HPM FAQ

• Can I feed my kitten with a home-made diet?

  The food that kittens receive throughout their first year must obviously provide energy and materials to build the skeleton, the muscles and all the new tissues. But nutrition doesn't stop there: it must also help kittens to develop a fully functioning nervous system and effective immune system. Any deficiency in essential nutrients (those who cannot be synthesized by the animal's body) during this very delicate period may affect the cat's future health.

  Many recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists are available for owners who wish to prepare a nutritionally balanced home-made diet for their kitten. However, it is illusory to succeed in respecting all the required conditions because the nutritional balance of a household ration is subject to various hazards. The owner will always find it difficult to follow the recipe exactly, the necessary ingredients are not always available, and the nutritional composition of the ingredients can vary considerably depending on the origin of the product. When preparing a home-made diet, no laboratory analysis can verify the nutritional composition of the raw materials used! 

  Therefore, even when accompanied by the distribution of a mineral and vitamin supplement, home-made diets for cats often show deficiencies in several nutrients such as choline, iron and thiamine. In addition, cats cannot synthesize vitamin D as humans do (via exposure to UV rays) and this vitamin must be provided daily in the diet.

• Can I feed my kitten with a vegetarian diet?

  The cat is a strict carnivore, which means that certain nutrients it needs cannot be provided by a plant-based diet. Such diets can cause major nutritional deficiencies with serious consequences on health. For this reason, a kitten should never be fed a vegetarian diet.

• Can I feed my kitten with raw meat diets?

  Raw meat diets (red meat or chicken) are very popular among certain cat breeders but raw meat diets are deficient in calcium and phosphorus. The Calcium/Phosphorus ratio is totally inappropriate for the feline species, especially in terms of bone growth. Such a diet can cause major nutritional deficiencies with serious consequences on health. For example, when fed exclusively a raw meat diet, the kitten is exposed to the risk of pathologic fractures following minor trauma. 

• Can a high-protein diet be harmful for my pet's kidneys?

  Dogs and cats are carnivores, which makes them physiologically adapted to high protein intake.

  No study has ever shown a high-quality, high-protein diet to cause early kidney fatigue in healthy dogs or cats. On the contrary, studies show that a high protein concentration in a balanced diet has no negative impact on kidney function, and some have shown that reducing protein does not slow the progression of kidney disease.

  Not only is protein not dangerous, it is indispensable and necessary to keep dogs and cats in good health, even in older pets.

• Do you use ingredients from GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in your pet food?

  As far as GMOs are concerned, our policy demands strict specifications of our providers, according to which raw materials shall not be derived from GMOs.

• How can I prevent my pet from developing resistance to antibiotics?

  Antibiotic resistance: Your pets are also concerned! When a vet prescribes antibiotics for your dog, they provide instructions on how to use them, including dosage and duration of treatment. Failure to follow these instructions can result in the development of antibiotic resistance. For further information, please follow the link and consult with your vet.

• How can I prevent my pet from developing resistance to antibiotics? Antibiotic resistance: Your pets are also concerned!

  When a vet prescribes antibiotics for your dog, they provide instructions on how to use them, including dosage and duration of treatment. Failure to follow these instructions can result in the development of antibiotic resistance. For further information, please follow the link and consult with your vet. 

• How can I see if my kitten grows well?

  In order to protect the kitten’s health and to prevent early obesity development, a close attention must be paid to the growth curve. Obesity is highly prevalent in cats and recent studies show that the trajectory to obesity is determined early in life, even before neutering.

  Your veterinarian will be able to help you access kittens' standard growth curves.

• How can I tell if my cat has urinary problems?

  Urinary issues are a serious matter that create major discomfort for cats and can become a vital emergency. You might notice some of the following symptoms when your cat has a urinary problem:

  • Frequent urination or trips to the litter box, but only passing a small amount of urine
  • Urinating outside the litter box
  • Blood in the urine
  • Straining to urinate 
  • Crying out in pain while urinating
  • Increased licking of urinary opening

  Once diagnosed, in 1 out of 2 cases, the trouble will reappear within the year. Cystitis and stones are the most common urinary issues.

