Whether a new kitten or puppy or an old friend, examining our pet’s diet with the help of a medical professional can be beneficial, ensuring that we are providing the best nutrition and life to our pets for their individual and unique situations. Our staff at Potlatch Veterinary Clinic would be happy to sit down and discuss your pet’s diet with you and help you feel empowered to make the best decision for your pet.

What food brands are best for my dog or cat?
We recommend Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Royal Canin and Purina. These foods have veterinarians and nutritionists on staff to help formulate their products. These companies have also undergone increased testing and studies to ensure safety, including AAFCO feeding trials.

Is a grain free diet good for my dog?
We do not recommend grain free diets due to a link to heart disease, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), that is still being studied. See https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs and https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fda-center-veterinary-medicines-investigation-possible-connection-between-diet-and for more information.

I want to make a homemade diet for my animal. What should I consider?
We recommend using the website www.BalanceIT.com to help formulate a proper diet for your animal. Homemade diets need to be balanced in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. www.BalanceIT.com can help you choose ingredients and recipes appropriately to ensure your dog’s diet is balanced for maintaining good health and not causing unwanted health issues. www.BalanceIT.com can also be a good resource when looking to change your recipes or when you have new ingredients to try out to ensure your new diet formulation is still balanced.