Some people think that taking care of a pet is as simple as opening a can of wet food and calling it a day. In reality, our animal companions have a long list of requirements and demands, especially if they hope to live a long and healthy life. As they become an important member of the family from the moment they join us, we want to look after them the best that we can so we can enjoy their company for as long as possible. For this reason, you’ll find my post, The Do’s and Dont’s of Pet Nutrition both interesting and helpful.
(Collaborative post)
The Do’s and Dont’s of Pet Nutrition
Did you know, many of the standard kibble brands you find on the shelves of supermarkets are full of flavour enhancements and synthetic nutrients? These could be detrimental to the health of your furry friend. In this post, we will be looking all some of the various do’s and don’ts that you need to be aware of when feeding your pet.
Don’t Overfeed Them
Although it may be tempting to give your pet a few extra treats for their good behaviour, it’s incredibly important that you keep them at a healthy weight. Overfeeding your pets can lead to obesity and costly health issues down the line.
Do Read Nutrition Labels
When you’re at the supermarket picking up your dog’s meals, make sure to read the nutrition labels. This will allow you to pick out the healthiest options you can afford. It’s recommended that you stay away from food products with preservatives like BHA and BHT.
Don’t Feed Table Scraps
When you’re at the table having dinner, don’t give into those puppy dog eyes. Instead, try to avoid giving your animals any table scraps. Constant table treats are like snacking – too much of it and your pet might become overweight.
Do Opt for High Quality Meals
When you’re at the supermarket, look for the products with the best quality ingredients. However, you can also make them some meals from scratch such as lean ground turkey, eggs, and veggies.
Don’t Give Potentially Toxic Ingredients
You must keep in mind that animals cannot eat certain ingredients as they release unwanted toxins. For example, dogs need to stay away from avocados, onions, grapes, onions, chocolate, and a number of other foods that we are able to eat.
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Do Consult with Your Veterinarian
When in doubt, it’s never a bad idea to consult with your veterinarian, especially as your animal’s diet is instrumental in determining good health. For example, your vet might suggest a low-fat gastrointestinal diet if necessary.
Don’t Feed All Pets the Same
Not all pets need the same amount or type of food. For example, answering the question of how much should I feed my Labrador will be very different from creating a meal plan for a chihuahua. Take into account their size, breed, and lifestyle factors.
Do Provide Plenty of Water
You’d be surprised to hear how many dogs and cats are actually on the wrong type of diet. As with us, it shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to pet nutrition. That’s why it’s important to visit your vet and take into account several characteristics and lifestyle factors. All in all, there’s plenty to learn about pet nutrition, so don’t be afraid to soak up as much knowledge as you can.
I hope you enjoyed my post about The Do’s and Dont’s of Pet Nutrition.
Is there anything you would suggest adding to this list?
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My dog has pancreatitis so I have to be very careful of his diet. For a while, I was home cooking his food to make sure he got the right nutrients he needs but now I have him on a high-quality dog food and he has been doing well.
It’s great to hear that you have found the right food for him. It is worrying when they have health issues and their diet can really make a difference.
Table food is SUCH a huge no-no. So many people do it, and it’s so terrible for pets.
People REALLY have to stop giving their pets scraps and table food. I worked at a vet for seven years, and I can’t tell you how many dogs and cats I saw with pancreatitis, punctured intestines, and worse from table food.
Oh no, that is awful. Just goes to back this up.
I didn’t realize that avocados were toxic for dogs. I will keep this in mind when my niece visits with her dog.
It is good to be aware of foods that can make them ill.
These are great pet tips. So many people think that table scraps are good for dogs but some like chocolate can be bad.
That’s true, some foods we can eat without problems can be poisonous to pets.
I definitely agree with these. It is really important to never overfeed any animal for sure. You have to watch what you feed them too.
It’s very true. Overfeeding any petg is a bad thing and can have negative effects.
I do not have a dog but will love to get a Maltese in the future. I will use your do’s and don’ts when I get my puppy. I dot. Think about the ingredients in the dog food but will make sure to do so in the future.
It is important to know what to avoid and look out for ingredients that might affect your new pet.
These are really helpful tips. I know so many friends who give the scraps and now their pets are fat! It’s not cute or right to me. Reading the nutrition labels is also so important.
The foods we eat can be heavily laden with fat and sugar and really aren’t suitable for pets to eat in most cases.
