Why not to feed your dog Royal Canin
Why Do Vets Swear By Royal Canin? Pros and Cons
Welcome to our exclusive scoop where we unravel the mysteries behind vets top pick: Royal Canin. While youre cuddling your furry friend, ever wondered why your vet recommends Royal Canin with a glint in their eyes?
The Royal Canin Realm: An Introduction
Royal Canin has been a royal feast in the pet food industry for years. Renowned for its tailored nutrition, this brand claims to cater to the specific needs of pets, not just by their size, breed, or age but also by their health conditions. But why do vets particularly recommend it? Lets fetch the facts!
The Vets Verdict: Royal Canin Pros
| Pros | Description |
|---|---|
| Tailored Nutrition | Offers a bespoke diet plan catering to the unique needs of different breeds, sizes, and health conditions. |
| Science-Backed Formulations | Developed with veterinarians and nutritionists, ensuring balanced and precise nutrition. |
| High Quality Ingredients | Utilizes premium ingredients with stringent quality control for optimum pet health. |
| Supports Specific Health Needs | Ranges like Veterinary Diet address health issues, including renal support and digestive care. |
| Palatability | Known for being highly palatable, making it easier for picky pets to accept. |
The Other Side of the Coin: Royal Canin Cons
| Cons | Description |
|---|---|
| Price Point | Tends to be on the pricier side, which may not be feasible for all pet owners. |
| Controversial Ingredients | Some argue it contains by-products and grains, which might not align with everyones feeding philosophy. |
| Availability | Specific formulas may be hard to find in local stores, leading to inconvenience. |
Unleashing the Facts: Why Vets Recommend Royal Canin
Tailored to Perfection
The crown jewel of Royal Canin is its commitment to tailored nutrition. Vets often highlight how this personalization addresses the nutritional needs at various life stages, breeds, and health conditions, promoting overall well-being.
The Science Behind Nutrition
Vets appreciate the research and veterinary science backing Royal Canin. The brand collaborates with breeders, vets, and nutritional experts to develop its formulas, making it a scientifically sound choice for your pet.
Quality and Safety First
Royal Canins rigorous quality control measures and high manufacturing standards reassure vets about recommending it. This means your pet gets not just tasty, but also safe and nutritious meals.
Health-Specific Solutions
For pets with specific health issues, Royal Canin offers therapeutic diets that can aid in managing conditions like kidney disease or obesity, often making it a vets go-to recommendation.
Barking Up the Right Tree: Final Thoughts
Choosing the right pet food is pivotal. While Royal Canin shines in many aspects, its crucial to consider its cons, like cost and ingredient concerns. Its about balancing your pets nutritional needs with what you value in their diet.
Our journey into the Royal Canin kingdom reveals why vets often recommend it. Its not just about the brand but about providing a tailored, scientifically formulated diet that caters to your pets unique needs. Always consult your vet, ponder over the pros and cons, and choose whats best for your furry family member. After all, they deserve the royal treatment!
Interview with Dr. Furry Whiskerson, DVM
Q: Dr. Whiskerson, why do you often recommend Royal Canin to pet owners?
A: You know, when I recommend Royal Canin, its not just about handing over a bag of pet food. Its about providing a solution tailored to the unique needs of a pet. Take, for instance, a Siamese kitten with a sensitive stomach; Royal Canin has a formula just for them. This level of specificity is hard to find elsewhere. Moreover, their commitment to quality, with high standards for ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes, aligns with what I want for my patients: safe, nutritious, and beneficial food.
Q: Theres a lot of debate about the ingredients in commercial pet foods. Whats your take on Royal Canins ingredient quality?
A: Thats a fantastic question. Look, the debate around ingredients like by-products and grains is complex. What Royal Canin does well is focus on the nutritional value these ingredients bring to the table, rather than just the ingredient itself. Theyre looking at the science of nutrition, ensuring that each component meets a specific nutritional need. Its not about filling a bag with food; its about filling a pets dietary requirements comprehensively. However, I always tell pet parents to read labels and consult with their vet if they have concerns about specific ingredients.
Q: Can you elaborate on the health-specific solutions Royal Canin offers?
A: Absolutely. Royal Canin isnt just producing food; theyre crafting dietary solutions. Whether its a diet that supports kidney health, one that helps manage diabetes, or even food designed for dental health, Royal Canin has options. What impresses me is not just the variety but the research backing these solutions. Theyre not just making claims; theyre providing evidence-based diets that address specific health issues. This approach can make a significant difference in a pets quality of life.
Q: Cost is a concern for many pet owners. How do you address this when recommending Royal Canin?
A: Cost is indeed a critical factor. While Royal Canin may come with a higher price tag, I discuss with pet owners the long-term benefits of feeding their pets a diet specifically formulated for their needs. Its about prevention and management. A diet that prevents obesity, dental issues, or manages chronic conditions effectively can reduce long-term healthcare costs. So, while the upfront cost might be higher, the potential savings in veterinary bills and the improvement in their pets quality of life can be worth it. Nonetheless, I always encourage a discussion around budget and work to find the best solution for both the pet and the owner.
