Protein – Puppies and kittens need a fair amount of protein for their growth. Adult dogs and cats also need a fair amount of protein. Protein rebuilds cells and tissues such as the heart, kidney, hair, brain and lungs. Proteins are also required for enzymatic pathways, building of blood and immune cells. Many life stage food manufactures decrease the amount of protein for adults. It is not logical to reduce protein in adults. Aging animals require protein for tissue and cell repair.

Calcium - Puppies and kittens do not have a different calcium and phosphorous ratio requirement than adults do. Healthy bones are based on the relationship between calcium and phosphorous. A well formulated food contains the same ratio of these minerals in adult food as in puppy and kitten food. Thus, puppies and kittens get their mineral and other nutritional requirements from a well formulated diet that meets or exceeds the nutritional requirements for all life stages according to the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Calories – Growing animals need more calories per pound of body weight than adults. In those brands that are marketed by life stages, the puppy and kitten food generally contains more calories than the adult food. The feeding directions for any food will suggest higher quantities of food for growing animals, and a smaller amount for adults. Summary – If a food is formulated correctly there is no need to follow the life stage marketing directive. When looking at our bags or our web pages you will see that our food is 100% nutritional per AAFCO for all adults and growing animals. Many breeders of various types of dogs and cats believe that Life’s Abundance is responsible for helping them produce healthy and large litters. I am the formulator of Life’s Abundance foods and with more than 25 years experience as a veterinarian, I know what dogs and cat need nutritionally.

FLUTD describes a collection of conditions that can affect a cat’s bladder and or urethra. Some of the causes include irritation of the bladder, stones, excessive numbers of minerals in the urinary tract, and uroliths which are rock hard collections of minerals. Causes of this syndrome are multiple but the primary causes are insufficient water intake and a food that produces a urine that it too acid or basic. Both our dry cat food and canned produce a slightly acid pH of 6.6-6.8 which is the correct pH for a cat. Other causes include stress, allergy, and bacteria. I recommend that all cats be fed a canned food to increase the water in their diet. Instinctive Choice contains an herb that holistic veterinarians use. Along with canned food they should be fed dry food because it contains more nutrients than canned food does. You can mix canned with dry food or feed canned food for one meal and dry the other; or leave a measured amount of dry food down. If your cat has been diagnosed with FLUTD, chances are your veterinarian will give you a special diet to feed. Once your cat’s condition has improved ask your veterinarian when you can begin to use Life’s Abundance Dry and Instinctive Choice Canned Cat Food for your cat.

Susan’s Note: In researching special veterinary diets for cats with crystals or other health concerns, I was horrifed to learn that these special foods recommended and sold by our vets is full of grains and fillers. So many people feed the special veterinary diet to all their cats, even though only one has an issue, which just means none of the cats in the house are getting proper nutrition. I even know a friend who had a healthy young adult die because the veterinary food her companion cat was eating for his condition contained no Taurine! I suggest everyone do more thorough research on the nutritional value of our pets’ food; most vets don’t specialize in nutrition and you can’t just take their word as gospel. I know I’ve been reading a lot and finally I’ve found the best diet for my pets.