We grew up thinking that feeding your dog bones is the best you can do from them, and that’s what we learned from cartoons, but in real life, it is totally different. It goes without saying that nutrition is the most important element to pay attention to when raising a pet; and to keep your pet growing healthy and well-fed, we need to learn more about the good and bad nutrition habits. Nutrition affects the overall wellness of animals. In this article, we will speak about the best and worst nutrition habits that every pet owner needs to know.
1. Don’t serve bones to your pet
Though one of the top favorites for canine animals and especially dogs, bones can have a harmful impact on your pet’s health and can cause harmful diseases. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: consumption of bones for pets can lead to broken teeth, mouth and tongue injuries in the stomach caused by bone splinters, choking, as well blockage in the small intestine, and peritonitis – inflammation in the membrane lining the abdomen - which is one of the most dangerous effects of eating bones.
2. Don’t feed your pet raw food
Contrary to the popular belief that raw meat makes your dog stronger, it actually has a negative impact on its health. One of the biggest dangers of feeding raw meat to a pet is bacterial infections, for example, salmonellosis and internal parasite like trichinae. This is why vets advise owners to provide pets with cooked food.
3. Don’t take your pet for walks or exercise right after a heavy meal.
A lot of pet owners think that exercising right after being fed aids in the digestion process, in fact, this is a misconception. Such habit can lead to a very common fatal disease called gastric dilatation, also known as gastric bloat. This is a common condition, mostly seen in German shepherds. With that being said, don’t allow your dogs out for runs or playtime right after being fed.
4. Don’t give your pet excessive amounts of food.
Feeding your pet with excessive amounts leads to obesity. Pet obesity is the most frequently observed nutritional disorder among domestic animals, especially cats. Just like humans, obesity leads to many harmful diseases like heart failure, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Once you have identified that your cat is overweight or obese it’s important to adjust the portions while keeping all the necessary nutrient sources to avoid malnourishment.
5. Don’t feed your pet with canned food.
Canned food is one of the most famous foods used for feeding pets especially, felines, but in fact, vets advise against it. Canned food has a high amount of salt and preservatives which are considered very harmful for the kidneys. Canned food can lead to kidney stones and renal failure in addition to urinary tract diseases. Dry food is a healthier and better alternative to canned food, and you can also opt for cooked food for your pet.
Researched & Compiled by Gehad Waleed
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