As a doctor of veterinary medicine, I believe nutrition is the most important daily medical decision pet owners can make for their pets.
The sad fact is that very few pet owners or veterinarians have the knowledge to make informed decisions about pet nutrition.
Pet foods that contain new ingredients seem to appear almost daily on store shelves. Have you ever wondered why a particular ingredient is chosen for inclusion in a food? While the nutrient composition is the primary reason for ingredient selection, there are also other factors that need to be considered. Trends in the human and pet food industries can impact the appeal of an ingredient. Novel ingredients that serve a specific function can also influence selection. In addition, ingredient certifications are becoming increasingly common because it allows pet food brands to clearly communicate with consumers about the methods used to produce a food.
They say that an entrepreneur is someone who solves problems for profit. As pet groomers, the main problem we solve is dirty pets. However, we all do that. How can we differentiate ourselves from the other groomers in our area? Solve another problem.
We can do this by educating our clients on important topics that concern the well being of their pets. One such topic is how diet impacts a pet’s health.
The skin is a pet’s natural barrier to the outside world. As one of the body’s largest organs, the skin plays many vital functions to keep pets healthy. It protects the underlying internal organs, bones and muscles, provides sensory information, and acts as part of the immune system to guard against pathogens and external threats to health and safety. As part of the skin, fur also acts as a barrier and protects the skin, maintains body temperature, and contributes to the esthetic appeal of pets.
When Healthy Becomes Hefty
Groomers are a key member of a pet’s care team and can help pet parents identify when there might be just a little bit too much flab underneath all of that fur. Even a small amount of weight gain has been shown to decrease dogs’ lifespan by about two years.
Benefits, Perils and Quandary
A client asked me the other day why I inquired at each examination what their pet was eating. What significance did the contents of the food bowl have to their pet’s general health? The adage of ‘we are what we eat’ pertains equally to our pets.
I decided many years ago that I wanted to be that old lady that zip lines, jumps out of an airplane, and dances to the wee hours of the morning. But, in order to be in a position to do so, I have found it will be far easier to maintain my good health now than trying to repair decades of damage later on.
Regular grooming goes a long way to help achieve that “healthy shine” pet parents like to see on their beloved pets, but grooming is just the beginning. Diet is actually the single most important factor affecting coat health.
Having worked in the pet services and product industry for over 20 years, I have found that anyone can put a price tag on a can of food and hope it sells. Rather than just sell a can of dog food, I want to give you the tools to market pet foods for success!