Regal Veterinary Clinic

2923 East 29th Avenue Spokane, WA 99223 509-536-7387
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Smart Nutrition

Good nutrition can enhance the quality of life of your pet, so choosing the correct food for your pet is an important decision.  An owner’s criteria for picking a pet food can range from cost and convenience (picking up a bag of food at Costco) to the types of ingredients used.  Your decision should be based on finding a food that meets the different life stage demands of your pet, addresses common breed problems, (bone development, urinary stones) and meets other dietary special needs(pregnant, lactating, allergies).  Choosing the right food for your pet involves the process of educating yourself about the diets available for your companion. Sorting through so many different options can be overwhelming at times, so here are some tips to help you get started on choosing a good food for your pet:

 

Your food choices come down to three categories:  Commercial, homemade, and raw.  Commercial pet food is by far the most common diet used for small animal companions.  The choices seem endless when walking down the pet isle at the store.  To help discern diet info, the Association of American Feed Control Official (AAFCO) has developed some guidelines to help the consumer understand what they are buying.  AAFCO has no regulatory authority, but is an organization that has created goals for implementing regulations, and creating nutritional standards with consistent definitions.

 

AAFCO recommends that you check the label for their statement to see if the food is “Formulated”.  Formulated means it was developed with the thought that it will create complete nutrition for your pet.  Foods marked “Tested” go one step farther and refers to the process of formulation AND actual test trials done to prove the foods digestibility or how it fills your pet’s energy requirements. Having an AAFCO statement on the label means that the quality of the ingredients have been graded and judged. If there is no AAFCO approval, the quality and type of the ingredients may be in question.  

 

Nowhere on the label will you find a list of the energy requirements that the food has met, or the quality/source of the ingredients.  You have to contact the manufacturer directly for these details. 

 

Recently “fillers” like corn & wheat have had a bad connotation as an ingredient in pet food, but that is not always the case.  Dogs are herbivores and need a mix of carbohydrates with their protein to get essential Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber.  While cats need more protein than dogs, they still have nutritional needs that have to be met by other ingredients.  These so called “fillers” can contain nutrients, and help hold the dry food together and make it more palatable for your pet.  Another misnomer is that meat “meal” is bad, but actually it is dried and processed so that it is more nutrient rich than just meat, and helps manufacturers meet necessary Calcium & mineral requirements. 

 

There are definitely misconceptions about pet foods and quality ingredients, but taking the time to assess your pet’s individual & breed needs is a great start to choosing a commercial food.

 

Ticks and Fleas 
Spring invites unwanted household visitors! 
    

The arrival of Spring also marks the arrival of tick and flea season in the Inland Northwest.  It’s well known that both pests can cause uncomfortable skin irritation, but did you know that fleas can infect your pet with tapeworm, and ticks are capable of spreading infectious disease to your pet and family as well? 

 

Multiple species of ticks are prevalent in the Spokane County, and any pet (or human) that goes outside can come in contact with them on other animals or in their natural environment.  Natural remedies may help repel ticks, but they are not 100% guaranteed to rid your pet’s body of all ticks.  Owners who take their pets to tick prone areas (camp sites, sporting areas, or hiking trips) should examine their pets for ticks immediately upon returning home. If a tick is detected, prompt REMOVAL of ticks is very important because it lessens the chance of disease transmission from the tick to your pet. Use tweezers to firmly grip the tick as close to the pets skin as possible, and steadily pull tick free.  After removal crush the tick, and avoid contact with fluids that may carry disease. 

 

In the Spokane Area flea infestations are less likely than in other, more humid climates.  But don’t be lulled into complacency…your pet can pick up fleas in any area frequented by other cats or dogs. Black “flea dirt” left in your pets coat may be one of the clues that your pet has adult fleas.

 

Fleas can be difficult to eradicate because they undergo multiple life stages.  The good news is tick invasion and flea infestation are preventable.  Treatment and prevention is as easy as a once monthly topical prescription medication applied to the skin.  It is family friendly and bath proof after 24 hours.

 

If you have multiple pets in your home remember to treat all of them simultaneously, otherwise the fleas or ticks will move onto another host. Also, keep in mind if you travel with your pet to the coast or any warm, humid climate to talk to us about treating your pet before you go.  Preventative treatment will go a long way to avoid bringing any unwanted visitors home with you.