Diamond Claw Clinical TeamWhat Should I Feed My Dog or Cat? A Veterinarian-Approved Nutrition Guide for Pet Owners in Sharjah
Walk into any pet shop in Sharjah or browse any online pet store and you will immediately face a wall of options — dry kibble, wet food, raw diets, grain-free, breed-specific, life-stage formulas. The shelves are full. The marketing is loud. And for most pet owners, it is genuinely confusing.
Here is what we tell pet owners at Diamond Claw Veterinary Clinic every day: what you feed your pet is one of the most powerful decisions you make for their health. Good nutrition supports a strong immune system, healthy weight, a glossy coat, proper digestion, strong bones, and a longer life. Poor nutrition does the opposite — quietly, gradually, and often before any visible signs appear.
This guide gives you clear, honest, veterinarian-backed guidance on feeding your dog or cat at every stage of life — no brand promotion, no sales pitch. Just the science and the practical advice you need.
Dogs and Cats Are Not the Same — And Their Food Shouldn't Be Either
Before anything else, this is the most important thing to understand: dogs and cats have fundamentally different nutritional needs, and feeding a cat dog food — or assuming what works for one species works for the other — can lead to serious health problems.
Dogs: Flexible Omnivores
Dogs are omnivores, meaning their digestive systems can handle both animal protein and plant-based foods. A well-balanced dog diet includes quality animal protein, healthy fats, digestible carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and — most critically — fresh, clean water at all times.
Cats: Obligate Carnivores
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they must eat animal tissue to survive. This is not a preference — it is a biological requirement. Cats cannot produce several nutrients from plant sources the way dogs and humans can. They must obtain taurine (essential for heart and eye health), arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A directly from animal-based food. A cat fed a diet that doesn’t meet these requirements will develop deficiencies over time, sometimes with devastating consequences including heart failure and vision loss.
Never use dog food as a primary diet for a cat, even temporarily.
Understanding What “Complete and Balanced” Actually Means
When you see the phrase “complete and balanced” on a pet food label, it has a specific meaning. It means the food has been formulated to meet the nutritional standards established by bodies such as AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials) or FEDIAF (the European Pet Food Industry Federation), which both publish evidence-based nutritional guidelines for dogs and cats based on peer-reviewed research.
A food carrying this statement provides all the nutrients your pet needs at that life stage, at the right levels. When you choose a complete and balanced food appropriate for your pet’s species and age, you do not need to add supplements — and doing so without veterinary guidance can actually cause imbalances.
When shopping for pet food, look for this statement on the label. If it is absent, the food may be intended as a complement or treat, not a sole diet.
Life Stage Nutrition: Feeding Your Pet at Every Age
One of the most common mistakes pet owners make is feeding the same food throughout their pet’s life regardless of age. Nutritional needs change significantly from puppyhood through the senior years.
Puppies and Kittens (Under 12 Months)
Young animals are growing rapidly. Pound for pound, they need more calories, more protein, more calcium, and more phosphorus than adults. Puppy and kitten foods are formulated to support bone development, muscle growth, immune system development, and brain function during this critical window.
Always choose a food specifically labeled for puppies or kittens. Adult food does not provide the right nutrient ratios for growing animals and can lead to developmental problems.
One important note for large-breed dog owners in Sharjah: If your puppy is expected to grow to over 25 kg as an adult — common breeds include German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and similar — choose a formula specifically designed for large-breed puppies. These are carefully balanced to support slower, more controlled bone growth, reducing the risk of orthopaedic problems later in life.
Adult Dogs and Cats (Approximately 1–7 Years)
In adulthood, the nutritional goal shifts from growth to maintenance. Your adult pet needs a diet that sustains healthy body weight, supports organ function, maintains muscle mass, and provides consistent energy.
Portion control becomes important at this stage. Many pets in the UAE are moderately to significantly overweight, which we see regularly at Diamond Claw. Overfeeding — even high-quality food — is still overfeeding. Follow your veterinarian’s guidance on appropriate serving sizes based on your pet’s ideal weight, not their current weight.
Feeding frequency for adult pets should be two meals per day at consistent times. This supports digestive health and helps you monitor appetite changes that may signal illness.
Senior Pets (7+ Years for Dogs, 7+ Years for Cats)
As pets age, their bodies change in ways that directly affect nutritional needs. Metabolism slows. Muscle mass tends to decrease. Joint health becomes a concern. Some organ systems — particularly the kidneys — may begin to show the effects of years of normal wear.
Research published in peer-reviewed veterinary nutrition literature highlights that senior pets may need up to 50% more high-quality protein than younger adults to counteract age-related muscle loss, unless kidney disease is present and your vet has recommended protein restriction. This means senior pets often need more protein, not less — but the quality and digestibility of that protein matters greatly.
Senior pets also benefit from diets that include omega-3 fatty acids (which support joint health and have anti-inflammatory properties), and in some cases, targeted supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin may be recommended by your vet.
If your senior pet has been diagnosed with kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, or diabetes, your vet may prescribe a therapeutic diet. These prescription foods are clinically formulated to manage the specific nutrient demands of those conditions, and they work best when used as directed.
Unsure If Your Pet Is Eating Right? Let’s Talk.
