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Pet Health :: Pet Nutrition
Cat and Dog Health Nutrition
Pet foods and supplements that you feed your dog and cat are integrally connected with your pet’s health and longevity. Let’s look at several pet healthcare nutrition myths and examine the truth of the nutritional values within each category.
Myth #1. It’s okay to give your pets table scraps every day if the foods are high in nutritional value.
False. Veterinarians frown on animals begging for food while their owners are sitting at the table eating a meal. Although the food you’re eating may contain valuable vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, animals begin to associate begging with having food tossed onto the floor or into their mouths. Thus, some pet owners will give unhealthy foods to their pets, over time, just to get them to stop begging.
If you have meat and vegetables left over at the end of a meal and you wish to supplement your pet’s commercial diet, then it’s best to mix the pet food with the human food scraps and serve it in one dish. However, this should not be a daily occurrence, since animals are smart enough to eat only the table scraps and ignore their nutritional diet, which creates a vicious circle.
Myth # 2. Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and pets benefit from eating home-cooked or steamed vegetables and fruits when combined with their commercial diet.
False. As a matter of fact, several fruits and vegetables can be quite harmful to pets. Here’s a quick list of what not to feed your pets.
- Raisins
- Grapes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Oranges
- Tomatoes
- Lemons
- Avocados
The fruits and vegetables listed above have been known to create acute kidney failure, gastrointestinal diseases, and anemia.
Myth #3. It’s better to prepare homemade foods and serve it to your pet than to buy off-the-shelf dry cat food or dog foods.
False. Some may argue that cup-for-cup, homemade foods might have the same nutritional components and balance as commercial food (wet or dry). Some may also argue that it’s more cost-efficient to make your pet’s food than to buy it in 25-pound bags or individual expensive tins.
Since homemade foods lack preservatives, if the foods are not monitored for correct temperature settings, an invasion of bacteria could get into the food and then into the animal’s digestive system. The results are a sick animal, and everyone wonders why the cat or dog is sick.
Yes, if you were to get all your recipes from your vet, and you were diligent never to skip a step or forget to check the temperature, it’s possible to feed your dog or cat in that manner for a few days or weeks. But, and this is the known objection…over time, pet owners will not remain consistent in their food preparation habits and procedures. Eventually the formulation will break down and bacterial overgrowth could become the problem.
In addition, pet food manufacturers continue to add extra vitamins, calcium, minerals, and other supplements to pet diets known to be helpful to cats and dogs at various ages. As a pet owner, you’d have to do a lot of research and testing to know what’s best for your pet at every stage and at every age.
Myth #4. Plaque accumulation in cats and dogs is caused by them eating moist canned food rather than dry food.
False. While it’s true that plaque can easily accumulate on your pet’s teeth if canned foods are eaten, it also very much depends upon the genetics for the animal’s teeth that’s the deciding factor.
In defense of dried prescription diets, however, two brands are known to help reduce plaque buildup—Royal Canine Dental Formula for Dogs, and Hill’s brands. If you’re concerned about plaque buildup on your pet’s teeth and you’re feeding only wet food, then a quick chat with your vet would be helpful.
To determine the best diet for your dog or cat, it’s recommended that you talk it over with your veterinarian. Then you can decide.
For more nutritional information, or to get all your questions answered about specific cat and dog health nutritional concerns and requirements, please make a list and bring it with you during your next scheduled appointment. Or, if your concerns are urgent, please call your local animal hospital and let them assist you.
