Author: Shawn Mack
Your cats and dogs would love to have everything that’s on your plate. Yup, that’s a universal truth.
However, we all know that curiosity can more, often than not, kill the cat. Or your dog – whichever pet you have.
So, you better keep a safe distance between your pet and the plate for their betterment and yours. What you can do instead is to upgrade their diet plan the same as yours.
How So?
Well, incorporate the set of nutrients! You need not opt for the same dishes, but you can surely opt for the same set of nutrients.
Here’s our take at it:
Water
Like yourself, about sixty to seventy percent of your pet body comprises water. They constantly need water to maintain a balance within the body.
And so, you ought to ensure that their diet has a healthy portion of water. You can include this by placing a bowl of fresh and clean water within your pet’s access and increasing water-providing elements in your diet, such as canned food.
Note that dogs are usually much more active than cats. Hence, they are much thirstier than cats are, and so they require more water.
Proteins
Protein is the basic building block and basic unit for growth. So, for a healthier lifestyle, your cat or dog’s diet needs to have an abundance of protein. You can incorporate more protein in their diet by providing them:
- Dark Meat Chicken
- Lamb
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Beef
You can provide them protein even through oilseeds like soybeans and grains like corn and wheat.
The protein in these will help with muscle growth, cell repair, and body maintenance. Some common proteins that your pet must consume, include:
- Lysine
- Valine
- Tryptophan
- Isoleucine
- Arginine
- Taurine.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates or carbs are necessary for your cats and dogs to provide them with ample energy to function and grow. If they happen to be low on carbohydrates, their body will start utilizing the stored fats and proteins for energy purposes. And this will deteriorate their health unspeakably.
So, keep the carbs in your pet’s diet in check. You can do so by incorporating:
- Barley
- Whole Corn
- Whole Wheat
- Brown Rice
- Oats
- Cooked Potatoes
- Cruciferous Vegetables
You can include all of these elements in home-cooked meals for dogs and cats. Most dry food and canned food available in the market may not be as much a good source of carbohydrates as home-cooked food.
However, if you are relying on pet treats for carbohydrates, then that’s a good move. That’s because most pet treats come with a good content of calories, which provides a boost of energy and helps your pet feel better instantaneously. Note that it does not mean you can depend entirely on various types of pet treats to serve the carb needs of your pet. You must include natural, home-prepared meals too.
Fats
Giving fats to your pets is more about doubling their reserves and encouraging a bodily built. Fats in your pets’ bodies help them keep warm and fight off illnesses and health issues without much trouble.
Fats usually have twice as much energy and nutrition as proteins and carbohydrates combined per gram. And so, the positive impact of fats on health is evident.
Plus, these maintain a healthy production of necessary hormones within your pets’ bodies. These also keep the fur and skin super healthy and in their best form.
Animal fats and plant seed oils are excellent sources of acquiring dietary fiber. You can include tallow, butterfat, lard, and plant oils in your pet’s diet to maximize your fat supply.
Vitamins & Minerals
Lastly, most pet owners tend to neglect vitamins and minerals in their pet’s nutrition. These are necessary for healthy teeth, bones, and nails, as well as their fur and eyes.
You can provide the necessary vitamins to your pet by serving it with more vegetables (Yes, too many vegetables may not suit them. But too few are not good either!). So, ensure you serve them a good quantity of spinach, carrots, fruits etcetera occasionally. For Vitamin C, organ meat is a good source, while for Vitamin B and calcium dairy products will do. Egg yolks will also serve ideally!
Final Thoughts
Summing up, to provide your pets with the best nutrition, plan their diet in literal terms. Create a diet chart and abide by it. Observe the changes in your pet’s health and make necessary changes. Also, consult your vet for better results.
