Nutritional Management of Dogs and Cats under different Diseased Conditions

Dietary management is extremely important for successful treatment of many diseases. These days, even the concept of therapeutic nutrition is introduced in the treatment of pets in developed countries. Nutritional products can be used with drug therapy. Such complementary approach usually brings faster and more effective results because the nutrients contribute to the healing process. Altering diet can actually be used to treat diseases; such as the diet designed specially to dissolve ‘struvite’ in cats, ultra low protein and sodium restricted diets used in renal disorders and, nutritionally balanced, high fibre and low calorie diets are used for treating obesity. While feeding dogs and cats, one must always remember, “from nutrition point of view, pets are not just small humans and, cats are not small dogs”. In this paper specific nutritional manipulations and managemental practices, which are recommended under different ailments in dogs and cats are discussed.