Nutrition is the most meaningful factor which effect your pet’s wellbeing and health; So, I would like to share with you several ways to improve your pet’s nutrition. These are simple tips which you can implement (some or whole as you are able to) today.

My goal is to provide you with information and professional recommendations which you can choose from according to your capabilities and needs. Please only make changes which you will be able to stick to in the long run. Starting something and quitting it won’t help your pet.

Even if you are happy with the current food you are feeding, I’m sure you will be able to find one advice that will upgrade your pet’s diet.

Remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Do what you can. Even the smallest change is better than no change at all.
Here are my recommendations for ways to improve your pet’s nutrition:

Let go of brands and read the labels

No matter how pretty the package is, its marketing content or even the companies name, remember they don’t influence the content and quality of the food. Every company has a marketing department which job is to make even the worst food seem healthy and tasty. So, the most important thing for you to do is read the labels in order to make an educated purchase.

The labels show you, for example, the ingredients list (in descending order according to their weight in the food), the nutritional values and if the food is complete and balanced (according to AAFCO standards). You are welcome to contact me with any question regarding the ingredients or Google search if they are considered to be good.

Once you start reading and investigating, you will be surprised with which ingredients are present in certain foods and you will learn what your pet does need to eat. At the end of the day, trust your judgment regarding data from reliable sources and not marketing.

Try not to make dry food the main source of nutrition

Commercial foods are a product of extreme processing which destroys a major part of the nutritional values of each ingredient, as to the enzymes which were once present. In order for these foods to be classified as complete and balanced (by the AAFCO or European FEDIAF), the manufacturer needs to add a premix of synthetic nutrients.

My argument is that these foods are marketed to be fed daily for the entire life of each pet without giving anything else (other than industrial treats). If there was an option that the human body will receive all the needed vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, probiotics, fatty acids, amino acids, etc. in a capsule or a can of food, I would expect that there will be thousands of companies producing “human” food in the same way and market it as a singular complete diet.

But, this isn’t the case. And why? Because it is well known that the body needs also living food which includes real nutrients and not just synthetic as a source of a quality diet. No person would recommend you to eat just processed foods on a daily basis and so I would expect for our pets as well.

I understand that not everybody can give up feeding dry foods completely and move to real homemade diets and so I don’t expect you to do so. But, at least try to feed on occasion real foods; let’s say once a day or even once a week would be an improvement. As much as you can is better than just dry food.

Add real ingredients to the diet

Vegetables and fruits are filled with goodness and will do wonders for your pet’s wellbeing and health. They contain living enzymes, nutritional fibers and real nutrients. Which means that the vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables are in their natural forms. This form enables the body to process and absorbs than in the most efficient way. As opposed to synthetic nutrients which the body sees as drugs and behave differently.

Remember, a fruit and vegetable doesn’t just contain the specific nutrient but rather a complex of chemicals and compounds which work together to enable the best absorption.

In addition, in order to enable the best absorption, you need to handle each ingredient in the proper way. Meaning, root vegetables you need to cook completely, green leaves you need to steam or blanch, fruits you can feed raw and anyway each ingredient I recommend grinding.

You are welcome to read the list of hazardous foods for pets.

Add super foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities to the diet

There are certain inflammatory processes that occur in the body which lead to premature cell and organ aging. So, it is recommended to add ingredients that are considered anti oxidative or anti-inflammatory. There will strengthen the cells and minimize the damage.

These processes occur due to exposure to pollutants, high amounts of sugars (simple carbohydrates), lack of nutrients, digestive inflammation, chronic illnesses or problems in the digestive tract which decrease nutrient absorption.

I recommend adding herbal green foods nutritional supplements which are reach in antioxidants, probiotics and digestive enzymes which will support the digestive tract and fatty acids.

Watch feeding quantities and limit treats

Feed according to the pets need to gain or loose weight. If your pet is a bit over the recommended physical condition, feed early in the day so it will have enough time to burn the calories. If your pet needs to gain weight, feed closer to its sleeping time so do lower activity.

If you decide to limit the calories on the diet, do it carefully and make sure to use whole foods which contain nutritional fibers.

