Felines are also very susceptible to obesity and potentially diabetes when consuming too many carbohydrates. In selecting cat food, check the label to confirm that it meets the standards set by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). All of Evanger’s cat food dinners not only meet AAFCO minimum nutritional needs, but also exceed them.

To help you select your cat food, consider its needs and the negative impact if those elements are missing.

• High Protein – With a diet that’s low in protein, a cat’s body will soon start breaking down the protein in its own muscle.
• Taurine – While they possess limited enzymes that can produce taurine, felines require high amounts of this amino acid that’s necessary for proper bile formation, eye health and proper heart muscle function.
• Arginine – The only way cats produce the amino acid ornithine is by converting it from arginine. Arginine deficiencies can lead to salivation, vocalization, ataxia and even death when ammonia levels become too elevated. Ingredients that will provide cats with a source of arginine include beef, poultry, seafood, pork, wild game such as pheasant.
• Arachidonic Acid – While dogs can manufacture this essential fatty acid from linoleic acid or gamma-linolenic acid, cats can’t. Arachidonic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid, regulates skin growth, aids with blood clotting, and helps with reproductive and gastrointestinal system functions. Liver, chicken, duck, and salmon are beneficial ingredients to seek in cat food that provide a good source of arachidonic acid.
• Active Form of Vitamin A – Since cats lack the enzyme that can convert beta-carotene to retinol (active form of Vitamin A), they require a preformed Vitamin A present only in foods of animal origin. It’s typically listed as retinyl palmitate on food labels. Deficiency may contribute to night blindness, retarded growth, and poor quality skin and hair coat. Sweet potato, carrots, squash, tuna, or Vitamin A supplements can contribute Vitamin A to a cat’s nutritious diet.
• Niacin – Cats can’t manufacture sufficient quantities of this B vitamin from the amino acid tryptophan. Niacin deficiencies can lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, inflamed gums and hemorrhagic diarrhea. Look for fish, chicken, pork, beef, liver, or added Niacin supplements to deliver adequate Niacin in your cat’s food.

Typical Cat Feeding Mistakes

• Overfeeding – One of the most common mistakes pet owners make when feeding cats is overfeeding. Obesity can lead to feline diabetes, arthritis and urinary tract disease. While Evanger’s cat foods are appropriate for all life stages, the serving size should be adjusted to the feline’s age, health, and activity levels. Consult your veterinarian to determine the ideal weight of your cat.
• The Dry Food Only Diet – Because cats naturally produce highly concentrated urine, it is important to be aware that a dry food only diet can often lead to urinary tract problems due to low moisture levels in the food. A cat’s thirst drive is much lower than a dog’s, and hydration is an essential building block to optimal health in pets. Evanger’s recommends combining canned foods like Grain Free Game Meats with dry food to increase a cat’s water intake, thus maintaining proper hydtration for optimum health.
• Grain-Based Diets – The starches in grain-based diets alkalize urine pH, which can lead to development of struvite crystals and stones in cats. To reduce urine pH in cats, choose a diet low in carbohydrates, grain-free, and species appropriate. Evanger’s offers a variety of canned cat foods, specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of cats. Evanger’s Beef it Up Dinner for Cats combines real beef and liver with butternut squash. Butternut squash is an excellent vitamin rich source of carbohydrate. Evanger’s Signature Series Slow Cooked Turkey Stew is another ideal combination of high quality turkey and liver protein with just a touch of fruit-based carbohydrates (cranberries and blueberries) in a palate pleasing gravy, which adds even more moisture to help keep cats well hydrated. Evanger’s Grain Free Game Meats are also ideal supplements to Evanger’s dry cat foods to increase moisture and protein content in a cat’s diet.

GI disorders may also lead to dehydration, malnutrition, and imbalances to acid-base and electrolytes. So it’s critical to recognize symptoms and consult with your veterinarian for recommendations on intestinal illness recovery.

Dogs

While some dogs can eat whatever they find—even if it’s not “food”—not every dog is so lucky. If your dog has intermittent loose stools, occasional vomiting or excessive flatulence, he may have a sensitive stomach.

