A D V E R T I S I N G
F E A T U R E
A D V E R T I S I N G
Love your pet… in association with Royal Canin
A diet for all needs
Every bark has its own bite
Grounded in years of working with vets, universities and breeders worldwide, Royal Canin believes every animal has unique needs. Precise tailored nutrition based on age, size, breed, lifestyle and particular sensitivities or conditions is the answer The working dog
The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ applies just as much to your dog or cat as it does to you. Lee Danks, Royal Canin Veterinary Scientific Support Manager, and Vikki Anderson, Royal Canin Training Manager, speak about the importance of a tailored diet for your pet
“O
ne of our primary responsibilities as a pet owner is to fulfil our dog or cat’s dietary requirements,” says Lee, “and this means the provision of an adequate, suitable diet. Where dogs and cats are 100 per cent dependent on us to make this decision for them, we should understand how to make it the right one.” “We have to remind owners that dogs are not small people and cats are not small dogs so, naturally, a diet must always be specific to the species – it must always meet their needs,” continues Vikki. “Within today’s marketplace, we have the option to feed a complete diet – the right balance of protein, vitamins and minerals found in both wet or dry food – or to feed them a diet which is complementary, which means it must be fed alongside another diet to make a complete diet. It’s really important that as owners, we choose a diet that is complete and tailored for the pet, so we can be sure we are giving them absolutely everything they need to live well on a day-to-day basis.”
A tailored plan
Tailoring a diet to your pet’s individual needs means taking into account their particular sensitivities, age, lifestyle, size and even their breed. A Labrador puppy will have different needs to a Yorkshire Terrier puppy and these needs will change significantly over the years. A 10-year-old’s needs are very different to a 4-month-old’s. “Royal Canin always goes that step further in knowing what each individual needs as far as nutritional profile,” explains Lee. “Consider lifestyle – an indoor dog is not going to be fed, or shouldn’t be fed, the same as a working, outdoor dog. Consider sensitivities – if you are trying to improve your pet’s dental hygiene, you may consider a dry diet, which provides balanced nutrition for both dental and complete health. “One of the most important considerations is breed, from being aware of your pet’s physicality, to potential health requirements they may have. This means looking at the structure and shape of their jaw and how they chew on their kibble; or looking towards how
a huge impact on what they need nutritionally. It goes far beyond it simply being the size of the bag or the size of the kibble within that bag – we know fundamentally that the size of that dog will impact everything from their rate of growth and aging to their digestive capacity and energy requirement. Kilo-for-kilo, small dogs need more energy than a larger dog. So, taking into account the dog’s size is a key factor you should look at to provide an optimal diet.”
Wellbeing Lee Danks, Royal Canin Veterinary Scientific Support Manager we can feed them in the long-term for health benefits, rather than only feeding them to make them feel less hungry in the here and now.” Vikki agrees: “Particularly with dogs, we have so many breeds and the variation in size alone really does make
Vikki and Lee explain that it’s important to be aware of any sensitivities your pet may have towards some types of food; however, they both agree that owners should avoid automatically diagnosing this as a ‘food allergy’. “When it comes to a true food allergy, a vet really should be involved in the diagnosis,” explains Lee. “You may do an elimination diet trial, simply put this means excluding all potential allergens. For example, if you think your cat is allergic to dairy, remove every trace
that what we might often be describing may be just a gastric upset.” Vikki continues: “We also have to bear in mind that when we have a pet with a mild case of dandruff, bowel problems or an itch, the owner will often automatically blame diet and will use the term of food allergy. Food can be involved but it’s rarely a specific ingredient as such. It’s much more likely that we should be looking at the quality of the food we are feeding them: Is the quality of the food at a high level? Is it as digestible as it could be and is it providing all the nutrients that the cat or dog needs, such as providing the animal with enough omega fatty acids for their skin and coat? Simply reviewing Vikki Anderson, Royal Canin the type and the quality of the diet that Training Manager your pet is on can have a significant imof dairy products in their bowl for a provement to its wellbeing.” minimum of six weeks or up to 10 to 12 weeks. Only after eliminating that po- Quality matters tential allergen and re-challenging the Does this mean we should always body with it and seeing a recurrence of check food labels? signs, do we have that diagnosis. “Reading your pet food label is one Allergy is really quite complex to of the best ways to determine the qualconfirm and we should keep in mind ity of the food you are feeding,” says
5 tips for pet weight management Nutrition requirements aren’t the only factor you should pay attention to when it comes to feeding your pet – how much you feed is also important. It’s estimated that almost half of all dogs and cats in Ireland are overweight or obese. Here are some tips to help your pooch avoid piling on the pounds! 1. Energy awareness
Obesity is most commonly caused by an imbalance between the energy intake and its usage, i.e. your pet eating more than they can possibly expend. “Relate your pet’s current body condition score and their weight to how much you are feeding them,” advises Lee. Your vet can help you in taking these measures which involves assessing their body composition.
2. Weigh up your options
“When feeding your pet, all owners should weigh out their cat or dog’s food,” says Vikki. “Sometimes, we tend to view food by volume, rather than actually measuring it. Use measuring cups at the very least, weighing scales if your pet is carrying more weight than they should be.”
