Every pet’s nutritional needs are different, based on age, breed, health conditions and lifestyle factors—which can make choosing the right pet food complicated. At Aardvark Animal Hospital, our veterinarians and staff can take the guesswork out of feeding your pets by advising you about what’s right for your animal.

These are the only three diets that meet all of the Global Nutrition Committees  (WSAVA) recommendations on selecting pet foods:

1. Hill’s Science Diet
2. Purina Pro Plan
3. Royal Canin

• It is best to avoid grain free diets except in very specific dogs who have allergies to grains. Consult your veterinarian in these cases. 
• Never feed a raw diet. Feeding raw meats is both not nutritious, but it can also cause food poisoning in your pet and other people in the household. 
• There are a lot of boutique and fad diets that do not meet the nutritional standards of quality, well-balanced, thoroughly tested, commercial dog food. You will often spend more money on their commercials than good nutrition. Examples include (but are not limited to): Blue, Rachael Ray, Wilderness, Pet Pantry, etc. 

 Here are some other brands we feel comfortable recommending:

• Hill’s Bioactive Recipe
• Hill’s Ideal Balance  
• Purina One/Purina One Plus
• Purina Dog/Cat Chow
• Fancy Feast
• Iams
• Eukanuba

 *We carry Hill’s products here at AAH. Ask us about how to set up home delivery!

The following is a list of dog food brands most frequently named in cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) reported to the FDA:

Have questions or concerns about what your pet is eating? Call us at 919-359-3595.