True or False: Pet diets change as they get older.
Answer: True
As your pet grows and moves through different lifestages, their dietary needs change, too. Feeding them the right food at each stage is important for their overall health
Puppies and kittens grow quickly and need a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Specially formulated puppy and kitten foods are also packed with calories to keep up with these pets’ fast metabolism.
When pets reach adulthood, they don’t need as many calories. Feeding adult pets a puppy or kitten diet can lead to an overweight pet. Switching to adult food helps pets maintain a healthy weight.
As pets age and enter their senior years, their metabolism slows even more, and they need food with even fewer calories. Senior pet food is lower in carbohydrates and higher in fiber, so pets feel full with fewer calories. Many senior diets often include additional nutrients and supplements, like fatty acids for joint and heart health and antioxidants to slow down brain aging.
Starting your puppy off right sets the stage for their long-term health and development. Proper nutrition during puppyhood can influence growth patterns, weight management and overall health well into adulthood. Establishing a regular feeding schedule with appropriately sized meals is essential to maintain their energy throughout the day. A good start during the puppy stage not only sets the foundation for a healthy adult dog but also helps establish lifelong healthy eating habits.
Determining the right amount to feed can be challenging. Your veterinarian can estimate how many calories your dog needs each day based on their lifestyle (and sometimes their breed).
Although dogs evolved as hunters capable of handling large meals followed by days without food, most pet dogs thrive on a more regular feeding schedule. While puppies need multiple meals throughout the day, as your pup transitions to adulthood, two to three equally divided meals per day generally work well.
Young kittens between eight weeks and six months of age need to eat frequently—about five times a day! By six months, they can transition to two meals a day. Mistakes in their diet during kittenhood can lead to serious issues in adulthood.
It's important to monitor your cat’s calorie intake and avoid free feeding, as it can lead to obesity.
Senior cats have unique needs, and those with certain health issues may benefit from special prescription diets.
Choosing the right food for your cat can be tricky with so many options available. Not all pet foods are equal, and ingredient quality can vary. Consult with your veterinarian to help select the best diet based on your cat’s specific needs and health conditions.