I don’t believe so much in checking weight by kg but rather by body condition. Remember that your pet would be better a bit underweight rather than overweight. Body condition means to look at the shape of your pet, feel her rib cage, can you see a waist line, are there fats in the neck area, breast and abdomen, etc.

Older pets gain weight faster than younger pets and they have a harder time shedding it off, so watch the feeding quantities.

In addition, don’t over feed treats. Remember that each piece of food contains calories and the more treats you add to the diet, the more calories your pet will receive. It will also take your pets diet out of balance (regarding protein, fat, nutrient ratios).

The recommendation is that treats should make up to 10% of the daily diet. Any gram on top of that means you should decrease the same amount of food. Try to give treats in the form of vegetables, fruits, dried chicken, egg, etc. instead of commercial treats.

Support dental hygiene

Some commercial treats are claimed to support dental hygiene but if you read the labels you will see that they contain some ingredients that aren’t so healthy for pets (sugar for example). So, I recommend finding other solutions.

The best way is of course to brush your pets’ teeth in order to remove plaque and keep the gums healthy. But, I know its something that not all pets agree to or owners want to do.

The first solution is to offer your pet a fresh bone to chew on in order to keep its teeth sparkling. The bone has to be RAW and in a size that fits your pet.

Another solution is to offer a carrot, zucchini or cucumber. The best to encourage your pet to chew on these (if he doesn’t like veggies) is to make some wholes in them, spread coconut oil on them and freeze them for several minutes. This isn’t for nutritional values so mind the falling parts.

Coconut oil is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal so its great to support oral health. Don’t overdue its quantities because too much fat may cause diarrhea.

Be active

Your pet is part of your family and you are in charge of it. You need to take responsibility for its nutrition and don’t just count on the manufacturer for it. Your choices don’t end with just choosing the food, but also to provide variety, controlling quantities, health status and more. No matter how you look at it, these choices are yours.

These choices don’t have to be hard but they can be a lot of fun and a way for you to connect and know more about your pet. How else would you know that your dog loves spinach or your cat is crazy for bell peppers? You won’t know unless you try.

And remember, you can contact my any time with any question. Im here to help.

Just like when preparing human food; It is critical to follow the same rules while preparing pet food. Allow me explain about food safety when preparing pet food.

What are we looking out from?

Food poisonings are caused by contaminated food. Contamination can be caused by factors in the food, the person preparing the food or the surrounding. Food contamination factors include Viruses, parasites, molds, contaminants and pathogens. These can transfer from one ingredients, or source, to another by cross contamination; Meaning, if you touch a chicken piece with Salmonella and than touch a fruit or person, you will transfer the pathogen.

The most common contamination causes are from the viruses family; These include Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. Coli, Listeria, and Clostridium. These pathogens are mostly found in the raw material such as chicken, meat and eggs.

E. Coli is an intestinal bacteria which also found humans and mostly transferred by not washing hands after exiting the toilet.

Parasites can be found in raw materials such as meat, grains and vegetables or mistreated cooked meat. Molds are found on vegetables and fruits, nuts and ready to eat food. Other pollutants include pesticides for example.

What are the symptoms of food poisoning?

Most of the symptoms regarding all the sources are the same and include watery diarrhea, with or without blood, vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, disorientation, confusion, fever and general weakness.

If you see these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.

Food safety when preparing pet food

First and foremost, keep everything clean. This means hands, utensils and work surfaces.

Hand washing is done using soap under running water for 20 seconds. You need to wash your hands before, during and after the food preparation. Especially between touching different ingredients. Also, wash hands after sneezing and if you had touched the garbage.

You need to wash the work surface and utensils after every use and between changing ingredients. For example, between working with meat and vegetables.

Second rule is to keep everything separated in order to prevent cross contamination. Its recommended to have one cutting board for meat and another for vegetables and fruits.

Watch your temperatures

The danger zone for bacteria to rapidly grow is between 4-60 degrees. This is why it is very important that fresh, frozen or cooked foods wont be left in this temperature for long periods of time. For instance, bacteria can grow in cooked food within an hour at room temperature.

