Nutrition

Every pet is unique, and their nutritional needs change over time. Our veterinary team can guide you through:

• Life-stage diets – ensuring puppies, kittens, and senior pets receive the right balance of nutrients for growth, maintenance, or healthy ageing.

• Breed-specific considerations – helping you choose diets appropriate for breeds with known sensitivities or metabolic tendencies.

• Weight management plans – customised feeding regimes and calorie calculations to help with weight loss or gain.

• Prescription diets – for medical conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, urinary problems, or allergies.

With so much information online, it can be hard to know what is truly best for your pet. Our team stays up to date with the latest research and can provide clear, practical recommendations tailored to your pet’s needs.

• Grain-Free Diets
  Many owners choose grain-free diets, but recent studies have shown a potential link between some grain-free foods (particularly those high in legumes) and heart disease in certain dog breeds. We can help you select a diet that is safe, balanced, and evidence-based.

• Raw Diets
  Raw feeding has become very popular, but there is currently no robust scientific evidence showing superior health benefits over cooked diets. However, there are well-documented risks, including:
  • Bacterial contamination – pets fed raw diets are more likely to carry Salmonella and antibiotic-resistant E. coli, which can pose a health risk to humans.

  • Tuberculosis (TB) – cases have been reported in cats fed a commercial raw venison product back in 2019,  representing a serious animal health and zoonotic concern.

  • Hyperthyroidism – feeding raw trachea, gullet, or neck tissue can expose pets to excessive natural thyroid hormones, potentially triggering hyperthyroidism.

  • Toxoplasma gondii infection – pets fed raw meat are at increased risk of contracting toxoplasmosis, which may lead to illness and potential zoonotic transmission risk to pregnant or immunocompromised humans.

Nutritional advice isn’t just for pets with existing conditions. At every routine health check or vaccination appointment, we can review your pet’s diet and body condition score. Early adjustments to portion sizes, food type, or supplementation can help prevent obesity, joint problems, and other chronic conditions.

We can also advise you on:

• Joint supplements for growing large-breed puppies or older pets with arthritis

• Omega-3 fatty acids for skin, coat, and anti-inflammatory support

• Dental diets designed to reduce tartar and support oral health

• Transition plans when changing diets to avoid gastrointestinal upset

At Whisker & Woof, we pride ourselves on giving practical, science-backed nutrition advice you can trust. Whether you need help choosing the right puppy food, managing a cat with kidney disease, or navigating the world of raw feeding, we are here to support you and help your pet thrive.