A few days ago, an owner arrived at Pet point commenting that her dog ate X food and it did not seem to sit with her well. Over the next few minutes of conversation during this first time visit, I realized that she had already tried other brands in a very short period of time without much success.
Once we were able to create an adequate bridge of communication, she addressed me a bit frustrated saying, "So what can I feed her? I already checked the internet exhaustively!" To which I responded that was precisely the problem, since a diet recommendation must come from a Veterinary Doctor and not from the web, a pet food store seller or even worse even a brand representative. You should do the same as if we were discussing a child. If that were the case, I am certain that, before going to the store or pharmacy to buy the milk, you would seek out the recommendation of your pediatrician who is the expert in children's health. Well, in this case the veterinarian is the expert in animal health and should be the first person consulted.
That being said, after the clinical examination, she left with the pertinent recommendations for said patient. This process of consulting the veterinarian first should be the common denominator in houses where there are pets, since each dog or cat is different and their diets as well. There is no "best" food or magical formula for them. If that were the case, we would have a universal diet in all cases and our life would without a doubt be easier.
What each individual eats is intimately related to their quality of life and life expectancy and to make an adequate recommendation one must consider their age, lifestyle, breed, sex, if they suffer from a chronic disease, if they have parasites, if they have received any chemotherapy treatment, if they have a digestive disorder, if they have been spayed or neutered, and the list goes on. It is impossible for me to list the needs of all dogs and cats in the world. How then could the diet recommendation of such an important member of our family come from the internet or from a vendor? Impossible!
It is also important to note that in Veterinary Medicine there is a specialty in Nutrition, and it is these specialists on whom we always rely to make the best possible recommendation in general medicine, and it is to them that we will refer patients when necessary.
The health of your dog or cat is not something that should be left to chance or in the hands of Dr. Google. On the contrary, it is by far a pillar in their quality of life and should be given that importance. A poor diet can trigger serious diseases that threaten the lives of our patients, and can worsen pre-existing clinical conditions.
Speak with your veterinarian about the most appropriate nutrition for your dog or cat.