Wednesday 19th August 2020
What type of 'feeder' are you?
Are you a meticulous measurer, carefully weighing out each or your pet's meals or do
you scoop out a bowl-full of kibble with whichever mug is to hand? Do you
practice ‘free’ feeding? This method is popular and can work for some cats who
can be incredibly efficient at ‘self regulating’ and consuming only what they
need. However, many dogs (and some cats too) will over-eat if there is not a
daily limit!
Regardless of your style, is your current method really
working for you or, more importantly, for your pet?
There are more factors that influence how much your pet
needs to eat than you may think. We
detail them here for you, along with lots of other advice on how to best meet
your pet’s requirements.
The animal’s age
Kittens and puppies need more calories than fully grown adult
dogs and cats. Older animals who are slowing down with age have
a lower requirement for energy than a normally active adult.
The size of your pet and his or her weight status
Over or underweight animals will need less or more food
respectively. Your vet will provide a free weight check for you. Here are a
couple of handy infographics on how to identify if your pet is at a healthy
weight.
Lifestyle
An outdoor cat who enjoys hunting will need more fuel than
sedentary cats, as will a sporting/working dog versus a normally active adult
dog.
Temperament
Stressed or anxious animals tend to burn more fuel than
those who are generally very relaxed!
Individual metabolism
Just like people, some animals have a naturally quicker
metabolism than others. Small dogs have a faster metabolism than large and
giant breeds. They can still be prone to unwanted weight gain though!
The calorie content of the chosen diet
Yes, calories are counted in pet nutrition just as they are
for us humans. Some products within the
Arden Grange range are lower or higher calorie than others and we have combined
our knowledge of calories together with age, size and life-style factors, to
create recommended feeding quantities for each of our products.
Follow the feeding guides
Our feeding guides have been carefully crafted, taking into
account as many of the factors listed above as possible, but they can still
only estimate the quantity of food required due to considerable variation
between individual pets. They should however provide you with a great starting
point.
Note
Are you considering switching your pet’s diet from one brand
to another? It is very important to make dietary changes gradually to avoid
upsetting your pet’s digestion or behaviour.
Also
consider the treats and extras you give your pet…these have calories too! Reduce
the main diet to accommodate treats so your pet can enjoy their rewards without
piling on the lbs.
If you are still unsure about how much to feed your pet, do
get in touch for further support and advice.
Ness Bird is a registered veterinary nurse, and holder of
the Certificate in Canine and Feline veterinary
Health Nutrition. After 15 years practical experience as a veterinary practice
nurse, NVQ assessor and technical writer, and over 13 years experience at Arden
Grange, Ness has an in-depth knowledge of the practical aspects of feeding dogs
and cats. She and the team are always happy to help provide guidance should you
have any queries.
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