Nutritional Counseling

The old adage “you are what you eat” doesn’t just apply to people; if your pet is eating poor quality food, a lot of table scraps, or oversized portions, their health will suffer. Following a veterinarian-approved nutritional plan for your pet goes a long way toward keeping your pet happy and healthy. The Paw Patch veterinarian team is here to tailor a nutritional plan for your pet’s specific needs.

The Dangers of Pet Obesity

As loving pet owners ourselves, we understand how easy it can be to spoil your pet with lots of treats and tasty meals. But when your pet becomes obese, many health problems that will interfere with their quality of life (or even shorten it) can follow. Poor nutrition can also make health problems like diabetes, arthritis, heart problems, gastrointestinal disorders, and liver and kidney disease worse. Understanding your pet’s nutritional needs is the best way to prevent obesity and the health problems that can come with it.

With so many different types of pet food available, it can be difficult to choose what is best for your pet’s health. The Paw Patch team will gladly discuss the best type of food and nutrition your pet should have so they are not loading up on empty calories with no nutritional value or benefit.

Signs of Poor Nutrition

• dry, flaky coat (dandruff)
• excessive shedding or patchy hair loss
• excessive gas
• bad breath (bad doggy breath is not normal)
• body odor
• unusual bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhea

From your pet’s first regular wellness checks with the Paw Patch team, we’ll monitor your pet’s weight as she reaches certain age milestones and adjust her diet as appropriate. We will ensure that you have the right eating plan in place that will keep them in great shape throughout their lives.

What Do I Do if My Pet is Already Overweight?

Don’t be too hard on yourself, but schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. The sooner you correct your pet’s nutritional routine, the sooner your pet will get back to her happy, active self.

Paw Patch offers nutritional counseling services that will ensure your pet is eating the best possible food and amounts for its size, weight, current health, and age, including:

• customized nutrition plans
• eating plan analysis
• supplementation counseling and recommendation
• home-cooked diet formulations
• critical care nutrition for your pet with health challenges
• regular consultations and check-ups to ensure ongoing nutritional success
• senior pet nutrition

When coming up with your pet’s ideal nutritional plan, we consider several factors that make up their individual nutritional requirements. These factors include:

• age of your pet
• breed
• type of pet
• their current weight
• exercise level
• existing health issues they may have

The Paw Patch team will give you confidence and peace of mind that you are doing everything you can to feed your sweet pet companion the best diet for their specific needs. We encourage you to bring your kids to the appointment as well, so they can learn how to take care of their pets’ nutritional needs — valuable information they’ll use with all their pets in the future.