So, enter cooked food into the refrigerator or freezer in an hour after preparation is done. And, don’t live out food bowls with fresh or cooked food over half an hour. Remember that flies are also a source for contamination.

Don’t thaw food on the counter. The safest way to thaw is in the refrigerator. You may thaw meat in a water bowl on the counter but remember to change the water every half an hour. Of course you can cook without thawing; It will prolong cooking times in 50%.

When meat is taking out of the freezer, the rapid temperature increase cause the development of bacteria. Freezing doesn’t kill the bacteria, it simply freezes their growth. Hence, you shouldn’t refreeze meat or cooked food after it had been thawed once.

How to kill pathogens?

You kill pathogens, bacteria and parasites by heat. Hence, cooking. The meaning of cooking is that the core temperature of the food will reach 60 degrees for at list a few minutes, depending on the type of pollutant.

Pathogens and pets

Its true that the digestive tract of dogs and cats is extremely strong. Their stomach is meant to handle bacteria, parasites and pathogens. A recent study conducted on beagles had shown that dogs fed food contaminated with Salmonella, didn’t became ill and the pathogen was secreted in the feces.

The main risk of contamination isn’t for healthy dogs and cats. But rather, for their human companions along with puppies and elderly pets or pets with a sensitive immune system. If your dog will eat food contaminated with Salmonella and then lick you or your child, the pathogen present in his mouth will transfer to you.

Other pathogens such as E.coli, transferred mostly from humans to pets, are harder for even healthy pets to handle.

Recognizing contaminated food

Some pollutants are easy to spot, whilst others are not. For example, you may spot the presence of parasites or mold on the food. But, most pollutants are impossible to spot with the naked eye.

So, what can we do?

Know from who you are buying your raw materials and food. Make sure to buy from a respectable vendor of human grade foods. Follow correct hygiene protocols as I have listed above.

Most importantly, if you have any doubt, even the smallest one, that the food is bad, throw it away.

 

You are welcome to contact me with any question regarding food preparation.

 

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I’m sure that you know that good nutrition is the basis for a healthy life; But do you know what does good nutrition made of? As a pet nutritionist, I’m here to share my knowledge with you.

“Why should I need a pet nutritionist?”

This question is probably on your mind as you are reading this article; Indeed an important question!

My answer is simple – every pet owner has questions regarding his pet’s nutrition. They can be big or small. Specific or general. And this is obvious because nobody expect everybody to have the same knowledge as a certified pet nutritionist.

For Instance, did you know that adding veggies three times a week may reduce the risk of cancer for your pet?

Or that, contrary to popular belief, kibble which is filled with carbohydrates can lead to plaque build up on your dog’s teeth?

There is so much to know – food preparation, storage, protein digestibility, what are antioxidants, feeding table scraps, why kibble isn’t healthy for cats, how much to feed, supplements for arthritis and inflammation ….. and the list goes on and on!

Small changes, big difference

I’m here to share my knowledge with all you pet owners out there. I became a pet nutritionist because I love animals and I saw first hand the difference good nutrition can do for a sick dog. I want your pets to be healthy and enjoy their foods. This can only be done if you, pet owners, will have the information to make educated and informed diet choices.

It doesn’t even matter what you currently feed – kibble, canned, dehydrated, etc. – there is something to gain for everyone.

As a pet nutritionist, which believes in real home made food (Yep, people food), I’m not gonna tell you that feeding kibble or canned food is ok; BUT, I do understand that transferring to home cooked isn’t possible for every one. Still, I can help you understand the labels better, choose another type of commercial food and help you limit your pet’s exposure to processed food by combining both it and real food.

There are so much small changes that you can do – add fresh vegetables, bake treats instead of buying commercial ones, change one meal a day to home cooked (think how much you will save by using left overs), add Omega 3  and herbs, upgrade from extruded kibble to baked, and so much more.

Trust me, the smallest change you will be able to make will make a world of difference for your pet.

Be an involved owner

I want you to get more involved in your pet’s diet, ask questions and read. Don’t simply buy a bag/pouch/can of food and drop it in the bowl. Your furry four legged family member deserves the same effort in choosing its food as you invest in yours.

I’m here for any question you might have, don’t dismiss anything as being too small or silly.

