Micronutrient deficiencies in companion animals cause chronic health problems that reduce quality of life and are often preventable through appropriate diet and veterinary guidance.
Micronutrient deficiency causes chronic health problems that reduce quality of life over months to years before being identified. Cats deprived of dietary taurine develop fatal cardiomyopathy. Dogs on poorly formulated diets can develop similar cardiac and other nutritional diseases. The welfare case for complete and balanced commercial diets or veterinary nutritionist supervision of homemade diets is strong for most companion animals.