Nutrition Counselling for Pets

Yearly nutritional consultations can ensure your pet is getting the right nutrients they need to stay healthy and develop to their full potential. At Cochrane Animal Clinic, we provide customized nutritional plans for all our patients, whether they are pregnant, seniors, have chronic illnesses or are newborns.

What is nutrition counselling for pets?

It involves a veterinarian examining your pet's diet. With each nutrition consult, pet parents are more informed about how the foods are benefitting their pets. The veterinarian will ask questions about what your pet eats, how much they typically eat and if they've had any reactions or issues with eating. While asking questions, the veterinarian will do a physical examination to check if your cat or dog is developing as they should. Pet owners are also encouraged to ask their own questions, especially if they have noticed a dietary change or if they want to introduce new foods. To schedule a nutrition consultation for your pet, please reach out to us at 403-932-5875.

How does nutrition affect my pet's health?

Nutrition directly affects your pet's overall health. Food provides the nutrients that your pet needs to develop physically, build up their immune system, and maintain organ function. Without proper nutrition, your pet can suffer from diabetes, obesity, malnutrition, allergies, urinary tract diseases, and skin problems. Due to the impact nutrition has on health, our team can sometimes use food to heal those problems. We routinely stock most prescription diets from both Medi-Cal and Hill's, and our rapid special-order service can have any other prescription diet delivered within 24 to 48 hours.

What should I feed my kitten or puppy?

Younger pets need a special formula as they are developing. There are foods formulated specifically for your loyal companion's age - that is the first prerequisite of food shopping. Another thing you should look for are foods that have “complete and balanced” on the label as well as the life stages the formula supports (growth, reproduction, adult maintenance, and seniors). You can also ask your veterinarian for their recommendation since they are aware of your pet's age, health status, and lifestyle.