Health food guide for Dogs

Preventative Dental Healthcare for Your Pet

Below we list our top simple and healthy dog snacks.

Carrots for Healthy Teeth

Raw carrots aren’t just for horses – they’re also a great healthy snack for your dog! Chewing carrots is excellent for your dog’s teeth and helps them to stay sharp. It is perfect for overweight dogs as they are so low in calories. Checkout our wellness package.

 

Cheese for a Protein Boost

Cheese can be an easy and healthy snack with lots of protein and calcium as long as your dog isn’t lactose intolerant. Cottage cheese is a perfect choice for dogs as it is very high in protein, low in fat and easy to digest.

Yogurt for Digestive Health

This one is quite specific, as you’re looking for plain, unsweetened, live yogurt. The live cultures and probiotics are great for your dog’s digestive health, and as with cheese, adding extra dairy to your dog’s diet means a boost of protein and calcium.

Eggs for Extra Calories

Your pup can enjoy eggs cooked or raw. Raw eggs can be given to your dog whole (preferably outside!), including the shell, as this contains a lot of great nutrients such as biotin and riboflavin. If you need more clarification on raw eggs, try a hard-boiled egg, peeled with no seasoning. High in protein and a good calorie boost for a growing pup!

Green Beans for Dogs

Green beans are the perfect snack for a vegetarian dog that needs to lose weight. The stringy vegetable is very high in fiber, which will help your dog to feel full, but it doesn’t contain many calories so it will aid in weight loss.

Apples for Vitamins

Chuck a chopped apple into your dog’s bowl at snack time to give it a daily dose of vitamins A and C. No need to peel it as the skin is where much of the nutrient content is stored, but avoid seeds as much as you can as these contain small quantities of cyanide.

Fish for Good Fats

Cooked salmon or sardine is especially beneficial to your dog as they contain good fats and amino acids. Ensure any fish you feed your pet is cooked, and remove all bones before to ensure there’s no risk of choking.

Coconut for Immune Protection

Coconut contains a fatty acid called lauric, which helps the immune system and can help in weight loss. You can feed your dog coconut flesh, coconut milk or coconut oil, but make sure they don’t get their paws on a whole coconut as the furry outer shell can cause problems if swallowed. Coconut also helps with bad breath and skin conditions, so this one’s an all-rounder!

Peanuts is a good source of Protine Protein

Peanuts are one of the only nuts that your dog can eat. Macadamias, walnuts and pecans are highly toxic to dogs, whilst almonds pose a choking risk due to their shape. Peanuts, however, are entirely safe and are a good source of protein and healthy fats. Ensure you feed your dog shelled, unsalted peanuts to keep this snack healthy.

Port Kennedy Vets offers a Wellness Programme to help you keep your dog in top condition and live a long, healthy and happy life. Call 08 6555 5149 or visit our contact page today to learn more.

Things to do in Rockingham

Boarding Kennels for small dogs.

Wellness Package for Cats & Dogs – What’s Included

Visits to the vet for your pet’s regular checks, cost of pet food, pet accessories, grooming and training can be quite expensive to keep up with. Luckily, Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital offers wellness packages for cats and dogs in an effort to save pet owners money in the long run without neglecting their pet’s health. View our infographic to see what’s included in the package.

Continue reading

The Importance of Pet Nutrition

Good nutrition is just as important for your pets as it is for the rest of your family. Nutritional requirements for your pet depending on their age, breed, size and health and will change over time. To keep your pets as happy and healthy as possible, follow our guidelines below.

 

Commercial vs Home Made Foods

Commercial foods are designed to meet all of your pet’s needs. Most include a mixture of meat, grains, vegetables and vitamins. If you prefer to feed your pet raw food then that’s fine too – just make sure it provides the right combination of energy, proteins, healthy fats and other necessary nutrients for your pet’s stage of life. Dry foods are good for the teeth while wet foods provide additional moisture to prevent dehydration.

 

Speak to your vet about the best feeding option, but in general, the choice of food is down to the personal preferences of you and your pet.

 

Does My Pet Need to Diet?

In Australia, one in three cats and dogs is overweight. Pets in this situation live shorter and less active lives than their fitter counterparts. Heavy pets tend to be less playful and energetic and will physically interact with their families less, spending more time lying around. Carrying extra weight also puts extra pressure on their limbs, joints and the heart.

 

If you suspect your pet is overweight then it’s important to do something about it now. Carrying just a few extra kilos can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and joint problems, among other complications. You can do a basic check for obesity at home by seeing how easily you can feel your pet’s ribs – if they are difficult to feel then it’s time for a visit to the vet.

 

How Do I Put My Pet On a Diet?

Weight loss for your pet shouldn’t be too tricky. The keys to success include the right advice from your veterinary healthcare team and a commitment from you and your family.

 

The ideal weight for your cat or dog will be calculated based on its size, age and breed. Just like for humans, it’s important not to cause any extreme weight loss – a safe amount would be around 3-5% body weight loss per month. Once you know what you’re aiming for, you can start to feed your pet smaller portions of its normal food or use special lower-calorie pet food. You should also increase the amount of exercise your furry friend is getting every day. Sign up for the free weight loss clinic at Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital for help every step of the way.

 

Treats

Dogs and cats love treats just as much as we do! There’s no reason that treats can’t be part of a healthy diet for your pet. Just make sure you pay attention to what they’re eating and make sure treats don’t make up more than 10% of their daily calorie intake. Instead of buying snacks at the supermarket, try treating your pet to fresh vegetables or fruit snacks such as green beans or banana slices, or bigger snacks like baby carrots, watermelon or apples for dogs. Just make sure you avoid anything that’s high in fat or sugar and skip anything that could damage your pet’s teeth.

 

If you’re interested in discussing a diet plan for your pet, call Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.