The old adage, you are what you eat, is as true for dogs and cats as it is for us humans. And we’re not just talking about physical health. What goes in their bowl affects their behaviour too.
Trainability
Even the sweetest, most good-natured pups and kitties can be a pain to train. But there’s a super simple way you can make them more responsive to your efforts. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a fatty acid that’s added to certain puppy and kitten foods and studies have shown it can make your little terrors more trainable. It does this by helping your pet’s body benefit from serotonin – the happy hormone. It’s now believed that older dogs with behavioural problems can also benefit from such a boost.
Golden Oldies
Your pet may be physically fit as a fiddle, even in their twilight years, so it’s a good idea to do all you can to ensure their brains can keep up with their bodies. An antioxidant-enriched diet can play a key role in this and extracts from the superfood, cranberries, can be a great source of antioxidants. Studies have shown that an antioxidant-enriched diet can help older cats and dogs learn complex tasks, recognise family members and avoid challenging behavioural changes.
Protein & Energy
Protein is made up of a chain of essential nutrients called amino acids and all mammals need 22 of them for effective metabolism and energy production. Whilst some can be produced internally, others need to be consumed. To help them avoid long-term health issues, cats need 11 of these in their diet, and dogs need 10.
Feeding frequency
Feeding your pet just once a day is no longer considered sufficient. And even if you’re putting out two meals a day it’s important they’re nutritionally well balanced. Especially if your pet has behavioural problems. It will help regulate your pet’s blood sugar levels and in turn their serotonin levels – which we touched on earlier. Speak to your vet for advice on the right routine for your pet.
Talking Taurine
Now, back to amino acids and specifically Taurine. It’s responsible for good eye and heart health in cats and is found in fish and meat.
Complete & Complementary
There are two types of pet food – complete and complementary – and your furry friends need both. You should feed them a combination of wet and dry food, including a complete wet or dry cat food, like Applaws complete dry cat food, for a balanced diet. Check the packs to make sure your pet is getting all the nutrients they need.
Just like you, Applaws want your cat or dog to love life. So, we ensure our all natural pet foods help them with everything from happy hormones to important proteins.
