Diet and Supplements for Pet Health

Now more than ever, pets are treated as esteemed
family members. They go on trips, they're a part
of family photos, their birthdays are celebrated,
and most importantly their health is a top
priority. For many pet parents, reading the
labels of pet food and treats to make sure they
contain natural ingredients is second nature.
Some pet parents are bypassing commercial and
even organic pet food and opting to prepare the
food themselves, as well as include supplements
in their four-legged friends' diets.

Goodbye to Cans and Kibble

With the multiple recalls on commercial pet
food that have been happening over the years and
the reports of how commercial pet food is made
(as well as what it contains), many cats are
dogs are now enjoying home cooked meals. And
some of them aren't even cooked - raw food diets
for pets are becoming very popular. The idea
behind a raw food diet is to recreate the way
that dogs and cats would eat in the wild:
natural and unprocessed sustenance for better
health. Since humans are being told to cut back
(and even cut out) processed foods from their
diets for the sake of their health, it only
makes sense to feed pets in the same manner.

There are many books and other resources out
there for for people who would like to try out
preparing pet meals and providing a more natural
way for their beloved cats and dogs to eat.

Supplements for Pets

Popping a daily vitamin are a part of many
people's daily routines in an effort to make up
for any nutrients that may be lacking in their
normal diets. In more recent times, that same
methodology is also being applied to pets. Doing
a quick online search for "pet supplements" will
returns thousands of results for many different
types of products. Some of the more popular
types of supplements include:

Vitamin & Mineral Supplement: Vitamin C is good
for both cats and dogs, as it helps fight on
illnesses and prevent diseases that are often
associated with aging such as arthritis. Vitamin
D helps cats' bones and Vitamin A helps with
eyesight.

Glucosamine & Chondroitin: Glucosamine and
chondroitin can be very beneficial in the
treatment of arthritis and hip dysplasia.

Essential Fatty Acids: There are many benefits
to making sure that a pet's diet includes EFAs,
such as healthy skin and coats, heart health, to
suppress inflammation, etc. The easiest way to
provide these fatty acids is with flaxseed oil
or fish oil.

Milk Thistle: This can be used to treat various
liver dysfunctions.

Probiotics: These keep pets' intestinal tracts
clean and balanced by enhancing the good
bacteria and keeping the bad bacteria at bay,
thereby strengthening their immune system.

Check with Your Vet

Before you decide to start preparing your pet's
meals and giving them supplements, consult with
your veterinarian. Dogs and cats have different
nutritional needs; dogs are omnivores and cats
are carnivores so it is very important to make
sure that you are meeting each individual pet's
nutritional needs. Your vet should also be able
to help you determine which supplements will be
complementary to your dog or cat's diet.

If you do not feel that your vet is in tune
with your desire to be more mindful about what
your pet eats, you may want to see out a
holistic vet for this type of guidance. Be your
pet's advocate. Arm yourself with as much
information as you can about diet and
supplementation so that they can live a long
happy and healthy life with your family!

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Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel
site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of
pet travel. Kim is a veteran of the travel
industry - formerly serving as Director of
Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her
mission is to ensure that pets are welcome,
happy,and safe in their travels. Visit
http://www.tripswithpets.com

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