Best Pet Food to Buy? A Guide to Complete Life Stage Diets
February 21, 2025
Do you feel overwhelmed when trying to choose the best pet food for your dog or cat? With around 9.9 million tonnes of pet food products sold annually across Europe in 2023*, it’s no wonder!
Our registered veterinary nurses at Claygate Vets have crafted a simple guide to help pet owners in Surrey navigate the pet food aisles with more clarity.
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Understanding the pet food aisle
As veterinary nurses, we are often asked questions like “what is the best dog food?”, “what should I feed my cat?”, “what is a life-stage diet?”, and “should I buy complete food”?
From kitten kibble to senior support, the options can be overwhelming. Yet, there’s a straightforward explanation for this diversity: a pet’s nutritional requirements evolve throughout their lifespan. Let’s delve into why life stage matters in pet food, decipher what “complete pet food” actually means, and underscore the importance of consulting with a veterinary professional about your pet’s diet.
Life stage diets
- Growing Up: Puppies and kittens need nutrient-rich food to support their energy, growth, and rapid development. Life stage diets for puppies and kittens provide essential protein, calcium, and nutrients to keep them healthy and strong.
- Adulting: Once your pet reaches adulthood (around 1 year for cats and varying for dogs depending on breed), their growth rate slows down. Adult pet food provides the balanced nutrition they need to maintain a healthy weight, support their immune system, and keep them active and healthy.
- Golden Years: As pets grow into their golden years, their bodies change. Senior pet food often has lower calorie content to help prevent weight gain, while containing glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health.
Claygate Vets’ experienced veterinary nurses can advise you on all of this – book a tailored nutrition appointment now.
“Complete pet food” – what does it mean?
Our nurses in Claygate explain that the word “complete” means the food contains all the essential nutrients a pet needs for overall health and wellbeing, as set by organisations like the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). This means you don’t need to add any supplements, unless specifically recommended by your vet.
Choosing high-quality pet food
Think of pet food as the foundation of your pet’s health. High-quality complete pet food, formulated for their life stage, provides the essential building blocks for a long and healthy life. It can also support digestion, skin and coat health, joint health, and even cognitive function.
Did you know you can buy a range of top-quality, vet-recommended complete pet foods at Claygate Vets?
Size matters
You’ll also want to consider the size of kibble when selecting your pet’s food; small dogs may struggle to eat very large kibble, and large dogs won’t get the dental benefits if they’re wolfing down small kibble without chewing it.
Tailored advice from your vet practice
At Claygate Vets’, we understand just how unique your pet is. While complete pet food and life stage diets offer a balanced base, your pet may benefit further from our tailored advice.
During a tailored nutrition appointment with one of our vet nurses, they will consider your pet’s age, breed, activity level, and any specific health concerns before recommending the best pet food for them. They can also help with tricky transitions between life stages and advise on portion control to maintain a healthy weight.
Cats especially need a well-thought-out transition between different foods, as some changes in diet can negatively affect their health.
Remember, when it comes to pet food, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t exist. By understanding the importance of life stage nutrition, choosing good quality complete pet food, and consulting with one of our veterinary nurses, you’re giving your pet the nutritional foundation they need to thrive at every stage of life.
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*Stats from www.statista.com
