{"id":760,"date":"2022-01-16T16:21:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T16:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sbahvet.com\/?p=760"},"modified":"2022-01-16T16:21:00","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T16:21:00","slug":"understanding-pet-nutrition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sbahvet.com\/blog\/understanding-pet-nutrition\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Pet Nutrition"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all know the saying \u201cyou are what you eat,\u201d and that is why so many of us take it to heart when it comes to feeding our pets <\/span>the very best<\/span><\/a>. It can be very disheartening, though, to get to the store and be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of choices out there. How is a proactive pet parent to know what the best food is?<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to understanding pet nutrition, you can\u2019t know everything. Your pet experts at <\/span>Sunrise Boulevard Animal Hospital<\/span><\/a> want you to understand the basics and trust us to help you fill in the blanks when it comes to providing the best pet nutrition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning the Basics About Pet Nutrition<\/span><\/h2>\n

On the surface, pet nutrition is relatively simple. Like all living things, dogs and cats need water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Easy, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

Nutrition, in general, is actually quite a bit more complex, however. Every pet is a unique individual with different needs for optimal health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people turn to the ingredient list on a pet food label to learn about it, but this is subject to manipulation and marketing tactics. It is important to remember that pets need nutrients, not ingredients. Without in-depth knowledge of ingredients, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to achieve this.<\/span><\/p>\n

We recommend <\/span>choosing pet foods<\/span><\/a> that have a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or Ph.D. animal nutritionist on staff to help develop and oversee the manufacturing of their diets. This ensures that your pet is getting what he or she needs to thrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Narrowing Down the Choices\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When it comes to selecting a pet food, you can significantly narrow down your options by answering a few questions:<\/span><\/p>\n