Feeding your Pets
It is easy to feed animals – give them your leftovers, throw them a bit of biscuit, pour food into their bowls? Yes, it is easy, but making sure that they have the right type and quantity of food to sustain good health can be another thing all together. It is also important to ensure that the pet does not become overweight or obese.
Obesity in Pets
It is not just the food that we give the animal to consider, but also how often we feed them. The Royal Veterinary College estimates that 1 in 14 dogs is obese. Obesity in pets can lead to severe health problems, such as –
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- High blood pressure
- Respiratory distress
Some animals are more at risk of obesity than others. In dogs, for example, the following are more at risk of obesity -
- Some breeds of dog
- Older dogs
- Neutered dogs
- Females
- Dogs with obese owners – if the owner is obese, it is more likely that the dog does not get enough exercise.
It is important to be aware of the signs that a pet is overweight as well.
In dogs –
- You should be able to see the dog’s ribs
- Their waist should be clearly visible from above
- Their belly should be tucked up
In cats –
- You should be able to see the cat’s spine, hip and ribs
- Their billy shouldn’t be sagging
- Their waist should be visible from above
To prevent obesity, it is important to ensure that the animal is active and gets enough exercise. For example –
- Walking your dog or cat
- Playing ball games in the garden
- Playing games with balls and toys in the house
- Etc.
Making sure your pet does not become obese is not just about exercise though, it is also about what they eat. A healthy pet needs a good, well balanced, healthy diet.
Feeding Your Pets
When deciding how to feed your pet, there are a number of things to consider –
How digestible is the food?
Some foods are easily broken down and digested by an animal. However, different species of animal will have different types of stomachs, which affect how they digest food. Some animals, such as dogs and humans, have simple stomachs. But the dog’s digestive process is different to humans. We start digesting when we chew, but the dog’s digestive process does not start until the food reaches their stomach.
Dogs gulp their food as a way to get the food to their stomach as quickly as possible. This can cause problems though. For example, a small chihuahua cross, McCoy, was given a hide chew. He swallowed it whole, where it got stuck. A vet had to remove it.
Some breeds of dog will also have more sensitive stomachs and prefer dried food. Others will prefer fresh food. All dogs are individuals, and will prefer different types of foods. A vet can usually recommend what food type is suitable for different breeds and types of dogs.
Dogs are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat plants and meat, however cats are strictly carnivores. They require meat in their diet.
No matter what pet you have, find out what their dietary requirements are.
How often should you feed your pet?
How often a pet requires food, and how much food, depends on the pet themselves. A kitten of six months to adult will require food twice a day, but once the cat is an adult, feeding once or twice a day is suitable.
Guinea pigs should be fed twice a day to prevent obesity. That might sound a bit contradictory, but if the guinea pig knows that food comes twice a day, they are less likely to overeat.
Age
Bear in mind the age of the age of the pet. As pets age, their nutritional requirements change.
- If you go into a pet store or supermarket, you will often see foods aimed at puppies or kittens, senior dogs and so on. A pregnant animal will also have different dietary requirements.
- As pets age, their teeth may decay and deteriorate, which can affect how they chew their food, which can affect what food is suitable for them.
- Some pets will require less calories as they age, as they are likely to have less exercise.
What Flavour? What Smell? What Texture?
Animals have different preferences as well. They will prefer different foods depending on their smell, flavour and texture. Make sure that your pet likes the food you are giving them. A full bowl when usually it is emptied pretty quickly can be a sign that they do not like the food. Before thinking that the pet is ill, offer them another type of food first, just to see if it is that they don’t like it.
Allergies and Poisons
Be aware of any foods that are dangerous or harmful to your pet.
For example – chocolate, grapes and alcohol are harmful to dogs and cats. Onions and mushrooms are harmful to guinea pigs.
Freshness
It is important that the food is fresh as well. If fresh food is not eaten within 24 hours, remove it and replace with new food.
If the pet eats dried food, this is not so essential, but do clear out the bowl and wash it before adding more dried food.
Seek Advice
It is important that your pet has the right food, at the right time and in the right amounts to ensure that they are fit and healthy.
If you are unsure of what food to feed your pet, then always ask a vet for advice.
Knowing about good nutrition for pets is essential for –
- Pet owners
- People working in pet shops
- Veterinary staff
- Veterinary nurses
- People working in breeding kennels
Be sure to look at our Dog Care online course or Animal Feed and Nutrition - PDF Ebook