{"id":3042,"date":"2022-03-08T10:43:07","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T09:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veterinaire-des-coteaux.fr\/nutrition\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T09:29:06","slug":"nutrition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/veterinaire-des-coteaux.fr\/en\/nutrition\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutrition"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Nutrition\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A balanced diet is necessary for maintaining your pet’s good health, whether it’s a dog, a cat, or an Exotic Pet<\/span><\/a>,<\/strong> it is crucial for them.<\/p>

Our team is trained to answer your questions about their needs and advise you as best as possible, so that your companion benefits from a diet adapted to each stage of their life.<\/p>

Indeed, whether you have a young animal, an adult, an athlete, or a companion starting to age, the diet is specific to each and plays a role in maintaining their good health.<\/p>

Similarly, if your companion is spayed\/neutered, or conversely, if your female dog or cat is expecting, the diet must be adapted so that everything goes as smoothly as possible for everyone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

GROWING ANIMAL<\/strong><\/p>

For growing puppies<\/strong>, a “growth” diet sufficiently rich in calcium is required (but not excessively so, to avoid creating a metabolic imbalance). To do this, we will look, among other things, at the calcium\/phosphorus ratio, which should be around 1.2, to ensure sufficient calcium in the bones and achieve harmonious growth. Indeed, if this ratio is too low, your companion may be exposed to deficiencies, which can lead to spontaneous fractures or bone deformities (such as radius-curvus when the arm bones twist) or other pathologies. <\/p>

It is important to know that depending on your companion’s adult size, the kibble will differ, as their needs will not be the same.<\/p>

The quality and origin of proteins are also a crucial factor.<\/p>

Growing kittens<\/strong> also benefit from a specific diet richer in certain amino acids, such as lysine, for example, to promote immunity, harmonious growth, and limit deficiencies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

ADULT<\/strong><\/p>

Once growth is complete, which occurs more or less early depending on the breed (for example, a Chihuahua will finish growing around 8-10 months, unlike a Bernese Mountain Dog which will continue to grow in size up to 18-24 months!!), one can switch to an adult dog food adapted to its weight and physical activity. Indeed, a “couch potato” dog will not require the same energy as a Border Collie that works daily, for instance. <\/p>

Most cats complete their growth between 8 and 12 months and can benefit from an adult diet adapted to their condition from that age, or earlier if they are spayed\/neutered, depending on their development and breed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

SPAYED\/NEUTERED<\/strong><\/p>

Once spayed\/neutered, metabolic needs are no longer the same (approximately 20% lower), which is why spayed\/neutered animals tend to gain weight more easily if care is not taken. By adapting the food and daily ration, they will be maintained at their ideal weight while meeting their needs. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

SENIOR<\/strong><\/p>

Finally, when your dog\/cat reaches an advanced age, they will be classified as Senior (age differs depending on species and breed). At this stage of life, they are less active and lose muscle, but should not lose too much weight nonetheless. In this case, the diet is also adapted to their health condition and enriched with vitamins or other nutrients, allowing them to maintain vitality, their weight, and good digestion. Furthermore, certain vital organs like the kidneys or liver tire more quickly, so the amount of protein contained in the food is adapted accordingly. For example, cats over 10 years old are very sensitive regarding their kidneys, and their diet is therefore adapted to relieve them as much as possible and limit the risk of developing kidney failure later on. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

GESTATION \u2013 LACTATION<\/strong><\/p>

When your female cat\/dog is pregnant, she needs to be supplemented with calcium to prevent deficiencies that can lead to hypocalcemia around the time of birth. A richer diet will also allow for good fetal development, as well as good milk production after birth. In these cases, a richer diet for puppies\/kittens is given, which will be the same as for the future offspring, thus facilitating dietary adaptation for the latter. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

THERAPEUTIC DIET<\/strong><\/p>

For almost every pathology, there is a specific diet to give to your pet, adapted in fiber, fats, proteins…, to help their body.<\/p>

Our team of veterinarians is trained to best advise you on the choice of food, whether it’s kibble, wet food, or if you wish to prepare a suitable homemade diet for them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Answers to your questions!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs it better to give my dog\/cat kibble or wet food? <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

Both are possible; it largely depends on their preferences and yours. Kibble has the advantage of having an abrasive effect, thus limiting the amount of tartar that forms on the teeth. Wet food, on the other hand, provides water for a dog or cat that drinks little, but can lead to slightly softer stools and tartar. <\/p>\n

Whichever one chooses, both are perfectly fine as long as quality is prioritized.<\/p>\n

Do not hesitate to ask our team for advice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMy cat is refusing its kibble, what should I do?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

Kibble refusal can have several origins. The cat may have grown tired of it (old kibble, rancidity, oxidation…), and in such cases, offering a different food can make them want to eat again. <\/p>\n

If this is not the case, do not hesitate to ask us for advice, as this lack of appetite can hide several pathologies of varying severity (laryngitis, toothache, kidney failure, diabetes…).<\/p>\n

In any case, a cat that has not eaten for more than 48 hours is a serious concern and should be examined as soon as possible!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShould puppies\/kittens be given milk? <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

That depends on their age. When they are very young (the first month) and the mother does not produce enough milk, providing it is essential. Subsequently, once your companion is weaned, they no longer need to drink milk. Their digestive system is no longer adapted to digest it properly, and it can cause diarrhea. If they are fond of it and want to drink it, it can be given as a treat in very small quantities. Be careful, milk is very rich and promotes fat accumulation… <\/p>\n

If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact us; our team will be happy to advise you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t