• How do I change my pet's diet to VETERINARY HPM^®?

  Any change in your pet's diet should not be taken lightly. It is essential to gradually introduce the new diet to the old diet, over a period of at least 7 days, which can be extended to 3 weeks for large breed dogs in particular.

  It is therefore important not only to offer them food adapted to their needs but also to give them time to adapt gradually. Temporary digestive problems that may be observed during this transition phase are completely normal, as the animal's digestive system gets used to the new diet.

• How do I change the diet of my kitten from my current diet to the new VETERINARY HPM^® growth program?

  At weaning, your kitten must progressively get used to solid food instead of mother’s milk. You can add some warm water to the kibbles at the beginning.

  If you change from another dry food to VETERINARY HPM^®, to help your kitten's digestive system adapt successfully to the new food, we recommend that you introduce VETERINARY HPM^® gradually over a period of 5 to 7 days

• How many meals should I give to my kitten every day?

  Cats being nibblers, it’s recommended to give your kitten his daily ration in several small meals spread over the day. Breaking up his food distribution also seems to promote physical activity in your cat and help him maintain his ideal weight. Measure his daily ration and fraction it to distribute it all along the day.

   

• How much should I feed my pet?

  VETERINARY HPM^® is very palatable, but we do advise that you respect the daily rations recommended by your vet or vet nurse. Our general feeding guidelines can be found on every bag, but your vet or vet nurse can provide you with a recommendation tailored specifically to your pet. 

• How should I feed my cat to avoid urinary problems?

  A good nutrition can make all the difference for your cat’s urinary health.

  If urinary issues are diagnosed in your cat, your vet can recommend a specific diet in order to dissolve the crystals or stones. The diet can even prevent the formation of new stones/crystals and manage inflammation of the bladder. This diet should include a high amount of animal protein, which will stabilise urine pH and promote water intake. It should also be formulated to avoid weight gain. 

  Our VETERINARY HPM^® Urology cat products are specifically designed to manage urinary issues in cats with its four diets.

• How to organize your kitten’s meals?

  His feeding area should be quiet and clean, away from the litter area.

  - Provide two bowls, one for water and one for food.
  - Choose unbreakable, odourless containers. 
  - Keep water available at all times, clean and fresh. If you have several cats, provide several water points. Keep the water bowl away from the food bowl and the litter box.

• Is it possible to combine VETERINARY HPM^® Chunks in Gravy and Kibbles?

  Our new wet diets are complete diets. You can use them to feed your cat 100%, and their nutritional needs will be perfectly covered. This can be recommended for cats with urinary disease: if you are unsure, ask your vet.

  You can also combine our wet diets with our VETERINARY HPM^® kibbles. This way you will provide your cat with a high quality VETERINARY HPM^® mixed nutrition programme.

• Kuidas ravitakse kasside neeruhaigust?

  Toitumine on neeruhaiguse ravis võtmetähtsusega. Varajane toitumise muutmine võib väga positiivselt mõjutada kassi neerufunktsiooni.
  
  Vajaduse korral võib veterinaararst määrata ka igapäevast ravimit, mis aitab kassil kõrvaldada kassi veres kogunevaid toksiine.

• Millised on kasside artriidi sümptomid ?

  Kasside artriidi peamised sümptomid on järgmised:
  - Keeldumine või kõhklemine üles- või alla hüppamisel, ei püüa enam kõrgele kohale jõuda
  - vähem liikuv treppidel, muutuvad jäigaks
  - Hoolduskäitumine väheneb, karvkate matt või karvane mõnes kehapiirkonnas
  - vähem innukas suhtlemine.
  Need märgid võivad näidata, et teie kass kannatab kroonilise neeruhaiguse all. Vajadusel ärge kartke konsulteerida oma veterinaararstiga.

• Millised on neeruhaiguste sümptomid kassidel ?

