Over the holidays, families often acquire a new kitten or puppy as a family member. As pet owners, we want to ensure that the new baby gets the best of everything, including the proper type and amount of food. Research in the growing field of pet nutrition has resulted in better understanding of the needs of puppies and kittens, and has lead to new recommendations in feeding.
Young kittens and puppies have unique nutritional requirements, which change as they grow. Due to a lack of digestive enzymes, very young animals have difficulty digesting carbohydrates, while young puppies and kittens are more sensitive to protein deficiency and calcium excess than adults. As their digestive systems develop, they begin producing the enzymes that are needed to digest carbohydrates. Excessive carbohydrate intake can result in diarrhea, while protein deficiency can slow growth and cause irreversible skeletal problems and excess calcium can lead to bone and joint problems. As puppies and kittens approach puberty, their metabolism slows and their nutritional needs decrease. If they are surgically sterilized through castration or ovariohysterectomy, they undergo additional metabolic changes that decrease their energy requirements even more.
Like human children, it has been shown that an omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supports optimal brain development and vision in puppies and kittens. The greatest period of brain development in puppies and kittens occurs before 12 weeks of age. Pediatric diets that are rich in DHA will permit puppies and kittens to reach their full potential and develop healthy brain and eye tissues. Studies have also shown that it is also important to provide adequate a diet rich in DHA to pregnant dogs and cats, since it enhances prenatal development of neural tissues.
Veterinarians and nutritionists agree that the most important two pieces of advice they can give owners of kittens and puppies are to feed a good quality growth diet and to avoid overfeeding. The common practice of offering food at all times rather than as set mealtimes encourages overeating, as well as making it more difficult to housetrain puppies. A fat puppy or kitten is more likely to be an obese adult, and obesity has become one of the more important health issues for adult dogs and cats. Obesity predisposes pets to other health problems, most notably diabetes and joint problems. Studies now show that cats have approximately the same incidence of arthritis as dogs, at approximately 20%.
It used to be thought that chubby puppies and kittens were healthy, but this is no longer the case. As pet owners, it is up to us to monitor our pet’s food consumption and body condition, and to provide the optimal amount and type of food to meet their nutritional needs and maintain a healthy weight. At your veterinary clinic, we can answer your specific nutritional questions and help you provide your pet with the proper nutrition and care during the important first stage of life, thus improving his or her chances for a long and healthy life.
