Dr. Ryan Llera Kingston Ontario Veterinarian
Veterinary advice for pet owners in Kingston, Ontario and surrounding areas.

Preventative Health › Nutrition

Pet Nutrition Guide

Reading a pet food label, thinking about a raw diet, or puzzling over a wiggly waistline — these are the nutrition questions that come up most often in my exam room.

These articles gather what I discuss with clients in Kingston about feeding their dogs and cats: how to read what is on the bag, what raw feeding really involves, and how weight management works from both the veterinarian’s and the owner’s side of the table.

Soft-toned illustration of a woven basket filled with pale grain, vegetables and small pet food pieces, in muted cream, sage and warm amber tones

Nutrition articles

Topics within this category of the blog, written from a veterinary perspective.

How the pieces fit together

A short guide to the main themes covered in these articles.

  1. Reading pet food labels

    Packaging is where nutrition claims live, and it is also where marketing gets creative. In “Pet Food Labels – What Do They Mean?” I walk through what the printed information actually tells you, so you can compare diets on more than the front of the bag.

    The goal is not to pick a single perfect food. It is to understand what your dog or cat is eating, whether the diet suits their age, size and activity level, and whether portions are being adjusted as those things change.

  2. Raw diets

    “Something to Chew On – Raw Diets” looks at feeding raw, and at the considerations that come with it. Raw feeding is a common conversation in my practice, so the article works through the reasoning behind it and the questions a pet owner should be comfortable answering.

    Whichever feeding approach you are considering, it is worth discussing the details with your own veterinarian, who can factor in your pet’s specific health history.

  3. Weight management

    “Weight Management – A Pet Owner’s Perspective” was written from the owner’s side: the daily reality of feeding a pet that needs to lose weight, and the small, unglamorous changes that make it manageable.

    Body Condition Score (BCS) is the practical tool referenced in these articles — a visual way to assess whether a pet is at a healthy weight. Scoring your own pet at home, then discussing the result at your next visit, is a useful habit.

Keeping track

Quick reference notes for the topics in this category.

One habit that helps: check the body condition of your pet regularly, not just at the vet’s office. Small changes — a little more rounding in the ribs, less easy movement — are easier to correct than a significant gain.

Bring your bag. When you come in for a nutrition conversation, bringing the food bag or a photo of the label lets us go through the specifics of the diet your pet is actually eating.

Weight management — shared reference points
Topic What the articles cover
Body Condition Score (BCS) A hands-on way to assess whether a dog or cat is at an appropriate weight, and what to do with the result.
Owner’s perspective The lived experience of feeding a pet that needs to lose weight, including what helps and what does not.
Food labels How to read the nutritional information printed on pet food packaging.
Raw feeding The reasoning behind raw diets and the considerations for owners considering one.

For feeding guidance that goes beyond nutrition — routine care, dangerous household substances and long-term conditions — see Preventative Health and Toxicity, or browse the full blog.