  Millised on neeruhaiguste sümptomid kassidel ?
  
  Kasside neeruhaiguse peamised sümptomid on:
  - Vähenenud söögiisu, iiveldustunne
  - tahtmatu kehakaalu langus
  - halb hingeõhk
  - Nõrkus, rohkem magamine või puhkamine
  - Rohkem joomine
  
  Need märgid näitavad, et teie kass võib kannatada kroonilise neeruhaiguse all. Ärge kartke vajadusel konsulteerida oma veterinaararstiga.

• Mis põhjustab kassidel artriiti?

  Nagu inimestelgi, on ka kassidel OA tekkimise peamised riskitegurid vanus, rasvumine, ainevahetushaigused, istuv eluviis, liigeste traumad ja geneetika. Eriti 90% vanematest kassidest (üle 10 aasta vanused) ilmnevad radioloogilised osteoartriidi tunnused.

• What are antibiotics for pets and how do they work? 

  How do antibiotics for pets work and what are they used for?

  Understanding the basics of pet antibiotics is crucial to prevent misuse that can lead to resistance and treatment failure.

  To know more, click on the link!  

• What causes urinary issues?

  • Insufficient water intake: cats by nature drink very little which leads to a very concentrated urine.

  • Stress and overweight, sedentary lifestyles and neutering are common risk factors. The risk is 2.5 to 7 times higher in neutered cats.

  • Inappropriate or low quality food with excessive or unbalanced amounts of minerals.

• What do I need after my cat is spayed or neutered to keep them in top shape?

  The first few months after neutering are the most important and your vigilance should be high.

  Encourage your cat to exercise! Don't overfeed your cat and stick to the recommended daily rations. Weigh your cat regularly and consult your vet if you notice any weight gain.

• What else can I do to support my cat’s urinary health?

  Cats are very sensitive to their environment. In addition to a nutrition adapted to your cat, there are several things you can do at home to support your cat’s urinary health.

  	Fresh water in suuitable bowls Make sure the water is always fresh Use a porcelain bowl or a water fountain. Avoid plastic bowls that many cats don't like the taste of Provide your cat with several sources of water in your house
  	Toileting habits are very important Clean the litter tray regularly and if possible make several litter boxes available Recommended number of litter boxes = number of cats living at home +1 Keep the litter box in a quiet place
  	Avoid stress and boredom Make sure your cat has hiding places for some privacy Cats also like to be high up, make sure such places are available Enrich their environment with toys, games, cat trees that stimulate them
  	Monitor their bodyweight Weigh your cat once a month Follow the feeding recommendations on the bag, or recommended by your vet Limit treats and snacks

• What food should I use when my pet is in gestation/lactation?

  During a period of gestation or lactation, your pet has high nutritional needs, the same way puppies or kittens do. A high protein amount is therefore recommended and the best way to achieve this is to give your pet a product from our "Baby" range.  During gestation period, you should switch over from an adult formulation to a baby formulation. For more advice please speak to your vet or vet nurse.

• What is starch ?

  Starch belongs to the carbohydrate family and is found in maize, wheat, rice and potatoes. Starch is necessary to guarantee the consistency of dry food. However, a high-carbohydrate diet may have negative consequences on the health of dogs and cats, including digestive problems. This is why we decided to reduce the amount of starch in our formulas as much as possible: approximately 50% less than in other dog and cat foods in the veterinary market.*

  *Average of main adult dog and cat physiological products sold in the vet channel. Internal study, 2015.

• What is the origin of the animal protein you use?

  Animal protein is the main ingredient of the VETERINARY HPM^® range, and this comes from high quality pork and poultry, all of which is of European origin.

• What quantity of kibbles does my kitten need?

  VETERINARY HPM^® is very palatable, but we do advise that you respect the daily rations recommended by your vet or vet nurse. Our general feeding guidelines can be found on every bag, but your vet or vet nurse can provide you with a recommendation tailored specifically to your kitten.

  Baby Pre-neutered cat

  Junior Neutered cat

• What quantity of kibbles does my puppy need?

