Combination of Wet and Dry Food Beneficial To Cats For Proper Macronutrient Intake

Maintaining a healthy balance of both wet and dry food for cats helps in their proper intake of macronutrients.

In terms of nutrition, focus is more on the vitamin and mineral of both people and pets. Different brands of multivitamins and nutrients abound. These are called micronutrients.

Aside from micronutrients, there are also macronutrients. The difference is that micronutrients are required in small amounts whereas macronutrients are needed in large amounts.

These macronutrients are comprised of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. These are needed for body growth, energy, and building mass. Macronutrients are taken through food consumption.

Just like people, pets also require macronutrients. The primary source of macronutrients for pets are through commercially available pet food. These are available either wet or dry (in the case of cats and dogs). Dry food come in the form of pellets. While wet food are similar to canned food products.

The debate on whether wet food or dry food is a matter of choice. Both wet and dry food contains the required nutrients for the proper feeding of pets.

Obese Dogs Find Better Quality of Life After Weight Loss

Obesity is a disease that can be defined as an excess of body fat that is enough to impair health, welfare and quality of life. Obesity is not confined to humans. Pets are also susceptible to obesity.

Although some diseases can cause pet obesity, the main reason that pets become obese is because the food that they eat contains more energy than they use up. This means that if pets eat too much or do not do enough exercise, they may become obese.

Global studies estimate that between 22 and 44 per cent of dogs are overweight or obese.

In a recent study, scientists have found a notable improvement in quality of life following successful weight loss in obese dogs

Owners of obese dogs that are successful in losing weight notice significant improvement in their dogs' health-related quality of life, a collaborative team of researchers has shown. The research was conducted by scientists from the University of Liverpool (UK), the Pain and Welfare Group at the University of Glasgow (UK), ROYAL CANIN and the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition - the science centre supporting Mars Petcare brands such as PEDIGREE® and NUTRO®.

The study involved fifty obese dogs, representing a mix of breeds and genders that had been referred to the ROYAL CANIN Weight Management Clinic based at the University of Liverpool. Owners were asked to complete a standardised questionnaire to determine the health-related quality of life of their dog prior to weight loss. Owners of the thirty dogs that successfully completed the weight loss programme and reached their target weight then completed a follow-up questionnaire. The completed questionnaire responses were converted into scores corresponding to a range of factors, including vitality, emotional disturbance and pain.