NUTRITION BY SPECIES
Choose the animal you care for. Each guide explains the daily foundation, portions, labels, common mistakes, monitoring and appetite-related emergencies.
DOG & CAT FOOD
A company name can be a useful starting point, but it does not make every recipe suitable. Large manufacturers may sell grain-inclusive, grain-free, maintenance, growth and therapeutic foods under the same brand.
These are starting points—not blanket endorsements. Compare the exact product, life stage, nutritional-adequacy statement, formulation expertise, quality controls and your animal's medical needs.
For most dogs and cats, begin with a grain-inclusive food labeled complete and balanced for the correct life stage. Grains are not a required nutrient by themselves, but there is usually no medical reason to exclude them. Use a grain-free or other restricted diet only when the veterinarian caring for the animal recommends it for a specific reason.
Freezing, freeze-drying and dehydration do not reliably sterilize raw animal ingredients. Raw diets can expose pets and people to Salmonella, Listeria and other pathogens; pets can shed organisms without looking ill. Homemade and some commercial raw diets may also be nutritionally incomplete, while raw bones can injure teeth or the digestive tract.
Sources: WSAVA nutrition tools, AAFCO label guidance, FDA diet-associated DCM update, and CDC pet-food safety guidance.
For animals with disease, pregnancy, growth, weight change, dental problems or appetite loss, use these pages to prepare questions—not to design treatment without veterinary guidance.
Complete diets, portions, treats, life stages and warning signs
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEObligate-carnivore needs, hydration, weight and appetite emergencies
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEHay, greens, pellets, teeth and gastrointestinal health
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEHay, pellets, vegetables and dependable vitamin C
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDECarnivore nutrition, portions and illness warning signs
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEComplete foods, food caches, dwarf-hamster concerns and weight
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEBalanced staples, foraging, social access and dental monitoring
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEMeasured feeding, insects, obesity and appetite emergencies
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDERecognized diet plans, calcium balance and colony monitoring
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDESpecies diets, conversion safety, gram weights and toxins
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEChickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and quail by species and life stage
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDENatural history, prey, plants, supplements and environment
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEForage, minerals, body condition and metabolic risk
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEForage analysis, minerals, fleece-hidden weight and group feeding
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDESheep, goats, cattle and pigs by species and production stage
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEForage, stored food, supplemental feeding and colony warning signs
Open guide →SPECIES GUIDEFeeding strategy, portions, water quality and system health
Open guide →Start with the exact species and life stage before selecting a diet guide. An animal's usual digestive system, food handling, and environmental needs determine how feeding recommendations should be applied. A diet that supports one species can be unsuitable for another, even when their enclosures look similar. Use the species article to organize the complete diet and bring product labels and actual intake to the veterinary discussion when illness or a major change is involved.
Nutrition is assessed across everything consumed, not one ingredient or supplement. A suitable staple must meet the species and life-stage requirements, while treats and additions can displace part of that intake. A mixture that looks varied is not necessarily balanced, particularly when the animal selects only favorite items. Keep product names, preparation details, and approximate amounts available. When a homemade or specialized diet is used, professional formulation and follow-up help check whether the plan actually delivers the intended nutrients.
A useful portion record includes the amount offered, leftovers, treats, and contributions from other caregivers. Volume measures can vary with food shape and density, so use a consistent method appropriate for the diet. The recommended starting amount may need adjustment as body condition, activity, or medical needs change. Reassess the response instead of reducing or increasing food repeatedly in small unrecorded steps. If intake declines unexpectedly, investigate illness and feeding access rather than treating every change as a need for a different flavor.
