Yellowhead Veterinary Clinic

Why Should You Choose A Better Diet For Your Pet?

The recommended pet food diets include Science Diet, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, and Purina Veterinary Diet.  These pet foods contain the highest quality ingredients, which remain consistent from bag to bag and are properly balanced.

They do not substitute ingredients based on price and availability, therefore there is not a change in the diet composition from one bag to the next.  Consequently, your pet will not experience gastrointestinal or pancreatic upsets associated with sudden diet changes.

The ingredients are properly balanced providing appropriate levels for different life stages and activity levels.  The chance of deficiencies and excess of nutrients is therefore eliminated.  No supplements are required which is important because:

• Too much protein can result in kidney damage.
• Too much calcium can be related to growth abnormalities, skin problems, and may interfere with other minerals being observed.
• Too much sodium can predispose an animal to heart disease and kidney damage.
• Too much magnesium is a risk in urinary track blockage.

Supermarket pet foods may have excess nutrients because it is expensive to remove them and the manufacturer may be trying to avoid deficiencies.

High quality protein ingredients are used so that your pet can absorb the protein more efficiently.  Even though high quality ingredients cost more, the cost of feeding is about the same as with store bought brands because your pet does not need to eat as much to meet their energy demands.  A reduced volume in food will also result in a reduced stool volume.  Since the cost of packaging the food is relatively the same, the main difference in the price of food is what goes into them (the better the quality the more expensive ingredients, therefore "you get what you pay for")

These recommended pet food diets have a 100% satisfaction guarantee!

Why Spay Or Neuter Your Pet

If you do not plan to breed or show your pet, you should consider having it spayed of neutered.  There are several important medical behavioural problems that could arise if your pet is left intact.

An un-spayed female dog or cat may develop medical problems

• Endometritis/Pyometra: A bacterial infection of the uterus, which occurs mainly in older pets.
• Mammary Gland Tumours: The incidence of mammary gland tumours in un-spayed dogs and cats is 7x greater than in spayed animals. The risk of tumour development increases with each heat cycle.

Other problems that may occur:

• Unwanted pregnancies: The S.P.C.A. and pounds are heavily burdened with unwanted and neglected animals because owners are unable to find homes for their kittens and puppies.
• Confinement of your female dog: It would be necessary to keep your dog confined for 21 days while she is in heat to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

An un-spayed female cat may:

• Become quite aggressive
• Become pregnant if allowed outside while in heat
• Attract male cats, which results in male spraying
• Constantly cry to be let outside

An un-neutered male dog may develop reproductive problems:

• Testicular Tumours: are common in dogs: neutering eliminates this problem
• Prostatic Problems: The prostate is a gland that surrounds the opening of the urinary bladder, it may become abnormally enlarged, infected, or develop a tumour.

Other problems that may develop:

• Tumours of the Anal Tissue: Hormone-dependant tumours, which commonly occur in older, intact male dogs
• Un-neutered dogs may become more aggressive and dominant with age
• They tend to wander, which may result in fights and/or road accidents
• Un-neutered dogs tend to mark their territory: sometimes in the house!

IN ADDITION

Dogs with un-descended testicles should be neutered.  The incidents of testicular tumours in un-descended testicles are 14x greater than in descended testicles.  This condition is inherited; therefore these dogs should not be used for breeding.

An un-neutered male cat may:

• Fight for his territory, which leads to scratches, bite wounds, abscesses and consequently more medical expenses
• Have very strong smelling urine, which he may spray in order to mark his territory and attract female cats
• Tend to wander off