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Make sure the food you give your pet is as healthy as it can be.
Take a look at the ingredients in your cat or dog’s food. How many of the can you even pronounce? And how healthy are additives and preservatives like “mixed tocopherols” and “sodium caseinate?” While many of the premium brands may seem expensive, they more than pay for themselves when the health benefi ts are taken into account. A longer life, a happier, healthier animal and fewer trips to the veterinarian more than make up for the upfront costs of buying a premium or organic brand.

If you’re considering switching your pet to a more natural diet, consult your veterinarian first. He or she may have specifi c recommendations that can save you from the time-consuming process of wading through the myriad of food options available. “Food is so confusing. There are so many options, people don’t know what to choose,” says Jiu Jia Wen, DVM and partner at Hampton Veterinary Hospital in Speonk. “A conservative recommendation is to stick with a name brand that has been out for years,” he says. He also recommends reading the ingredients list carefully, and avoiding any foods that contain chemical preservatives. Lisa Donato, DVM of the Center for Specialized Veterinary Care in Westbury, agrees. “You do need to look at the ingredients,” Donato says. “You always want to have a meat as the fi rst ingredient, if possible,” but she adds that a meal, such as lamb meal, for instance, is acceptable. “Stay away from those with preservatives,” she advises, especially BHT and BHA.

Wen also suggests changing your pet’s diet every six months or so. “Don’t necessarily change brands, but change ingredients,” he says. For instance, if you’ve been feeding your pet a chicken- based food, switch to a lamb-based food for the next six months. Changing the type of meat your pet is eating helps to balance out the protein and nutrients he or she is ingesting, and it also gives the animal’s system a chance to rest. “It’s not a good thing to eat the same food year after year,” Wen says. “In the old days, in the wild, animals would eat what nature provides, what the season provides,” he says. Nowadays, that’s just not possible, but you can do your best to recreate your pet’s natural diet by changing their food’s main ingredient every six months.

Check out one of the many good organic foods available. Donato suggests trying Canidae for dogs, Felidae for cats; Newman’s Own, Enova or California Naturals as a start. For more information and recommendations, consult your veterinarian.