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If you haven\u2019t read our first three tips in Part I,\u00a0click here<\/a>! If you\u2019ve already read Part I, then here are our last three pet nutrition tips!<\/p>\n Palatability is a very important aspect of diet choice. Some dogs and cats simply don\u2019t like the taste of certain foods. You wouldn\u2019t want to be forced to eat a food you despise for the rest of your life, so don\u2019t make your pet do that either.<\/p>\n But sometimes it\u2019s not a taste issue. There can be other reasons that your pet doesn\u2019t eat his\/her food, including behavioral and medical reasons. A few indicators that veterinary attention is needed:<\/p>\n The cost of a pet food certainly plays a role in which foods we can feed our pets, while still putting food on our dinner table. A higher cost pet food does not necessarily equate into a better dog food. Also, you are not a bad pet owner if you don\u2019t buy the most expensive bag on the shelf. When discussing food recommendations with your veterinarian, let them know specifics about your monthly pet food budget. For example, ask which foods they think would be appropriate for Fluffy and cost no more than\u00a0*insert specific dollar amount*<\/em>\u00a0per month. Know that, generally speaking, the larger the dog, the more you will spend on pet food because of the sheer volume larger dogs eat. For example, it would be unreasonable to have a $60 monthly budget for your two hundred pound mastiff.<\/p>\n Some medical conditions benefit from the use of a therapeutic prescription diet rather than a traditional over-the-counter diet. \u00a0Examples of conditions that benefit from dietary therapy include obesity, kidney disease, bladder inflammation, bladder stones, skin allergies, liver disease, arthritis, heart disease and others. Chronic conditions will likely require long-term feeding of a prescription diet, though sometimes prescription diets are used on a short-term basis.<\/p>\n Occasionally, there are commercial diets that meet the same nutrient profiles as the prescription diets. Yet, product packaging and product labeling can be misleading to many pet food consumers. For example, some bags of food may claim to be hypoallergenic, but these diets are likely not appropriate for a diet elimination trial that helps determine if your pet is allergic to certain types of food. Hypoallergenic diets sold at a pet food store may also not be appropriate for your dog\u2019s specific type of allergies. If your veterinarian recommends a prescription diet, be sure to ask about the anticipated duration of this diet (i.e. short-term or lifelong), possible alternative food options, and general cost.<\/p>\n So, in this blog, we touched on the very basics of pet nutrition. If you want to have a more in-depth conversation, call your regular veterinarian to discuss if your pet is on the right track or if a few adjustments are in order.<\/p>\n Happy mealtime. Or as I say to Dexter, \u201cWho\u2019s a hungry, hungry hippo!?\u201d<\/p>\n Got you interested in pet nutrition? Here are a few more resources you may like:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n4. Food should be enjoyable.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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5.\u00a0Food Budget<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n6.\u00a0Special Circumstances\/Underlying Illness\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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