The first step to recovery from a stomach or intestinal illness is to simplify your dog’s food consumption. Eliminate table scraps, limit snacks to just one type of highly digestible treat and make sure he doesn’t have access to the garbage, etc.

Also evaluate the quality of your pet’s food. Dog foods made from high quality ingredients tend to be much more digestible than those featuring lower quality ingredients. Since fat is more difficult to digest than proteins and carbohydrates, look for a dog food containing a moderate level of approximately 15 percent fat.

Foods with a source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamins and minerals can also improve your dog’s digestive function.

Cats

With cats, the most common sign of a digestive disorder is diarrhea or a soft stool. Other symptoms include vomiting, flatulence, regurgitation and weakness.

For stomach illness recovery in cats, veterinarians also recommend a highly digestible cat food with high-soluble and insoluble fiber. Be sure to monitor your cat’s hydration during the recovery phase to help ensure it has adequate water in its system.

Modifying your dog’s or cat’s nutrition during a gastrointestinal illness may help him feel better.

Focus on feeding your pets lower calorie foods in small portions multiple times throughout the day. High calorie foods can actually contribute to digestive discomfort. Stick with canned foods, as they are more nutrient dense, more palatable and have a higher moisture content that help a vomiting pet stay hydrated.

For dogs, consider freezing small amounts of Evanger’s wet canned food into a Kong. This slows the consumption pace and helps limit digestive stress while still delivering nutrients.

If the stomach/intestinal illness requires medication, tasty canned food will also help hide the med taste. Again, feeding a variety of additive free foods containing moderate fat can improve your dog’s or your cat’s overall health.

If symptoms are severe or if switching to a highly digestible food fail to improve your pet’s stomach or intestinal disorder, talk to your veterinarian about what may be a more serious condition like a food allergy or inflammatory bowel disease.

Flea allergies are among the most common pet allergies in itchy dogs and cats. A protein in flea saliva can easily trigger an intense allergic response. It only takes one flea bite to trigger this allergic response.

Atopy, or inhalant allergies, are the second most common cause of itchy skin in pets. Just as humans can get itchy watery eyes during seasonal changes, pets can also have itchy eyes, itchy paws and itchy skin. These types of allergies can progressively worsen after each seasonal change until your pet is truly an itchy mess. Consider allergy testing to help identify environmental causes of allergy symptoms.

If allergies do persist throughout seasonal changes, it may be time to try an elimination diet, a change in protein sources, or a limited ingredient diet to help identify the cause of the allergy symptoms.

Since research indicates that 70% of a dog’s immune system lies in the digestive tract, we have to consider which food ingredients and supplements promote our canine’s proper digestive health. Considered among the essentials are probiotics, the “good bacteria” that helps improve the digestibility of food ingredients. Feeding your dog food with live probiotics should provide you the confidence that you’re re-inoculating his digestive tract.

Here at Evanger’s, we are always looking for ways to raise the bar in dog and cat nutrition. Because prebiotics and probiotics are an important part of pet nutrition, we now offer all of Evanger’s Super Premium Dry foods for dogs with premium Alltech™ supplements composed of live prebiotics and probiotics. LactoSacc™ supports the population of good digestive bacteria for a healthy digestive system; BioPlex™ helps maintain a visibly healthy skin and coat by providing superior mineral bio-availability and absorption; and SelPlex™ aids in immune support.

Did you know that dog food with probiotics can also help boost the immune system? A probiotic-supported immune system may help prevent some health concerns or reduce health issues such as allergies.

Evanger’s premium dog foods are 100% USA-made foods that make an excellent part of your dog’s nutrition from puppy through adulthood. Consider mixing a dry dog food with probiotics such as Evanger’s Pheasant & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, with any of Evanger’s Grain Free Game Meats for added high quality protein.

Fresh meat is the first ingredient in Evanger’s all natural, high quality foods that are free of corn, wheat and soy. The addition of probiotics is just one more reason to select Evanger’s high quality dry dog food. An Evanger’s diet provides dogs (as well as cats and ferrets!) with the nutrition it takes to support a longer, healthier life.