Skip to content What your pet eats affects every aspect of their health, from energy and coat condition to organ function, joint health, and longevity. At Elgin Park Animal Hospital in South Surrey, our nutrition counseling service provides evidence-based guidance tailored to your pet's specific life stage, breed, health status, and lifestyle. We help you navigate the overwhelming number of food options available and make choices grounded in your pet's actual needs, not marketing. Call (604) 531-3394 to discuss your pet's nutrition.
Obesity is one of the most common and most preventable health conditions in dogs and cats. Excess weight puts strain on joints, increases cardiovascular risk, and is associated with a shorter lifespan. Conversely, some pets struggle to maintain healthy weight due to metabolic conditions or recovery from illness. At Elgin Park Animal Hospital, we assess your pet's body condition score, review current food and feeding habits, and develop a realistic weight management plan. We provide specific feeding guidelines, recheck milestones, and ongoing support to help you reach and maintain your pet's ideal weight.
Puppies and kittens have nutritional needs that differ significantly from adult animals. Growing pets require higher levels of protein, specific minerals including calcium and phosphorus in the right ratios, and adequate calories to support rapid development without promoting excessive growth. We recommend foods labelled complete and balanced for growth or all life stages that follow AAFCO or WSAVA nutritional guidelines. We discuss appropriate food types (dry, wet, or a combination), portion sizes based on your pet's current weight and expected adult size, and feeding frequency suited to their age. Establishing good nutritional habits early sets the foundation for a healthier adult life.
Giant breed dogs including Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and similar breeds have unique nutritional requirements at every life stage. As puppies, they need large-breed specific formulas with controlled calcium and phosphorus levels to support healthy skeletal development and reduce the risk of developmental orthopedic conditions. As adults, caloric density needs to be balanced against their lower metabolic rate. As seniors, joint support, digestive efficiency, and organ health become priorities. We build feeding plans specific to your giant breed dog's current stage and individual health profile.
As dogs and cats age, their nutritional needs change in ways that standard adult diets do not always address. Senior pets often have reduced ability to process certain nutrients, changing protein requirements as muscle mass decreases, and increased need for joint support and antioxidants. Many senior pets also develop concurrent health conditions such as kidney disease, dental disease, or hyperthyroidism that require dietary adjustments. We review your senior pet's diet in the context of their full health picture and recommend adjustments that support both longevity and quality of life. Transitioning to a more appropriate senior diet often makes a visible difference in energy and mobility.
Adult dogs and cats in good health still benefit from periodic nutritional review. Food formulations change, your pet's activity level and metabolism evolve over time, and what worked well at two years may not be optimal at five or six. We assess body condition, review current food and supplementation, and discuss whether any adjustments would benefit your pet. We also address common questions about raw feeding, grain-free diets, homemade food, and supplement use with current evidence rather than marketing claims.
Some health conditions are best managed in part through specialized dietary choices. Kidney disease, urinary crystal conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, food allergies, and liver disease are among the conditions where carefully selected therapeutic diets can make a meaningful difference. We discuss therapeutic diet options and explain the nutritional rationale so you understand how the food supports your pet's condition. We refer to these as therapeutic or veterinary-formulated diets. The practical decision is always made with your pet's specific needs in mind.
Some pets benefit from a fully individualized nutrition plan that goes beyond choosing a commercial food. This may involve calculating exact caloric needs based on body weight and activity level, building a balanced homemade diet with appropriate supplementation, or integrating multiple dietary components for a pet with complex needs. We develop custom plans collaboratively, taking into account your budget, your pet's preferences, and any practical constraints around preparation or storage. A plan that is realistic for your life is far more effective than a theoretically perfect plan that is impractical to follow.
Choose a food labelled complete and balanced for growth or all life stages that meets AAFCO or WSAVA nutritional standards. If you have a large or giant breed puppy, use a large-breed specific formula to support healthy skeletal development. Feed three to four small meals daily until three months, reducing to three meals until six months, then transitioning to two meals as an adult. Your veterinarian can recommend specific options based on your puppy’s breed, size, and current weight at their first visit.
A healthy cat has a visible waist when viewed from above and you can feel ribs without pressing hard. An overweight cat has a rounded or pear-shaped profile, ribs that are difficult to feel, and a visible fat pad at the base of the tail. If you are unsure, bring your cat in for a body condition assessment. We will give you a specific feeding plan and a realistic timeline to reach a healthy weight without crash restriction.
Grain-free diets for dogs have been the subject of ongoing research related to a potential link between certain grain-free formulations and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a form of heart disease, in some breeds. The research is ongoing and not conclusive for all grain-free foods. We recommend discussing your dog’s current diet with your veterinarian before switching. There is no established benefit to grain-free diets for most healthy dogs, and the evidence for some risk warrants careful consideration.
Book a nutrition consultation for your dog or cat at Elgin Park Animal Hospital in South Surrey. Open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 9 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Call (604) 531-3394 or book online at elginparkvets.ca/make-an-appointment/.
