How Dietary Guidance Can Help
The nutritional requirements of our pets vary by breed, size, age and overall health. Because there is such a diversity in the dietary needs of our pets, our vets are proud to offer nutritional counselling to our clients to help them find the food that works best for their four-legged friends.
Our nutritional counselling services can address concerns you might have about your pet's nutrition and health. They can also help you:
- Manage food allergies
- Control health conditions such as diabetes
- Manage your pet's weight
- Learn which and how much food to feed your pet
- Choose food for your pet based on their needs
We offer a wide range of veterinarian-exclusive food formulas made with high-quality ingredients and produced under strict quality controls, based on extensive research into pet nutrition.
The Nutritional Counselling Process
We will begin with a physical exam and health assessment to identify your pet’s unique nutritional requirements. Using this information, we will then decide the most effective way to fulfill those needs.
Sometimes, we may suggest giving your pet a special prescription diet that provides extra benefits not found in regular foods.
As pets grow older, their nutritional requirements often change, so it's important for us to reassess their needs periodically. We will regularly review their plan to ensure it remains the best fit for your furry companion.
Debunking Dietary Myths
Misinformation often circulates about our pets' diets. Here are some of the most common false beliefs about how to feed our companions.
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The Meat First Myth
A common belief is that foods listing meat as their first ingredient are better than those that don't. However, "meat-first" foods may not actually have meat as their main ingredient and often can fail to meet the dietary needs of omnivores like dogs.
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The By-Product Myth
You may have heard that by-products are "bad" ingredients that shouldn't be included in your food. Often, however, these ingredients are nutrient-rich organ meats, connective tissues, lard, eggs, tongue, marrow and more. In a balanced formula, these ingredients can provide excellent nutritional value.
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The Raw Food Myth
Raw food can often put both you and your pet at risk of food-borne illnesses like intestinal parasites or salmonella. Raw diets are often quite unbalanced and unhealthy in the long run for your pups as well.
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The Corn Myth
One of the most common pet food myths is that corn is a “bad” ingredient. In reality, corn is a great nutritional package. It is a source of highly digestible protein and provides fibres essential to digestive health. It’s also an excellent source of B complex vitamins, vitamin E and vitamin A, as well as minerals including zinc and manganese.