You are welcome to ask questions via email or messages and of course, you can choose a consultation.

 

 

 

Understanding pet food labels is very important.

Pet food labels tells us a lot about the food, but at the same time, much is still hidden. I’m my opinion, this hidden information behind the words in needed in order to truly understand what we are looking at.

Here are some important points to notice when reading the label:

Ingredients:

The ingredients list will include all the ingredients put into the food by the manufacturer itself. it doesn’t need to include ingredients that are apart of one of the foods raw materials. For example: the label will indicate the presence of “chicken meal” but if there is added preservative to it, it wont appear on the label. Usually meals have added synthetic preservatives to them.

The ingredients are listed in descending order according to their weight once they entered the manufacturing procedure. For example: Chicken, Chicken meal, Oats, Brown rice, Barley, Chicken fat….. In this case, when entering the extrusion process, the chicken weighted the most at lets say 4 kg, but because meat looses its weight as a result of the heating process (and loss of moisture) he will descend in the list and so the second ingredient is actually the first, in this case the chicken meal. What this means? sometimes manufacturers market the food as having fresh meat protein as the first ingredient, when in reality we can see that once the meat looses its moisture, it moves down the ingredient list.

The first 5 ingredients provide the major part of the food and so they usually indicate the quality of the food.

Because every ingredient counts, its important to read all the ingredients in order to find those which you can label as not welcome, such as preservatives, food coloring, thickeners, stabilizers, etc.

 

Feeding Guidelines: 

Remember that these are a recommendation only and you need to adjust according to your specific pets needs. Each manufacturer has its own way to calculate how many calories your pet needs, and usually this is based on long they want the food to last you. This is why its important to watch your pets weight and see if you need to make any adjustments to the feeding quantities. Don’t forget to take into account all the treats and other food you give your pet each day – everything has calories to it and they all add up.

 

Declaration that the food is complete and balanced:

This statement indicates that the food is either complete and balanced or for supplementary use only. The declaration also indicates which life phase the food is meant for. Take notice that you cannot feed supplementary food on a daily basis for this may cause nutritional deficiencies.

 

Additional points to consider:

 

Ingredient split:

Most manufacturers know that pet owners want to see quality protein (or any protein) as the first ingredient on the list, or at least second. So, in order to make the meat source seem higher up on the list, they split the carbohydrates. For example, wheat is the largest volume ingredient; If we divide it into several parts (wheat flour, ground wheat, wheat bran… etc.), it wont look that way. And, because of the split, the chicken by-product meal which was the second ingredient, will move first.

Ingredients before the split – Wheat, Chicken by-product meal, meat and bone meal, corn gluten, animal fat….

Ingredients after the split – Chicken by-product meal, ground wheat, wheat flour, meat and bone meal, corn gluten….

 

Quality of ingredients:

The AAFCO doesn’t allow manufacturers to state the quality of the ingredients on the label. This makes it impossible for pet owners to know which ingredients had been used to prepare the food. Pet food can be manufactured from many animal parts, each with a different quality. For example, by-product meal can include medium/high quality ingredients such as liver, kidneys, intestines, eyes, spleen, stomach and the reproductive organs; or low quality ingredients such as legs, feathers and beaks.

 

Changing recipe:

Sometimes the ingredient list will include none specific ingredients, like, poultry flour, animal fat or grain flour. Animal fat can be from chicken, pork or beef for example. Therefore, the manufacturer can change ingredients according to his costs needs without needing to update the label/pet owners. And because each ingredient has different nutritional values, the overall values of the formula may change. This flexibility allows the manufacturer to choose the cheapest ingredients.

 

Taste enhancers:

Some foods are just not tasty. This can be form lack of quality protein and/or too small amounts of animal fat. One of the ways to make your pet like its food is to add taste enhancers. These can range from garlic powders, onion powders, sugar and/or artificial flavors. Hence, if you see these in the ingredient list, you can assume that the food has low palatability; Perhaps due to low quality ingredients.

 

In conclusion, just as you read the labels of your food, its as important to understand what’s in the food you feed your pets.

You are welcome to contact me with any question about the current food you are feeding.