  VETERINARY HPM^® is very palatable, but we do advise that you respect the daily rations recommended by your vet or vet nurse. Our general feeding guidelines can be found on every bag, but your vet or vet nurse can provide you with a recommendation tailored specifically to your puppy. 

  Baby Small and Toy dogs
  

  Baby Large & Medium Dogs
  

  Junior Special Medium dog
  

  Junior Special Large dog
  

• What should my cat's ideal diet look like after neutering?

  To adjust to your cat's new needs, caloric intake should come primarily from protein; fat and carbohydrate intake should be controlled to provide less energy.

  Protein is essential to help maintain muscle mass in place of fat mass. Protein also promotes satiety in combination with dietary fibre. This is especially important after neutering, when your cat's appetite increases. On the other hand, starch and sugars should be limited because they are a less useful source of energy for strict carnivores like your cat, and could be stored as fat if fed in excess.

• What types of infections can antibiotics treat in pets? 

  Antibiotics are essential for treating bacterial infections in pets, such as bacterial pneumonia or urinary tract infections. It's important to trust your veterinarian to select the most effective antibiotic for each specific case. At Teambiotics, our goal is to assist veterinarians in making informed decisions about antibiotic use in animals. If you'd like to learn more about antibiotics, please click on the link.

• Where is VETERINARY HPM^® produced?

   

  VETERINARY HPM^® is produced in our own factory in France, more precisely in Vauvert, close to Nîmes. This site has been producing quality pet food since 1988, and thanks to a dedicated team of veterinary surgeons and pet nutritionists, we have been able to meet the very high expectations of pet owners in terms of food quality, traceability and safety for over 30 years.

   

   

• Why do you use specific supplements in VETERINARY HPM^®?

  The combination of our high protein, low carbohydrate formulation and the use specific functional supplements enables VETERINARY HPM^® to support 10 key health areas for the long-term health and well-being of dogs and cats. Below is a list of these functional supplements and their respective roles in VETERINARY HPM^®.

  What is the role of lactobacilli ?
  Lactobacilli are bacteria naturally found in intestinal flora which regulate intestinal transit and contribute to a balanced digestive flora.

  What is the role of montmorillonite and sepiolite ?
  Montmorillonite and sepiolite are clays, which contribute to your pet’s good digestive tolerance: montmorillonite is used in our cat foods, and sepiolite is an ingredient of our dog foods. These clays contribute to the formation of well-shaped stools with little odour. They also protect the digestive mucosa and help to control digestive disorders, such as diarrhoea.

  What is the role of beta glucans ?
  Beta glucans promote the development of a puppy and kitten's own immune defence system.

  What is the role of sodium ascorbyl phosphate?
  We include sodium ascorbyl phosphate in all of our cat foods to help limit dental plaque and tartar formation and ensure good oral and dental health.

  What is the role of pentasodium triphosphate ?
  Pentasodium triphosphate is used in our small & toy dog foods and helps to limit tartar formation and ensure good oral and dental health.

  What is the role of chondroitin sulphate and chitosan ?
  Chondroitin sulphate and chitosan help to maintain a strong musculoskeletal system.

  What is the role of L-carnitine ?
  L-carnitine is used to help control your pet’s body weight and condition. It helps limit the deposit of fatty tissue and preserve muscle mass.

  What is the role of chitosan ?
  Chitosan, as a chelater of phosphorus, is used to help maintain kidney function.

  What is the role of dried artichoke leaf extract ?
  Dried artichoke leaf extract is in all out cat foods and helps to dilute urine.

  What is the role of fructooligosaccharides ?
  Fructooligosaccharides contribute to good digestive tolerance and the balance of intestinal flora, as well as reinforcing the digestive mucosa.

  What is the role of psyllium ?
  Psyllium is a fibre that contributes to good digestive tolerance and the formation of well-shaped stools, whilst also helping to regulate bowel movement.

  What is the role of Vitamin E ?
  Vitamin E helps maintain and stimulate the immune system in older animals.

