Cats and dogs must be placed under general anesthesia for dental cleanings. Despite the fad of anesthesia-free dental cleanings, these pose risks to the pet from inhaling the bacteria-laden tartar that is removed from the teeth, and do not allow for a thorough oral evaluation and cleaning. While under anesthesia, a tube is placed in the pet’s ...

For this reason, I would strongly recommend feeding a prescription veterinary diet formulated for cats with renal failure - besides Royal Canin's Renal LP and Renal MP diets, Hills k/d and Purina NF would also be appropriate.

However, just like any diet option you choose to give your pet long term, discuss the food with your veterinarian. In addition to providing the novel protein source, it is critical that the food also provide safe, balanced, high-quality nutrients, so consult with your veterinarian to ensure you have selected a good pet food option for your ...

Cats with cancer have special dietary needs; increasing Omega-3 fatty acids may be recommended. Older cats may not drink sufficient amounts of water, which can exacerbate constipation problems and contribute to dehydration in cats with kidney disease. Getting a cat to drink more water may not be easy. Offering more sources of water and adding ...

In addition to reducing calorie intake, it is important to increase the calories used. Exercise programs for cats are more difficult to design than those for dogs. Some cats will walk on a leash and this would be excellent exercise. Even just going outside under supervision can get the cat to move around a bit more.

However, if you are concerned about the cats eating each others' food, then feeding at designated times in separate rooms can help decrease the chances of sharing food between the two cats. If you are are concerned about the diet or eating habits of either of your cats, or with the food itself, then contacting your veterinarian is best.

Urinary diets may be prescribed if your cat has stones or crystals that can be dissolved with diet. This can prevent the formation of stones that block the urethra. Some urinary diets are beneficial in cats to increase frequency of urination. Overweight cats should be placed on a diet to maintain a healthy weight.

Diet is another important aspect of diabetic management in cats. Rather than free feeding, meals should be offered twice daily. It is generally preferable to feed a prescription diet, but certain over the counter diets can be acceptable for some cats, if …

The mainstay diet that is currently being recommended... You are correct in that sometimes giving bulk-forming fiber diets can worsen or lead to recurrence of colonic fecal distension (megacolon). ×

There are several diets available, generally requiring a prescription from a veterinarian, which can help manage or even treat disease. Some reasons your veterinarian might prescribe such a diet include urinary stones, kidney disease or inflammatory bowel disease. These diets can have a profound effect on the health of cats with these conditions.