3. Exercise
Take your dog for more frequent or longer walks. Dogs’ exercise needs vary according to the breed you have, but every dog should enjoy at least one walk a day. Get your cat moving by playing with an interactive toy.
4. Treat time
“Treats are a part of the pet-owner bond,” says Vikki, “and there’s definitely a place for them but all in moderation. Keep treats within 10 per cent of the daily calorie allowance, then they’re not necessarily going to have a negative impact. When you start exceeding that, not only are you giving an excess of calories which can lead to weight gain, but remember treats aren’t complete, so they’re not going to give them the vital nutrients they need. Never replace your daily complete food with treats and titbits.”
5. Talk about it
If you feel your pet is obese, talk to your local vet. There may be an underlying medical problem which could be contributing to your pet’s excessive weight. If not, then discuss a safe and effective weight reduction plan.
F E A T U R E
Lee. “While it’s good to understand and be conscientious about labels, beware of becoming obsessed, as some might about human foods. It’s quite easy to become fixated with ingredients and avoid wheat, for example, and that can lead to dangerous territory in the fact that when moving from one food to another or embarking on an unbalanced ration, you might be excluding essential nutrients. One of our philosophies is to think about precise
nutrition rather than becoming fixated with ingredients – realise that our dogs and our cats have digestive systems which absorb and recognise nutrients. A dog’s digestive system doesn’t know it needs beef, but it does respond to protein. When it comes to food labels, concentrate on the guaranteed analysis of protein, fat, fibre, moisture and other essential nutrients. Also, don’t be afraid to ask any questions you have of the manufacturer.
“On entry, every raw material is physically and chemically analysed by specialists working at our Royal Canin production facilities. Throughout the process, there are many critical control points and safety checks along the way to ensure there is absolutely no risk to product quality and the health of the animals we feed. When we do get to the point of a complete or finished product, samples are also taken aside for full traceability and put in storage so we can rest assured that what we say on the packet is actually in the packet and fulfils the nutritional profile which we have promised.”
Feed your cat FREE for a week! Claim your free 400g bag* by registering for a voucher online at www.royalcanin.ie/irishindependentoffer. Redeem your voucher at your chosen Royal Canin retailer. Registration open from 13/08/2016 to 20/08/2016. *Terms and Conditions: 1) Online registration via www.royalcanin.ie/irishindependentoffer only. 2) Requires use of a printer (to print voucher), internet access, use of a valid email address and registration with ROYAL CANIN® (you will be prompted to create a new profile if you do not have one). 3) Vouchers are not available by post. 4) Vouchers valid for 28 days from date of online registration. 5) Photocopies of vouchers will not be accepted. 6) Maximum of one voucher per person. 7) Voucher valid against a single 400g bag of cat food from the ROYAL CANIN® ranges only. 8) Not to be used in conjunction with any other ROYAL CANIN® offer. 9) Open to residents of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland only. 10) Open to persons aged 18 or over only. 11) No cash alternative. 12) Non-transferable. 13) ROYAL CANIN®’s Privacy & Copyright terms apply in addition to those stated here; acceptance of these terms and conditions also implies acceptance of our Privacy & Copyright terms. 14) Not redeemable against Veterinary Therapeutic (Clinical) or Professional ranges. 15) Only valid in the retailer selected during registration. 16) Not valid in veterinary practices, with online retailers or at shows or exhibitions. 17) While stocks last. 18) ROYAL CANIN® reserves the right to end this activity at any point at its discretion.
Maintaining health in sporting and working dogs is essential to achieve the best performance, although their requirements depend on the intensity and length of their activity. Royal Canin Sporting Life meets these needs through precise nutrition. For example, Sporting Life Agility 4100 dry dog food is for dogs with short periods of intense activity. It provides instant energy, supports muscle mass and gives 100 per cent complete and balanced nutrition.
The small dog Very small dogs have unique physiological traits, such as jaw size, bone strength and sensitive digestive systems, which can benefit from specialised nutrition. Royal Canin X-Small is a full line of formulas designed to meet the particular needs of your tiny dog at every life stage. X-Small Junior Dry Mix features an
extra small kibble, designed for the miniature jaw of dogs less than eight pounds – a highly palatable formula to satisfy the fussy appetites of very small dogs!
The kitten Since kittens grow very quickly and go through two stages of growth before adulthood – babycat and kitten – they need a specific diet in each stage that meets all their basic nutritional needs in order to strengthen their immune systems, promote proper neurosensory development and facilitate bone growth. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrion wet formulas are designed around a cat’s nutritional needs and instinctive preferences – created with the optimal balance between proteins, fats and carbohydrates to support long-term palatability - and work as the perfect nutritional complement to Royal Canin’s premium dry cat food.
Weight support Royal Canin Satiety Veterinary Diets are formulated to help support weight loss in dogs and cats when fed as part of a veterinary recommendation. The formulas help to support your pet’s healthy weight using high quality protein and include select fibres to help support satiety and healthy weight loss. L-carnitine helps maintain lean body mass; antioxidants help support immune system; and chelated minerals to support overall health and wellness.
Unique diet Royal Canin is one of the world’s leading pet nutrition companies. It continues to innovate and lead the way in tailored nutrition and stops at nothing to understand the precise nutritional requirements of cats and dogs. This is then put into practise when creating unique and targeted nutritional solutions for our cats and dogs.