Food Types, Treats & Supplements

Part three of three in a fiber series — If you’ve ever wondered about fiber and your pet, look no further than the three-part series from the Nom Nom R&D team. This third article focuses on fiber and its place in the feline diet.

Part one of three in a fiber series — With all the dietary and nutritional information out there, it can be hard to have the full confidence that you’re doing the right thing for the health of your dog or cat. We round-up research focusing on dietary fibers, how companion animals process and use them in their gastric-system, and how much they might need in their diet.

Fish oil has been shown to have many benefits for both dogs and cats. However, with so many options, choosing the right fish oil supplement can be confusing. In this guide, we review the criteria and evidence for the four important factors you should consider when choosing a fish oil supplement for your dog or cat: source, quality, natural vs. synthetic form, and dose.

Fish oil offers many proven health benefits for dogs and cats. Before deciding which is the best fish oil product to give to our pets, it is important to understand what properties within fish oil make it so beneficial, so you can make an informed purchase. We will also examine the many benefits of fish oil for cats and dogs and the evidence behind these health claims. 

When it comes right down to it, it isn't the act of giving treats that encourages us to do it, but the reactions from our pets that make it all worthwhile. In 2008, veterinary nutritionists in both the United States and Australia discovered via survey that 41% of dogs & 21% of cats received treats daily.

Understanding a bit about how kibble is made is helpful in assessing whether or not it is something you want your dog to be eating. To produce kibble, a mixture of carbs, plant or animal protein, and fats of various quality (and unspecified sources) are mixed into a paste.

A raw dog food diet (as opposed to a cooked dog food diet) is made of ingredients that are uncooked. Typically they are high-meat diets, but this may include toxin-housing organ meats, or leftover parts of the carcass after the rest of the cuts of meat have been removed.

When first switching to a fresh dog food, most owners will notice that their dog is more excited about eating. This can translate into an increase in energy level throughout the day. Such diets tend to be lower in fiber, and you'll see that a lot of nutrients are actually digested and utilized, resulting in smaller stools.