Nutrition for Pets
My-Dog.info > Dogs, Diet & Food
by Spc. Sheila Hamlett Veterinary Services, Fort Knox, Ky.
With all the choices out there, deciding what to feed your pet
can be a challenge.
When choosing a food, price is usually the first thing on a
person's mind. Why should I pay $15 for a bag of food when I can
get the same amount from another company for $5? The answer is
quality. The cheapest bag is not always the best deal.
Cheaper brands may use poorer-quality cuts of meat. Maybe they
only use meat byproducts, the undesirable parts of animals, or
parts unfit for human consumption. This cuts down on the
production price and the company can pass the savings on to the
consumer. Companies may also save by using more filler. Fillers
do what their name implies. They fill space and usually have
little or no nutritional value.
As the price of pet food increases, you generally get
better-quality food. Better cuts of meat and less filler are
used. This does not mean cheaper brands are bad for your pet.
They still meet your pet's nutritional requirements. It just
means an animal eats less of the expensive brand because it gets
more nutrition from a smaller serving. In the long run, buying
the more expensive brand may prove to be more economic since it
is purchased less frequently.
What about canned food? Here again more expensive brands
usually use higher-quality ingredients. Canned food, however,
should not be fed as the main diet because it does not help to
break tartar off the animal's teeth. Pets fed exclusively or
mostly canned food tend to have dental problems and diabetes, so
it is important to watch their weight. Do not overdo it with the
doggie snacks, either.
Some people opt to make their own pet food, and there are many
recipe books on the market. This way they know exactly what is in
their pets' food. It takes some work, and purchasing all the
ingredients and nutritional supplements can be expensive. It is,
however, an all-natural diet, which may be beneficial to some
pets, especially those with food allergies.
Table scraps are not a good choice for your pet. Animals'
stomachs can be easily upset. Their systems are not designed for
most human foods, especially greasy foods. They may cause
vomiting or diarrhea. Weight problems often occur in pets fed
table scraps. Feeding scraps from the table also encourages
begging, a habit your houseguests may find annoying.
Giving a cat or dog leftover bones is a definite no-no. Cooked
bones splinter much more easily than do raw ones. They can get
caught in the throat, or scratch the stomach and intestines,
causing painful, bloody bowel movements. If you really want to
give your dog a treat, go to a pet store. There are plenty of
bones specially treated and prepared so they can be enjoyed
without any medical problems.
Choosing the right food is important for your pet's health.
Whatever brand you choose, rest assured your pet is getting the
nutrition it needs. If you have any questions about your pet's
nutritional needs, contact your veterinarian.
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