Many of the tips presented here are most helpful for me. My dog is getting old and I need to incorporate these steps to ensure she stays healthy and happy!
I’m so glad you found the post helpful Stephanie.
Absolutely agree! Pet care is a lot more than a can of food. They’re cherished members of the family, and it’s essential to meet their needs for a long and healthy life. Your post on the do’s and don’ts of pet nutrition is bound to be a valuable resource for pet owners looking to give their furry friends the best care possible. Thanks for sharing your insights on responsible pet parenting!
Some don’t realise how much care it takes to look after our furry friends. Even myself, I didn’t know that alot of the brands on our supermarket shelves are unhealthy for our doggos! Glad I know now
These foods should be better monitored. We need to be selective when we choose what to feed our pets.
Aaahhhh….so, it’s basically not feeding pets the same way you would feed an actual human being or yourself?! I can do that well enough. Thank you for this.
Yes, they can’t eat the same foods we can.
What a great informative post! My son makes sure his dog eats nothing but healthy nutrition meals, I love how he create certain meals for him. Even to his treats he watches what type of treats he provide his dog.
That’s so great to hear. It’s the best way to keep them healthy alongside getting plenty of exercise x
I don’t have any pets so I did not even realise that all these things were so important to look out for. The advise you have given now makes sense to me.
I would also suggest getting into the habit of reading the ingredients list! My DiL was even particular about the food she fed her fish and was always on the lookout for “whole” ingredients vs. meal.
Pets are so much healthier when given a better quality of food.
My grandpa did the table scraps for their 2 dogs and they were overweight. I remember my gram would always tell him to stop but he’d still sneak it. He loved them so much. He didn’t realize what he was doing wasn’t a good thing.
Unfortunately, the phrase killing them with kindness comes to mind. Sometime we need to love them enough not to give them the scraps.
As a pet parent, I’m always seeking the best ways to ensure my furry family members live long and healthy lives. Your emphasis on consulting with a veterinarian and recognizing that not all pets have the same dietary needs is incredibly helpful. I’ll definitely keep these do’s and dont’s in mind as I care for my beloved pets.
It’s lovely to hear that you have pets and are concerned with their wellbeing. I am sure they are both happy and healthy.
This is such an important topic! I was surprised for example to find out that dogs can’ t eat grapes or avocado, for example!
It does help to be aware of what a pet shouldn’t eat.
Dogs, just like humans, should be fed healthy or quality food as well. It saddens me whenever I learn that a dog is sick.
It’s worse when it’s because their owner isn’t feeding them properly. It’s every pet owners responsibility to make sure their pets are feed the right foods.
I’m sure any pet owner will love to know more of these tips. Particularly I will tell my brother about the avocado thing he tried to feed his dog before.
Oh no. Yes it would be a good idea to let him know.
Finding a good quality food is so important for pets. So many health issues arise from a poor quality diet! These are all great points.
Thanks Marysa. I’m glad you liked the post.
I always worry that I am over feeding our cats even though we’re not giving them as much as the recommended amount. But as ours are indoor cats they’re not running around as much as they would if they went outdoors. Always nothing to keep in mind x
Thank you so much for sharing about the Nutrition about pets. It’s really need to understand the Nutrition, I will definitely share this with others.
It is important for anyone with pets.
There are so many foods they cannot have that I would never have suspected. Thanks for sharing this helpful article. My little one has pancreatitis so I have to be extra careful!
It’s important to find a good nutritious food for our pets. Even they deserve the best. We done have a pet yet but I will share this post with my friends who own pets.
Making sure my pet is eating high quality food is always my first check when it comes to pet food! Thank you for these tips to keep pets healthy.
That’s really good to hear.
I had no idea about all of these nutrition facts to be honest! I have a cat and we only feed him his hard food. Do you think I should mix up his food?
Honestly it depends on the cat. Many will give a combination but some pets will prefer one type to another.
It is also important to feed them around the same time on a daily basis too. I remember when we got my boxer mix. She was a stray so she would chow her food down so quickly. This isn’t good for their tummy. I opted for a slow feeder bowl. She no longer chows her food down quickly. I think she knows she won’t miss a meal around here. I’ve had her for 4 years now. Then I have a Yorkie who eats a grain free diet bc he has a sensitive tummy. So he gets food for sensitive tummies.
Slow feeders are a good idea. Some dogs do get very excited about their meals.
I never gave any of my dogs table scraps,as i was amazed at how much extra calories this was
They can be very calorific and not the best food for them x