Feeding your pet well is one of the best ways to support its health, happiness, and longevity. But with so many brands, formats, dietary claims, and conflicting advice out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. At Mutley’s Pet Supplies, we want to empower you to make informed choices that suit your pet’s needs and your budget. Here’s our pet food advice guide to help you navigate.
1. Understand the Basics: Nutrients, Life Stage & Breed
Before diving into brands and ingredients, keep these fundamentals in mind:
- Essential nutrients: Pets need a balance of protein, fat, carbohydrates (in varying amounts), vitamins, and minerals. Certain nutrients like taurine for cats, calcium and phosphorus balance for growing animals, and omega-3 fatty acids are critical.
- Life stage matters: Puppies, kittens, adults, and senior animals all have different nutritional needs. For instance, growing animals often need more protein, fat, and calcium than adult pets.
- Size & breed considerations: Large breed dogs may require joint support (glucosamine, chondroitin), smaller kibble sizes, or controlled calcium intake during growth. Small animals (e.g. rabbits, guinea pigs) require fiber and appropriate specific ingredients.
- Health & special conditions: Pets with allergies, kidney disease, weight issues, or digestive sensitivities may benefit from specialized diets (hypoallergenic, renal, weight-control formulas). Always consult your vet before switching to a therapeutic diet.
2. Kibble vs Wet vs Raw vs Mixed Feeding
Each feeding style has pros and cons — what works best often depends on your pet, your preferences, and your lifestyle.
| Format | Pros | Cons / Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Dry kibble | Convenient, shelf-stable, promotes dental crunching (to an extent), cost-effective | Some pets find it less palatable or too hard, lower moisture content |
| Wet / Canned | Higher moisture (good for hydration), often more appealing to picky eaters | More expensive per day, can spoil quicker once opened |
| Raw / Fresh / “Biologically Appropriate” | Closer to ancestral diets, often marketed as “minimally processed” | Needs careful handling (food safety), risk of imbalance if not well formulated, may be more expensive |
| Mixed feeding | Combines benefits (moisture + crunch) | Need to balance calorie load so pet doesn’t overeat |
If you choose raw or fresh diets, ensure they are formulated by reputable companies with third-party testing to guard against nutritional imbalances or contamination.
3. Reading & Interpreting Ingredient Lists
Ingredients are listed by weight (before cooking). A few pointer tips:
- The first few ingredients are more significant (e.g. if “meat meal” is the first, that’s the biggest single component).
- Named protein sources (chicken, lamb, salmon) are preferable to vague terms like “animal protein.”
- Look for wholefood ingredients (vegetables, fruits) rather than excessive fillers (though small amounts of safe grains or carbohydrates are acceptable).
- Check for essential nutrients (e.g. taurine for cats, omega-3 / 6, probiotics).
- Beware of marketing buzzwords: “natural,” “superfood,” “grain-free” are not guarantees of complete or balanced nutrition (some grain-free diets have been under scrutiny for health concerns). Always check the nutritional adequacy statement (e.g. “Complete & Balanced for All Life Stages” or “Formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles”).
4. How to Transition Foods Safely
Switching foods too abruptly can upset your pet’s stomach or lead to diarrhea. Instead, follow a gradual transition over 5–7 days (or longer for sensitive animals):
- Day 1–2: 75% old food + 25% new
- Day 3–4: 50% old + 50% new
- Day 5–6: 25% old + 75% new
- Day 7: 100% new food
Monitor stool quality, appetite, energy levels, and any signs of digestive upset. If issues persist beyond a week, revert to the old food and consult your vet.
5. How Much & How Often to Feed
Feeding guidelines on packaging are a starting point, not a rule. The right amount depends on:
- Your pet’s age, weight, metabolism, and activity level
- Whether your pet is neutered/spayed
- The calorie density of the food
As a rule: monitor your pet’s body condition. You should be able to feel (but not see) their ribs, and see a waistline when viewed from above. Adjust portions downward if your pet is gaining unwanted weight, or upward (carefully) if underweight.
Feeding frequency:
- Puppies / kittens: multiple small meals (3–4 times per day)
- Adult pets: 1–2 meals per day (some prefer free feeding of dry food, but this has risks if your pet overeats)
- Seniors: smaller, more frequent meals may aid digestion
6. Common Myths & Mistakes
- “Grain-free is healthier for all pets” — Not always true; some pets do fine on grain-inclusive diets, and grain-free diets have been linked (in dogs) to some heart concerns (DCM) in certain circumstances.
- “All natural” = healthy — “Natural” isn’t regulated, and so doesn’t guarantee completeness or lack of harmful ingredients.
- Feeding table scraps — While small amounts occasionally might be okay, regular human food can upset nutritional balance, cause obesity, or introduce toxic foods (e.g. onions, chocolate, xylitol).
- Underestimating treats — Treats can add many calories; ensure they don’t exceed ~10% of daily caloric intake.
- Never updating diet — A diet suitable at one life stage may not suit a pet throughout its life. Reevaluate diet at life transitions (e.g. adulthood, senior years, after neutering).
7. Tips for Different Types of Pets
- Dogs: Focus on high-quality protein, joint support (especially for large breeds), and controlling calorie intake as needed.
- Cats: Ensure sufficient animal protein and moisture (many cats don’t drink enough), plus taurine, vitamin A, and arachidonic acid which cats require inherently.
- Small mammals / Rabbits / Guinea Pigs / Rodents: High in fiber, low sugar, limited fat. For example, rabbits need a diet rich in hay and safe greens, with minimal pellets.
- Reptiles / Birds / Fish: These often require very specific diets — check species-specific guides and ensure you use properly formulated diets (not generic “animal feed”).
8. How Mutley’s Pet Supplies Can Help You
At Mutley’s, we carry a wide selection of trusted pet food brands for dogs, cats, birds, and small animals, including:
- Complete and balanced daily diets
- Specialist formulas (weight control, sensitive digestion, hypoallergenic, senior)
- Healthy treats and supplements
We’re happy to help you compare diets, check ingredient lists, or guide you through transitions. Feel free to drop into our physical store (Tower Mdw, Swaffham, PE37 7LT) or contact us at info@mutleyspetsupplies.co.uk for one-to-one advice.
9. Final Thoughts & Action Steps
- Assess your pet: life stage, activity level, health conditions.
- Choose a reputable, complete & balanced diet rather than chasing trends.
- Transition slowly and monitor your pet’s response.
- Reevaluate periodically (especially at life stage changes).
- Ask for help when unsure — that’s what we’re here for at Mutley’s!
