• When changing dry foods, mix 1/4 of the new food with 3/4 of the old food, and increase the new food a little each day. Some finicky dogs may need a more gradual change over two or more weeks. Never let a cat skip more than one or two meals; return to the old food if necessary.

• With any new food or supplement watch for subtle changes in your dog's skin and coat, appetite, energy level, mood, itchiness, discharges or odours, body weight and the size and consistency of stool. If negative changes occur, try a different food. If the change persists, consult your veterinarian.

• If your dog companion is on a prescription diet, check with your veterinarian periodically (at least every 6 months) to make sure the diet is still correct. Many conditions resolve over time and a diet that was needed for a younger dog may be inappropriate when older.

• It is usually preferable to feed one or two meals per day rather than leaving food out all the time. However, some medical conditions require more frequent feeding. Check with your veterinarian about recommendations for your dogs.

• Feed some canned food, which generally contains more dog protein and less grain than dry foods? Plain dry food does not clean the teeth and is not an essential for either cats or dogs. Cats in particular need at least 50% of their diet in the form of wet food to reduce the workload on the kidneys to keep the urine dilute. Cats with a history of bladder or kidney disease should not be fed any dry food.

• Supplement all commercial dog foods with other foods, such as organic meats and steamed, pureed or finely grated vegetables (most cannot be very well digested by carnivores raw). Dogs may be supplemented with tofu and cooked grains; however, cats should receive minimal carbohydrates in the diet. (Plant products tend to raise urine pH and may predispose cats to urinary tract disease.) If you are supplementing more than 15-20% of the diet, however, you will need to consult one of the many available books or websites for information on balancing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

• Other helpful supplements that are especially important when feeding commercial food include probiotics such as acidophilus, digestive enzymes, and the antioxidant vitamins E (alpha tocopherol) and C (either Ester C, calcium ascorbate, or sodium ascorbate).

• Consider making at least some of your dog's food at home. This lets you control the quality of the ingredients. There are many excellent books, articles, and websites available about detailed guidelines on ingredients, proportions, and preparations. Even one or two homemade meals a week will be a significant improvement over feeding solely commercial dog foods.

Your veterinarian only sees your companion once a year. Since you are with your pet every day, it is essential that you monitor their general health and how they respond to the food, they are eating. Changes in appetite, coat quality, weight, stool, urine, or water consumption may signal a problem with the food, or a more serious medical problem. Report these or any other unusual changes or behaviours to your veterinarian.

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