News related to dog allergies and dog nutrition

HEALTH CENTRE

In the spotlight

It's not just what you feed, it's how you feed too!

Kibble, Can, Raw, or home cooked; deciding what brand of pet food or what style of feeding is not the only concern for pet owners. 'How' to feed your dog or cat is important too.

Many pet owners are exhausted after the big decision of pet food has been made. As if it's not enough work to research ingredients and pet food manufacturers, there is more 'work' to do. Don't panic, this part is easy.

Your additional 'work' is how often you feed your dog or cat, type of bowl, and clean up in the yard or litter box. Not necessarily rewarding pet care, but important none the less.

It's best to feed adult dogs and cats at least two meals a day. Providing wholesome nutrition to your pet in two or more meals per day provides their body with on-going nutrition. Dogs and cats have a difficult time utilizing the nutrition, keeping their body going in optimal form, from one meal a day. Imagine yourself eating only one meal a day; twenty hours later you are feeling very run down. Breaking the one meal up into two or more smaller meals a day allows your pet's body to better utilize the nutrition. Studies have also shown in humans that several smaller meals a day (healthy meals) is the optimal method to lose weight. Thus, overweight pets might be better 'served' provided several smaller meals a day.

If your pet is accustomed to one meal a day, you can probably expect some dirty looks the first few times you provide them with smaller portions; don't take it personally. Those dirty looks will change to smiles when they are given meal two or three later in the day.

If your pet is accustomed to free feeding (food available all day), the change can be a bit more challenging. It's recommended to change from free feeding to providing three or more meals a day initially. Guesstimate the amount of food your pet is eating daily, then divide by the amount of meals you will be serving (1 cup of food all day guesstimate, is then served in three 1/3 cup meals). Many times, pets accustomed to free feeding, will only eat a few bites here and there at each meal. Allow twenty minutes or so, and then remove the remaining food (this is when the dirty looks begin). Offer the next portion meal the same way; allow twenty minutes or so, then remove the remaining food. Soon, your pet will learn to eat meals at scheduled times.

The benefit of scheduled meals for puppies helps with house training; scheduled in…better schedule out. The benefit of scheduled meals for adult dogs and cats goes far beyond house training. Scheduled meals teach the pet owner what is normal eating behavior for your pet. Some pets normally eat every bit of food in the bowl without coming up for air, some will eat leisurely yet still completely finish each meal, and others will normally miss a meal now and then. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR PET'S NORMAL EATING BEHAVIOR.

Cats need to eat every single day; dogs on the other hand can go several days without a meal with no health risks.

The real benefit of knowing what is normal eating behavior for your pet is alerting you to a potential health problem. Let's say Fido is normally one of those dogs that leisurely eats his food; he might miss a meal once a week, but typically (normal behavior) for Fido is to finish his meals within three or four minutes. One morning, you provide Fido his normal breakfast; today he sniffs it a bit, and then walks away. Ok, Fido 'typically' misses a meal once a week, no worry. At lunch, you provide Fido his normal meal. Fido sniffs the food, and walks away again. BIG RED FLAG. Fido never misses two meals in a row, this is not normal eating behavior. Fido is giving you information that something is amiss; at the very least Fido is telling you to keep a VERY close eye on him.

Fido might be telling you the food is bad, or he might be telling you he feels bad for other reasons. Regardless, Fido has altered from his normal behavior, things are not right and you should pay close attention for further warning signs.

With Fluffy, your cat, scheduled meals as well can alert you to potential health problems or potential problems with a food. Cats understand Mother Nature's request of them to eat every single day. Most will eat a pet food even if it is 'bad' in some way. However, close daily attention to what is normal behavior might alert you to a bad pet food or health problem before serious problems occur. As example, Fluffy normally eats every bit of her breakfast; however, lunch and dinner she's a little slow at. Many days she leaves half or so of her lunch and dinner on the plate. If one morning you notice Fluffy only ate half of her breakfast, your alarm bells should be ringing. This does NOT mean Fluffy is seriously ill or a guarantee her pet food is tainted. It means she has altered from her normal behavior; something is not right and you need to pay close attention right away for further warning signs.

The goal is to know your pet's normal behavior well enough to 'see' when their behavior varies. Closer attention at this point will help you decide what measures to take next.

Our next issue is the type of food and water bowl. Of course, pet owners need to wash food and water bowls daily. Plastic bowls tend to hold odors; your nose might not be sensitive enough to smell it, however your pet's nose is. Plastic bowls as well can contain melamine and or BPA. Ceramic bowls can be glazed with toxic chemicals as well; these chemicals can leech in small amounts into your pet's food and water. Stainless steel food and water bowls tend to be the best option.

Lastly, is clean up. That dreaded job of cleaning the litter box and picking up in the back yard can provide you with warning signs as well.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld told a great story regarding 'picking up' after our pets. He said, imagine if somewhere in outer space, they were looking at Earth through a telescope. They didn't know anything about this planet or those that lived here. Looking down, they see two creatures; what we know as a pet owner and their pet. They notice the pet eliminating and then the other creature (the owner) picking 'it' up. Who do they assume is 'in charge' on this planet after witnessing this act? (Hint: It's not us!)

Ok, back to cleaning up after your pet. It is important to know what normal elimination behavior is for your pet. How many times a day, size, and consistency. Any variation of 'normal' could be a sign of a potential health or pet food problem. Pay close attention for further warning signs.

Author: Susan Thixton, Pet journalist

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