Arden Grange Cat Nutrition FAQ's
Has he been eating too much? Has he been scavenging and eating rubbish? He may be reacting to an ingredient in his diet - Avoid the 4 main dietary allergens wheat, beef, soya and dairy products. All Arden Grange foods are free from these allergens, so should be easily utilised by even the most sensitive digestive system. The Arden Grange Sensitive is often beneficial for pets with dietary allergies, and the Adult Salmon & Rice is very easy on the digestion.
When dogs and cats suffer from diarrhoea, it is their fat digestion enzymes which suffer the most. For this reason, a few days on a bland, low-fat home-prepared diet such as lean chicken or white fish served with boiled rice or mashed potato (fed little and often) is often helpful and will allow the digestion a chance to eliminate residual fat which may have accumulated within the large bowel. Non-dairy probiotics can be very helpful in cases whereby the friendly bowel flora need a helping hand, but if you are caught short a little banana or live yogurt added to each meal may be of benefit (but don’t give yogurt if your pet is known to be lactose intolerant or has a dairy allergy). Bacterial infections are common, so if things don’t clear up quickly or your cat or dog is unwell in himself, don’t hesitate to call your vet
For more information on this subject, please view the fact sheets available down below:.
All Arden Grange foods are extremely palatable and readily enjoyed by most cats and dogs. However pouring hot water onto the dry kibble further enhances palatability, as it will melt some of the high quality fats, which then give off an enticing and wholesome aroma. Too much variety can make this problem worse. Never make an issue out of meal- times ~ put the food down and pretend to occupy yourself with something else in the vicinity. If the food is not eaten in your allotted time frame, then take up the dish calmly without showing you are disturbed.
Always put fresh food down at the next mealtime. Sometimes refusal to eat or picking at food is attention seeking behaviour, but do make sure that there is no underlying health reason for a depleted appetite. Puppies often have reduced appetites during the teething process as they can have swollen gums and sore mouths. Adult males can refuse food if there is a female 'on heat' in their vicinity. A sudden loss of appetite should be reported to your vet if there is no obvious cause, since it may be indicative of a medical condition.
There are different schools of thought as to whether dogs or cats NEED variety or not. There are pros and cons of both sticking to one food or giving several. Dogs don't have as many taste buds as we do (not nearly as many in fact), and it is widely considered that we apply our own human attributes to appetite to our pets in so far as that we personally would get very bored eating the same thing day in day out.
Many cat and dog owners prefer to give their pet some variety, and the advantages of feeding more than one type of food are:
1) It makes us happy!
2) Some animals really do prefer some variety and it keeps them interested at meal-times
3) If the pet had only ever been fed one kind of food and the supply ran out and you had difficulty getting hold of more, then feeding something unaccustomed could cause an upset tummy
The disadvantages of feeding more than one type of food are:
1) It can make fussy animals even fussier - the more choice given the finickier they can become
2) The more protein sources that a cat or dog is exposed to, the more difficult it is to determine which ingredient is the culprit should a dietary allergy arise
3) If you've had digestive problems in the past and aren't really sure what caused them, it makes sense to stick with a tried and trusted product rather than run the risk of future upsets
Many of our customers do interchange between the adult maintenance foods with no problems, and providing each new food is introduced one at a time and gradually to begin with, this is generally not problematic.
Gradual weight loss should be aimed for, either by using Arden Grange Light cat or dog food (and/or the Partners canned food range for dogs), or by keeping your pet on his normal Arden Grange food and reducing the amount given per meal.
Reduce any extras, and make sure only low calorie treats are given, and that the main diet reduced accordingly to allow for these additional calories. Three smaller meals per day are often better for dieting cats and dogs than one or two larger ones as this helps promote more stable blood sugar and better serotonin levels (the hormone responsible for dietary satisfaction).
Gentle exercise should be a part of your dog’s daily routine until he is fit enough to enjoy longer walks again. Although it may seem hard to deny your pet extra food, an over-weight pet will suffer from additional strain on the joints and internal organs, and this could predispose him to arthritis, heart conditions and diabetes. Pets should only be put on diets under their vet’s supervision, so do seek professional advice too.
Has he been wormed recently? What are his faeces like? Firm and well formed or soft with no defined shape? If they are soft then please refer to the first question above. A veterinary check up is recommended to make sure that there is no underlying medical cause. If faeces are normal, then your pet may have a greater need for calories than he currently has in his diet. Pets that are naturally over-active or stressed may fall into this category. Feeding little and often is frequently beneficial to underweight pets as it gives the gut less work to do at any one time and helps the animal to gain maximum benefit from the nutrients. It also helps maintain a slow and steady release of energy throughout the day and enables you to provide more food if required but without overloading the digestion.
Arden Grange can help with an individual diet plan based on an estimate of your pet’s requirement for calories. There are a number of recipes within the Arden Grange range (including the high calorie Prestige diet for dogs) which may be beneficial, but often it is not just a case of getting the calorie intake right, but taking the time to establish what recipe contains ingredients and a nutrient balance which are going to be best suited to the individual based on his own unique requirements.
Allergies (dietary or environmental), an impaired immune system, hormonal imbalance or parasite infestation could be responsible. Deficiencies and excesses of certain nutrients can also cause skin problems. There are many possible causes or combination of causes that can contribute to symptoms so it is always wise to seek veterinary advice. A good quality hypoallergenic diet such as Arden Grange which includes no wheat, beef, soya or dairy products (4 of the most common dietary allergens) is often beneficial, and good nutrition can help to strengthen the immune system.
Don’t forget to check the ingredients in any treats or extras too, as many contain wheat or un-named animal/cereal derivatives. Even one biscuit or a small piece of toast could cause a reaction in a gluten sensitive dog. The Arden Grange Adult Salmon & Rice and Adult Sensitive are particularly good for those with skin problems. These diets have been carefully formulated to provide the ideal ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 essential fatty acids, using high quality salmon oil and whole linseed. Optimum levels of vitamins and a chelated source of zinc are also included to maximise skin health.
The first signs of ageing in dogs and cats are usually a general ‘slowing down’ with decreased levels of activity and stamina and a tendency to sleep more. Such signs may manifest at as early as 5 years of age in the giant breeds, whilst small terrier breeds can remain youthful until the age of 10 or even older. There is not such a broad size range in cats, and most will reach the golden years at around 8 years or so, but cats who enjoy a good level of exercise and keep a healthy figure can often remain sprightly for much longer.