For dogs with seizures, any diet change should be carefully considered and will likely be different for each dog based on their underlying conditions. If your dog has idiopathic epilepsy, there may be some nutritional changes to consider but let’s look at the evidence and pros and cons behind some different strategies you may hear about ..read more

You may want to buy your pet a special holiday treat as a present or give them some of the holiday meal, but it’s important to think carefully about what you offer them.  To help keep your dogs and cats safe as we enter the holiday season, follow these guidelines to keep the holidays healthy and happy ..read more

Many pet food companies prominently feature the "veterinarian recommended" label, enticing families seeking the best food for their pets. However, what exactly this label means and how it can help you to make an informed choice can be a bit of a mystery. In this post, we’ll cover what the regulations are for products bearing the “veterinarian recommended” claim ..read more

While corn is often vilified as a pet food ingredient, it is nutritious and easily digested by both dogs and cats and rarely causes allergies. As such, it is not an ingredient that most pets need to avoid in their diet ..read more

Dealing with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in our dogs can be a real headache. But fear not, we're here to shed some light on this issue and discuss whether diet plays a role in preventing or treating UTIs ..read more

AI chatbots have been garnering a lot of media attention lately, with people using them for everything from writing cover letters, to essays to outlines of presentations, as well as for entertainment. We put the three best known chatbots to the test by asking them all to help us find the best dog food ..read more

We know that many pet owners are desperate for accurate, trustworthy information about how to feed their pets, whether they’re healthy or if they have a medical condition. However, even knowing who to talk to about your pet’s nutrition can be confusing! Learn more about Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists and an easier way to find one ..read more

While you may have heard us say “pets need nutrients, not ingredients,” what exactly are those essential nutrients? Here’s a breakdown of all the essential nutrients according to the  Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) that are required for foods to be called complete and balanced for adult and growing cats and dogs. Included are also links to other blog posts that describe some of these nutrients and why they’re essential. Protein and Amino Acids While the amount may differ between dogs and cats, and between adults and seniors, all pets have a minimum requirement for ..read more

A common task of a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® is to design custom homemade diet recipes for pets that have health issues or for pet owners who prefer not to use commercial foods. We’ve covered some general mistakes that pet owners often make with homecooked diets when they don’t work with a veterinary nutritionist, as well as some situations where cooking for your pet may not be optimal. In this post, I’d like to focus on misconceptions and mistakes about homecooked diets that my colleagues and I frequently run into with our clients – pet owners who get their recipes from a veter ..read more

A new FDA update provides more information on diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). While the specific cause is not yet known, the problem hasn’t gone away ..read more