Q: Finally, Dr. Whiskerson, if you had one piece of advice for pet owners regarding their pets nutrition, what would it be?
A: My biggest piece of advice? Be proactive, not reactive. Dont wait for a health issue to arise before considering the impact of nutrition on your pets health. Engage in conversations with your vet about your pets dietary needs early on. Nutrition is the foundation of health, and being proactive about it can lead to a happier, healthier life for your pet. And remember, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one pet may not work for another. Its about finding the balance that suits your pets specific needs.
HELP US PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE
Mixed feeding your dog
Mix feeding - combining wet and dry food
As we have discussed above, both types of diets, dry and wet, have their unique benefits. So what about using both together? Combining wet and dry food can be a good solution bringing many benefits to your pet. So how can you start doing this with your dog?
A lot of how to feed your dog will come down to your dogs personal preference. Some dogs will prefer their wet food separate from the kibbles as they each have their own unique aromatic profiles to encourage your pet to eat them. Others might enjoy them mixed together, but in this case it is best to be served fresh at the same time each day. There is no requirement to mix the dry food and the wet food in the one bowl when you feed your dog; In fact, you don't even need to serve them at the same time. One of the benefits of dry food is it doesn't spoil easily, which makes it perfect to leave out during the day if your dog likes to snack rather than gobble their food down. Then you can serve them their wet food in one to two set mealtimes during the day to best fit into your schedules.
Some additional tips for mixed feeding include:
1. Gently heating the wet food. This helps to release some of the great aromas in the wet food to encourage them to eat it. Important that this is only done in 5 second bursts, and to make sure you check the centre of the food with your finger to make sure it isnt too warm to touch and give it a good stir before serving it to your dog.
2. Make sure you clean the bowl used for the wet food after every meal. Even though your dog will lick the bowl clean, some of the oils and fats in the wet food will stick behind. These can convert to a rancid smell quickly. Remember your dog has a very sensitive nose, so this might discourage them from eating the fresh food you have put in the bowl.
3. For fussy eaters, a small amount of warm water mixed with the wet food can turn into a gravy to mix into the dry food.
4. Remember that any change in diet, including the introduction of wet food if they have not been mixed fed previously, should be done slowly and with care. Just like us, our dogs have a unique set of bacteria in their intestines that responds to the food your dog is fed. Therefore, a change in diet will result in a shift of this bacteria population that needs to be done slowly to prevent things like diarrhoea from a quick transition.
How to feed your dog after surgery
Undergoing surgery can be a stressful experience for your dog. As with humans, dogs need a period of rest and convalescence after their operation, during which time they may need to be fed in a way that doesnt aggravate their digestive system. How and what you feed them can support their recovery and help them develop a healthier digestive system post-surgery.
Ways of feeding your dog after surgery
Depending on the type of surgery your dog has undergone, your vet will advise you on the best way to feed them. For some digestive issues, the surgery may involve placing a feeding tube so it leads directly into your dogs stomach or oesophagus, bypassing any organs which may be functioning poorly.
If your dog has a feeding tube, youll need to change the consistency of their diet so it can be administered via the tube and possibly a syringe. Liquid diets, wet food and heavily moisturised dry food can all be given through the feeding tube, as long as they are of the right texture and size so they dont block it.
As your dog recovers, you can take other actions to help them eat more easily and comfortably. Placing their food and water higher up, rather than in bowls on the floor, can aid digestion as gravity helps their food move down into their stomach. Small dogs can be fed while you are holding them, with their head over your shoulder.
How to help your dog gain weight
What to feed your dog to help them gain weight
Although it may seem sensible, its not necessarily a good idea to simply give your dog more of their current food to help them gain weight; their digestion may not be able to cope with it, and it may not provide them with the specific levels of nutrients they need at that point.
A weight-gain food should have a high energy density. This means youll be able to give your dog small rations, therefore protecting their digestive system from unnecessary strain, and theyll still get the energy they need. A high fat diet is often recommended for dogs recovering from surgery as its an energy-dense food.
Protein is an essential nutrient for dogs, and also an important source of energy. Their food should provide them with high-quality, highly-digestible protein which is easily absorbed into their body. The right balance of fibre is also important, as this directly affects gut health and the quality of their stools.
Dogs who have been through surgery or illness may have lost their appetite, and so the weight-gain food needs to encourage them to eat. Smell and texture are most important to dogs, so choose a food which has been designed for maximum palatability and the right size and shape pieces for your breed or size of dog.
How to feed your dog to help them gain weight
Generally you should give your adult dog two meals a day, but you may wish to split their daily portion into smaller meals and give these more frequently. This can help improve digestibility and put less pressure on their gastric tract. You can also place their food a little higher than usual and allow gravity to help the food reach their stomach comfortably.
Making their diet wetter either by using canned food or adding water to kibble can encourage your dog to eat as it may feel easier to eat than a dry food. Providing them with plenty of fresh water is also essential for their overall health.
The right combination of food and feeding techniques can help your dog gain weight safely; speak to your vet about the best choices for your pet to help them on the road to recovery.
