Facts About Feeding Our Cats & Dogs

Adding large amounts of human food to a nutritionally balanced commercial dog food may upset the nutrient balance of your pet's diet. Ideally, table scraps should not be fed. You may also be creating behavior problems. Your pet may begin to steal food from the table or the food preparation area. Try feeding them at regularly scheduled times, such as when the family is having breakfast or dinner.

Here are some of the foods to watch out for, especially in excess:

• Milk is a food and not a substitute for water. Milk contains Lactose which is difficult for our pets to digest and may cause diarrhoea and irritate the bowel.
• Repeatedly adding raw eggs to a dog's diet can cause a deficiency of the vitamin biotin, which can lead to dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), loss of hair and poor growth.
• Some raw fish can cause a deficiency of the vitamin thiamine. Signs of a thiamine deficiency include anorexia (complete loss of appetite), abnormal posture, weakness,and seizures.
• Raw meats may contain parasites and bacteria and do not contain a proper balance of nutrients if fed alone. Although meat is a source of protein, it has very low levels of calcium, a mineral require d for proper bone and tooth development. If large quantities of raw meat are fed over time, skeletal problems may develop.
• Raw liver, fed daily in large quantities, can cause vitamin A toxicity in cats and dogs.
• Small soft bones (such as pork chop or chicken bones) should never be given to your pets, as they may splinter and lodge in his mouth throat or stomach.