The team at Diamond Claw Veterinary Clinic in Sharjah offers nutritional consultations as part of our wellness exams. Whether you have questions about the best diet for your puppy, your senior cat, or a pet with a specific health condition — we are here to help you make confident, informed choices.
📞 Call us | 💻 Book a nutrition consultation online | 📍 Visit Diamond Claw Veterinary Clinic, Sharjah
Because every bowl you fill is a choice for your pet’s future health.
Common Types of Pet Food: What Your Vet Wants You to Know
Dry Kibble
Dry food is the most widely used type of pet food. It is convenient, has a long shelf life, and is generally more affordable than other options. Some formulations offer a mild mechanical benefit for dental health, though this should not replace professional dental care.
The main limitation of dry food is its low moisture content — typically around 10%. This is particularly relevant for cats, who have a naturally low thirst drive and depend on food to meet a significant portion of their water intake. Cats fed exclusively dry food are at higher risk for urinary tract problems and chronic kidney disease over time.
Choose a dry food where a specific, named protein source (such as chicken, lamb, or salmon) is listed as the first ingredient. Avoid products where vague terms like “meat meal” or “animal derivatives” dominate the ingredient list without specifics.
Wet or Canned Food
Wet food has a moisture content of around 70–80%, making it the best choice for increasing hydration — especially valuable for cats. It tends to be more palatable, which makes it helpful for picky eaters and senior pets with reduced appetite.
A combined approach — using both wet and dry food — is one strategy many veterinarians recommend for cats in particular, as it balances hydration benefits with convenience and dental considerations.
Raw Diets
Raw feeding has grown in popularity, but it carries real risks that pet owners should understand before committing. The primary concerns are bacterial contamination — Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli can be present in raw meat and can spread to other pets, surfaces, and people in the household — and nutritional imbalance if the diet is home-prepared without professional guidance.
If you choose a raw diet, our recommendation at Diamond Claw is to discuss it with your vet first, choose a commercially prepared raw food that meets complete and balanced nutritional standards, and practise rigorous food hygiene. Raw diets are generally not recommended in households with young children, elderly individuals, or anyone with a compromised immune system.
Home-Cooked Diets
Home-cooked meals for pets can work, but they require significantly more effort to get right than most owners realise. Nutritional deficiencies in home-cooked diets are common and typically develop slowly, only becoming apparent through blood tests once damage has occurred. If you want to feed your pet home-cooked meals, work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to get a properly balanced recipe specific to your pet’s size, age, and health status.
How Much Should You Feed Your Pet?
Feeding guides on packaging are starting points only — they are based on averages, not on your individual pet. The right amount depends on your pet’s current weight, ideal target weight, age, activity level, and whether they are sterilised (spayed or neutered pets typically need 20–30% fewer calories than intact animals of the same size).
The most practical way to assess whether your pet is being fed appropriately is the body condition score (BCS) — a physical assessment your vet performs at every wellness visit. A healthy body condition means:
- You can feel your pet’s ribs easily without pressing hard, but cannot see them prominently
- Your pet has a visible waist when viewed from above
- The abdomen tucks upward when viewed from the side
If you cannot feel your pet’s ribs at all, or their body shape is uniformly round with no defined waist, they are likely overweight. This is something the team at Diamond Claw can assess and guide you on at your next visit.
Foods That Are Dangerous for Pets in Sharjah
Certain common foods found in many UAE households are genuinely toxic to dogs and cats. These include:
- Onions, garlic, and all members of the allium family — including the powdered forms commonly used in cooking — damage red blood cells and cause a form of anaemia that can be life-threatening. Cats are more sensitive than dogs, but both are at risk.
- Grapes and raisins — including dried forms in trail mix, fruit cake, and certain baked goods — can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Tartaric acid is suspected to be the toxic component, and there is no established safe dose. Even a small amount has caused kidney failure in some dogs
- Xylitol — an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free gum, some peanut butter brands, certain baked goods, and even some vitamins and medications — triggers a rapid and dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs and can cause liver failure
- Chocolate — contains theobromine, which dogs and cats metabolise far more slowly than humans. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are most dangerous, but all types carry risk depending on the amount consumed relative to body weight.
If your pet has eaten any of these, contact Diamond Claw Veterinary Clinic immediately — do not wait for symptoms.
Practical Tips for Feeding Pets in Sharjah’s Climate
Sharjah’s heat affects pets too. Here are a few environment-specific feeding considerations:
- Always ensure your pet has access to fresh, cool water throughout the day, especially during the hot summer months. Dehydration accelerates quickly in high temperatures.
- Avoid leaving wet food out for extended periods in warm weather, as it spoils rapidly.
- Cats especially benefit from a water fountain, as moving water encourages them to drink more — reducing the risk of urinary and kidney problems that are worsened by heat and dehydration.
- Do not exercise your dog immediately before or after meals, particularly large-breed dogs, to reduce the risk of bloat (a serious and rapidly life-threatening condition).
Conclusion
Feeding your pet well doesn’t require expensive food or complicated routines. It requires choosing the right type of food for your pet’s species and life stage, feeding the right amount, avoiding toxic foods, and checking in with your vet regularly to adjust as your pet’s needs change.
Nutrition is not a one-time decision — it is an ongoing conversation between you and your veterinary team. And it is one of the most meaningful investments you can make in your pet’s long-term health and happiness.