s we move through the different stages of life, from infancy to adulthood, our dietary needs change, from the amount of calories we need to consume to the balance of nutrients that we need to keep us healthy. Our pets are no different. From the time they’re kittens and puppies, through to their mature years, diet is the key factor in preventing a range of health issues.
Life stages With the awareness that each life stage is unique for our pet, it stands to reason that when choosing the best food for them, we factor in first what life stage our pet is in currently – puppy or kitten, adult or a senior. The best way to find out if a food brand is appropriate for the specific life stage is to read the AAFCO statement on the bag (usually located under the ingredient list). The Association of American Food Control Officials (AAFCO) provides standards for the manufacturing, labeling, distribution and sale of foods for animals, ensuring they are safe and effective. When feeding a puppy or kitten, it will state that the food is appropriate for ‘growth’. For adult or senior dogs or cats, the statement will read ‘appropriate for maintenance’. Any AAFCO statement that reads ‘growth and maintenance’ or ‘all life stages’ reveals a lack of concern for life stage managed food choices.
‘All stage’ foods often have excessive nutrients to aid in the growth of puppies and kittens but are not balanced correctly for the adult or senior life stage. An ‘all stages’ food fed to a senior cat or dog will most likely contain far too much calcium. It is well known that excesses in dietary calcium in adult or senior animals can lead to premature arthritis, kidney failure and calcium oxalate stones in the bladder and/or kidneys. High calcium is important during the puppy or kitten stage for proper bone growth. Most ‘all life stage’ diets are also too high in protein and fat; important for babies, not good for the adult animal. It predisposes the adult animal to obesity. And like humans, obese animals are prone to a plethora of diseases including heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, to name a few. The puppy stage is very unique. There actually are different nutrient requirements between breeds. Believe it or not, large breed puppies need to be fed a diet much lower in fat than a small breed puppy. Fat makes bones grow faster than muscles. Too much fat can  have detrimental effects on the development of the hip joints by growing the bone faster than the muscle that supports it. Research shows that large breed puppies fed a high fat puppy diet are more likely to develop hip dysplasia later in life than puppies that were fed a low fat diet. This influenced the creation of large breed puppy formulas introduced over the last five years.  Food facts Another important factor to consider when reviewing the AAFCO statement is the explanation of how the food is created. Some diets are created by the ‘formulation’ method, an inexpensive technique that simply involves a nutritional analysis of ingredients in a food and comparing them with AAFCO nutrients profiles for an animal’s particular life stage. This method does not require actual feeding and digestibility trials. In other words, formulated diets provide no guarantee of palatability or nutrient bioavailability (how well each nutrient is absorbed in the body). On the other hand, foods created using the ‘feeding trial’ method are considered the gold standard method of producing pet foods, as they truly evaluate the digestibility and absorption of nutrients in live animals.				Many diseases are completely preventable with proper nutrition. Feed your pet right Once you have chosen the ‘life stage’ appropriate, ‘feed trial tested’ pet food, it is vital that you address HOW to feed your beloved furry friend. Animals should be fed meals and not ad libitum (free choice). Pets that have food available at all times often become obese and prone to the diseases mentioned above. Ideally, a ration of food should be calculated and split over two feedings a day. The pet’s weight should be monitored carefully and portions adjusted accordingly. Talk to your vet about the ideal weight for your pet. Feeding ‘table food’ or ‘human food’ is inappropriate for most pets. It adds to the caloric intake of the pet, predisposing them to obesity. Feeding some pets human food spoils them to the point where they ignore the healthy pet food you’ve so carefully chosen. It’s important to remember, what’s healthy for us isn’t necessarily healthy for a cat or dog. If you decide to change brands of food, transition your pet to the new food slowly over 7 days. Many diseases are completely preventable with proper nutrition. To love your pet healthy, ask your vet about your pet's specific nutritional needs; be sure the AAFCO statement is on the pet food bag; choose foods which have been ‘feeding trial’ tested and are designed for the exact life stage of your pet.  H&L Dr. Bondar practices at Westside Animal Hospital, Toronto. westsideanimal.vetsuite.com He co-hosts ‘Animal House’ Fridays, at 8pm. animalhouseradio.com