• Will my kitten like his new diet?

  Our diet is very palatable and most kittens love it. It is prepared with ingredients that cats naturally like. At weaning, your kitten will have to get used to kibbles in replacement of her mother’s milk. That’s why you should gradually introduce kibbles. 

• How do I change the diet of my puppy from my current diet to the new VETERINARY HPM ^® growth program?

  At weaning, your puppy must progressively get used to solid food instead of mother’s milk. You can add some warm water to the kibbles at the beginning.

  If you change from another dry food to  VETERINARY HPM ^®, to help your puppy's digestive system adapt successfully to the new food, we recommend that you introduce VETERINARY HPM^® gradually over a period of 5 to 7 days

• Will my puppy like his new diet?

  Our diet is very palatable and most puppys love it. It is prepared with ingredients that dogs naturally like. At weaning, your puppy will have to get used to kibbles in replacement of her mother’s milk. That’s why you should gradually introduce kibbles.

• How many meals should I give to my puppy every day?

  We recommend to divide your puppy’s daily ration into 3 meals a day until he is at least 6 month old. Then, you can reduce to 2 meals per day.

• How to organize your puppy’s meals?

  His feeding area should be quiet and clean.

  - Provide two bowls, one for water and one for food.

  - Choose unbreakable, odourless containers. 

  - Keep water available at all times, clean and fresh.

• Can I feed my puppy with a vegetarian diet?

  The dog is a carnivore, which means that certain nutrients he needs cannot be provided by a plant-based diet. Such diets can cause major nutritional deficiencies with serious consequences on health. For this reason, a puppy should never be fed a vegetarian diet.

• Can I feed my puppy with raw meat diets?

  Raw meat diets (red meat or chicken) are often deficient in calcium and phosphorus. The Calcium/Phosphorus ratio is totally inappropriate for the canine species, especially in terms of bone growth. Such a diet can cause major nutritional deficiencies with serious consequences on health. For example, when fed exclusively a raw meat diet, the puppy is exposed to the risk of pathologic fractures following minor trauma.

• Can I feed my puppy with a home-made diet?

  The food that puppys receive throughout their first year must obviously provide energy and materials to build the skeleton, the muscles and all the new tissues. But nutrition doesn't stop there: it must also help puppys to develop a fully functioning nervous system and effective immune system. Any deficiency in essential nutrients (those who cannot be synthesized by the animal's body) during this very delicate period  may affect the dog's future health.

  Many recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists are available for owners who wish to prepare a nutritionally balanced home-made diet for their puppy. However, it is illusory to succeed in respecting all the required conditions because the nutritional balance of a household ration is subject to various hazards. The owner will always find it difficult to follow the recipe exactly, the necessary ingredients are not always available, and the nutritional composition of the ingredients can vary considerably depending on the origin of the product. When preparing a home-made diet, no laboratory analysis can verify the nutritional composition of the raw materials used! 

  Therefore, even when accompanied by the distribution of a mineral and vitamin supplement, home-made diets for dogs often show deficiencies in some essential nutrients.

• How can I see if my puppy grows well?

  In order to protect the puppy’s health and to prevent early obesity development, a close attention must be paid to the growth curve. More information

  To control the puppy’s rate of growth, it is important to carefully monitor his weight curve (page à venir ultérieurement) especially during the most rapid growth period. Weighing your puppy every 2 weeks is the best way to control the situation. 

  If a large breed puppy becomes too heavy to be picked up on the scale, don’t hesitate to go and weigh the puppy at a veterinary clinic equipped with a platform scale available to clients.

  Each time the puppy’s BW is measured, it will be noted on a growth chart. Veterinarians and breed clubs can provide typical curves for different breeds; these references will help you to evaluate your puppy's growth. Your veterinarian can also help you interpret your puppy's growth curve. For example, if the puppy is gaining weight too fast, your vet can adjust the daily feeding ration or advise a new diet that respects the growth requirements while limiting the caloric intake.