Food for Thought:
Nutrition and Healthy Weight

Those big eyes at the dinner table. The hopeful head tilt when the fridge door opens. The suspicious silence when someone leaves a sandwich unattended. We get it, completely. Food is one of the ways we show our pets love.

But what, and how much, our pets eat has a huge impact on how long and how well they live. This guide covers how to choose the right food, how to tell if your pet is a healthy weight, some healthier treat ideas, and which everyday foods are best kept well out of reach.

The 30-second version

1. Choose a ‘complete’ food made for your pet’s species and life stage.
2. Weigh your pet’s food, and count treats as part of their daily allowance.
3. Learn the rib test so you can check your pet’s weight at home.
4. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and xylitol are among the foods that can be dangerous to pets.
5. Never put a cat on a crash diet. Any weight loss plan should be supervised by a vet.

Choosing the right food

• Look for ‘complete’ on the label. A complete food is designed to provide all the nutrients your pet needs. Foods labelled ‘complementary’, such as many treats and toppers, aren’t meant to be fed on their own.
• Match the food to the life stage. Puppies, kittens, adults and seniors all have different nutritional needs, and some foods are designed for particular breed sizes.
• Feed the right food for the right species. Cats have very specific nutritional needs and must get certain nutrients, such as taurine, from their diet. Dog food isn’t suitable for cats.
• Raw and home-made diets need very careful planning to be complete and balanced, and raw food carries hygiene risks for both pets and people. If you’re considering either, please speak to us first.
• Prescription diets should only be fed when recommended by a vet.

Changing food? Do it gradually, usually over about 7 to 10 days, by mixing increasing amounts of the new food into the old food. This helps avoid tummy upsets. If your vet has given you different instructions, follow those instead.

Did you know? Cats don’t have a sweet tooth Cats can’t taste sweetness. They lack the working taste receptor that lets us (and dogs) detect sugar. It makes sense for a true carnivore, and it’s one of many reasons cats have such different nutritional needs from dogs.

Vet advice Every pet is different. Seek professional veterinary advice if you’re unsure which food is right for your pet, or before making big changes to their diet.

How much should my pet eat?

• Use the feeding guide on the packet as a starting point only. Your pet’s ideal amount depends on their age, activity level, whether they’re neutered, and their body condition.
• Weigh their food. Cups and scoops can be surprisingly inaccurate, and a little extra every day soon adds up. Digital kitchen scales are your friend.
• Treats count too. As a general guide, treats should make up no more than about 10% of your pet’s daily food intake. Take treats out of their daily allowance, rather than adding them on top.
• Human snacks pack a punch. Even a small piece of cheese, crisps or toast can be a lot of calories for a small pet.
• Fresh water should always be available.

Is my pet a healthy weight?

You don’t need scales to start checking. Try this simple hands-on test:

The rib test

Feel the ribs. You should be able to feel them easily with light pressure, with just a thin covering of fat. A handy comparison: if the ribs feel like the knuckles of your clenched fist, your pet may be too thin. If they feel like the back of your flat hand, that’s usually about right. If they feel like the palm of your hand, your pet may be carrying extra weight.

Look from above. You should see a visible waist behind the ribs.

Look from the side. In most dogs the tummy should tuck up slightly behind the ribs, rather than sagging down.

Many cats have a loose flap of skin on their lower belly, known as the ‘primordial pouch’. This is completely normal and isn’t the same as fat, so don’t let it put you off.

Vet advice Body shape varies a lot between breeds, so this is a guide only. Ask us for a weight and body condition check, and seek professional veterinary advice before starting your pet on any diet.

Why weight matters

Carrying extra weight puts pets at higher risk of arthritis, diabetes (particularly in cats), breathing difficulties, overheating, skin problems and other health issues. Research in dogs has also linked being overweight with a shorter lifespan. The encouraging part is that even a modest weight loss can make a real difference to comfort and mobility.

Helping your pet lose weight safely

• Speak to us first. Some medical conditions can cause weight gain, and your vet can help you set a safe target weight and a realistic plan.
• Go slowly. Steady, gradual weight loss is safer and more likely to last.
• Make food fun. Puzzle feeders, scatter feeding and snuffle mats make meals last longer and keep minds busy.
• Choose lower-calorie rewards. Use part of their daily food allowance as treats, or try some of the healthy swaps below.
• Play more. Extra play sessions and gentle exercise help, as long as your pet is fit for it.
• Get the whole family on board. Every household has one secret snacker (we’re looking at you, Grandad). Weight plans only work if everyone sticks to them.

Important: never put a cat on a crash diet

If a cat stops eating, or loses weight too quickly, it can trigger a serious and potentially life-threatening liver condition called hepatic lipidosis. Never starve a cat or dramatically cut their food. Any weight loss plan for a cat should be supervised by a vet. If your cat has stopped eating, call us on 01843 808344.

Healthier treat swaps

Treats are part of the fun, and they’re brilliant for training. The trick is choosing wisely and keeping portions small.

Ideas for dogs

• A few pieces of their normal dry food, set aside from their daily allowance
• Small pieces of carrot, cucumber or green beans
• Small slices of apple, with the core and seeds removed

Ideas for cats

• A few pieces of their normal dry food from their daily allowance
• A play session with a wand toy, which many cats love just as much as food
• A tiny amount of plain cooked chicken, with no skin, bones or seasoning

Introduce any new food in small amounts, and check with us first if your pet has a medical condition or is on a special diet.

Water: the forgotten nutrient

Many cats don’t drink very much, so it helps to make water as appealing as possible:

• Place water bowls away from food bowls and litter trays, as many cats prefer them separate
• Try wide, shallow bowls, or a pet water fountain
• Wet food adds extra water to the diet

A sudden increase in thirst, in any pet, can be a sign of illness and should be checked by a vet.

Fussy eater, or something more?

Some pets are simply particular about their food. But a pet who suddenly goes off their food, eats less than usual, or seems interested but walks away from the bowl may be unwell, or may have a sore mouth. Rather than repeatedly switching foods, have them checked.

Vet advice If your pet’s appetite changes suddenly, or your cat stops eating, seek professional veterinary advice promptly. Don’t wait for it to pass.

Toxic foods: keep these out of paws’ reach

Some everyday foods that are perfectly safe for us can be dangerous for pets. Here are some of the most common culprits:

And a common one: many adult cats are lactose intolerant, so milk can upset their tummy. Fresh water is all they need to drink.

This isn’t a complete list. If you’re unsure whether something is safe, don’t feed it until you’ve checked with us.

Did you know? Not all chocolate is equal The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains, so dark chocolate and cocoa powder are the most dangerous. White chocolate contains very little, but it’s still high in fat and sugar. Whatever the type, if your pet has eaten chocolate, call us for advice.

Important: if your pet eats something toxic

Call us immediately on 01843 808344, even if your pet seems completely fine. Don’t wait for signs to appear, and don’t try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.

Not sure about a particular food? Try our Can my pet eat this? checker in Pet Corner, built from this guide.

Other pets have different needs

Rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and reptiles all have very specialised diets. For example, rabbits and guinea pigs need unlimited hay, and guinea pigs need vitamin C every day. See our guide Feathers, Scales and Small Furries for more.