Animal Talk – July 2019

nutrition

H E ALTHTA LK

I

t really doesn’t matter, so whatever fits in with your schedule

will be fine. Or in the case of a cat, you will fit into

her schedule! Cats are better at controlling their own

energy intake and therefore will want to eat on demand

• usually three times a day. Their start can be pretty
  early since they are essentially nocturnal animals,
  so breakfast for them is not as clearly defined as
  for humans. It is not uncommon for our own cat,
  Timmy, to place his order in the wee hours of
  the morning. Feeding dogs at dusk may
  help them to settle in better for the
  night, giving you a good night’s
  rest as well.
  Dr Donald Leask,
  veterinarian

Best feeding time

When is the best time in the morning to feed my pet –

just after he wakes up, or should I wait a while?

Prescribed food

Do I need a prescription for

prescription food?

W

hile you don’t need a prescription

for ‘prescription’ diets, this should

not be used as a way to avoid seeing your

vet for a proper diagnosis of your pet’s

condition. The importance of correct diagnosis,

medical treatment and laboratory testing to

monitor progress is paramount. Vets promote

therapeutic diets as an aide to mainstay

treatment. Depending on the pet’s illness, other

tests may need to be regularly done. In some

cases, the foods may contain higher or lower

amounts of certain nutrients, and it may not

provide a balanced diet for healthy pets. If you

think your pet needs a therapeutic diet, first

discuss this with your vet.

Small animal veterinarian

Cats also purr when

they are sick or

in pain.