We talk a lot about meat quality and digestibility here at The Thoughtful Pet Food store, but what exactly do we mean? Protein is the staple component of all high-quality pet foods. It is one of the primary sources of energy for both dogs and cats (alongside fat) and is vital for growth, development, and […]
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Dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes can benefit from added joint care. Providing a joint care regime from an early age can help delay the onset of arthritis and other inflammatory joint diseases. Many pet foods now include joint care ingredients as standard and our handy guide will help you identify them and […]
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Cardiomyopathies, or heart conditions, are defined as being “any structural (microscopic or macroscopic) abnormality of the heart that may or may not result in heart failure1“. This can include conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy, commonly seen in dogs and is a result of the heart being enlarged, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, commonly seen in cats and […]
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is frequently diagnosed in cats, especially senior cats. A study conducted by the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2012 found that CKD affects “up to 49% of cats older than 15 years”.1 Despite the high number of cases, in the majority of these cases the primary cause of the disease cannot […]
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As pet owners, we all know that it is perfectly natural for our dogs and cats to have the occasional scratch from time to time. Reoccurring or persistent itching and scratching can, however, be a sign that all is not well with your pet. Some pet foods contain ingredients that your pet may not be […]
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Diabetes is not uncommon in dogs and cats, however, feline diabetes is more commonly observed than canine diabetes. Feline diabetes mellitus is believed to be present in around 1 in 230 cats in the UK, with obese and older cats being at higher risk of developing the disease1. It is closely linked to pancreatitis and […]
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In this article, we look at the regulation surrounding labelling a pet food “natural” “hypoallergenic” or “Sensitive” and what is required of a pet food manufacturer before it can make these claims. We also offer our thoughts on what to consider before you buy a pet food labelled “natural”, “hypoallergenic” or “sensitive”. There has been much media attention in the last decade on […]
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Taking steps to help maintain your pet’s joints can help improve mobility and improve your pet’s quality of life. Arthritis and osteoarthritis are a common occurrence, especially in dogs, and last year one in four dogs in America were diagnosed with a form of bone disease (1). Likewise in the UK, last year the PDSA […]
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Protein is an important part of your pet’s diet. It is, however, important to understand why your pet requires dietary protein before you can decide which is the best diet for your pet’s health and wellbeing. The crude protein level provided on the back of the pet food label doesn’t give you all the information that you […]
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