Here at Shawsheen Animal Hospital, we want to make sure we are meeting your pet's
nutritional needs.
As far as pet food is concerned, you have plenty of options to choose from. Our technicians will provide you with the helpful recommendations regarding which diet (prescription or non-prescription) will best fit your pet’s nutritional needs and health conditions if that is a concern.
LOOK FOR AAFCO GUIDELINES
Pet food should have a nutritional adequacy claim on its packaging that tells you the food is either “formulated to meet or exceed the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO nutritional profiles” or ” animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that the pet food provides complete and balanced nutrition” for the life stage of your animal. An extra layer of protection is found in pet food brands that have been through AAFCO feeding trials. Further, food that is labeled for intermittent or supplemental use should not be used long-term unless directed by a veterinarian.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOD FOR YOUR PET
Our pet’s nutritional needs vary depending on age, size, species and health conditions. Older pets need to eat different food than younger pets, less-active pets need different food than active pets, small-breed animals require nutritional content different from large-breed animals, and the list goes on. You don’t want to buy dog or cat food that isn’t formulated to meet your companion’s specific dietary needs. Our veterinarians will help you select the right food to fit your pet's needs.
READ THE LABELS CAREFULLY
Pet food labels provide valuable insight into the quality of the food. When selecting a nutritious pet food for your trusty companion, pay close attention to the nutritional adequacy statement, listing of ingredients, feeding directions and guaranteed analysis.
PET FOOD HOME DELIVERY
The doctors at Shawsheen Animal Hospital believe that proper nutrition is one of the cornerstones of good health for pets. That’s why we’ve partnered with Hill’s Science Diet and Pro Plan Vet Direct to make it easy and convenient to order your favorite, high-quality pet foods directly from our website and have them delivered right to your door! And the prices are consistent with what you’d pay when you purchase from our clinic.
- The Hill’s to Home Program offers convenient free home delivery, auto-ship discounts, a pet-parent ordering site, expedited shipping options and order tracking. Simply sign up, then place your order at their website.
- Pro Plan Vet Direct offers veterinary diets and supplements with convenient options, delivered directly to you. Use Clinic ID: JKHF2 to sign up.
If you have questions about your pet’s nutritional needs, our veterinarians and technicians can help you take the guesswork out of choosing a suitable diet for your pet. Just call us at (978) 851-5558 and we’ll be happy to advise!
