A trip to your local store shows an abundance of all sorts of organic food and artisanal treats made with top-of-the-line ingredients. So are these high-priced foods and “human food grade” treats worth the extra money? I think some of them are. Keep in mind that food is fuel for your pet just like it’s fuel for us. You don’t have to buy the most expensive brands, but don’t buy the cheapest either. Consider your pet’s specific health needs and buy accordingly. Your vet can help you through the maze of products too. Here are some more tips for a healthy pet.

Keep your pet at a healthy weight. Animals like dogs are susceptible to many of the same obesity-related diseases that humans are, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces that risk. Ask your vet what the right weight range is and how much food you should give. Don’t forget the exercise, especially for those active dogs.

Help your pet get the most nutrition from the food you serve. Many vets will tell you that raw foods are best for dogs, dry food is the worst. Home-cooking and canned fall in between the two. I’m not ready to make the commitment to cook specifically for my dog (Riley’s food allergies make it more complicated than boiling up some chicken & vegetables). On the other hand, I won’t rely on the convenience of less-expensive dry food because it exacerbates his allergy symptoms. So Riley gets canned food for every meal, sprinkled with a probiotic/digestive enzyme powder. The enzymes help him digest the food better and get more nutrients from it while the probiotics help make sure the good bacteria in his gut is thriving.

Use supplements when needed. As I tell my human clients, only take supplements when you have a therapeutic need. My dog takes a food supplement that boosts his thyroid activity. My vet recommended we try that after blood tests showed Riley’s thyroid hormones were very low. The food supplement has elevated them back into normal range and keeps him from taking more expensive medication.

Check out the NY Times article.