What is better, dry food or home-cooked food? Why can’t you feed your pet “human” food? How to feed a very small puppy or kitten? You will find answers to these questions here from a Dubai vet. In addition, you will learn what consequences poor nutrition can have. This will help you avoid mistakes and troubles and give your pets good health and excellent well-being.

What is the best way to feed your pet?

Let’s figure it out. But first, let’s make it clear that the vet will only talk about healthy dogs and cats. If your pet requires therapeutic nutrition (yes, there is such a thing!), you cannot do without a veterinarian.

Feed or natural food?

Unfortunately, at the moment, there is not a single scientific study on the basis of which it would be possible to create a balanced diet from natural products. But there is more than enough research on dry and canned food (as a rule, the manufacturers themselves carry out the research).

Therefore, it is impossible to say unequivocally what is better—ready-made food, natural food, or a mixed version. One cat has been eating bulls for all 16 years and feels great; other eats only elite food of a certain brand, and after tasting a bull for the first time in her life, she ends up in the hospital.

Each experienced owner or veterinarian has his own idea of ​​proper nutrition.

Raw meat is a wonderful natural and fresh product, but it can contain disease-causing bacteria and may not contain enough calcium and phosphorus.

Dry food is convenient because it does not require special storage conditions, but it can be daunting due to the preservatives and price.

Canned food cannot be stored for long after opening the jar (but can be frozen).

Another insidious feature of canned food is that they are much tastier than dry food, which can cause excess weight gain.

Ready-made feed

Animals fed a commercially produced diet have all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Manufacturers strive to ensure that your pet’s nutrition is balanced and healthy. As a result, dogs and cats eating this way are less likely to have intestinal disorders and are less likely to gain weight, have dental problems, and have diseases of internal organs.

With this type of feeding, several rules should be followed:

Follow the food allowance indicated on the package.
Before purchasing, look at the production date.
Try to avoid economy class feeds, as well as loose feeds.
Provide the animal with free access to clean water.

Breakfast-lunch-dinner or food always available?

Everything is individual. Some pets eat only when they are hungry—they can be safely left alone with a full bowl (we are talking only about dry food; canned food and natural food cannot be left all day).

If your pet is prone to overeating and does not move much, dividing its daily portion into 2–4 meals is better. Don’t forget about walks and outdoor games.

How much to give?

Again, everything is individual. Some people need fewer grams per day than the food label recommends, and some more.

How do you know if the food is not suitable?

The digestive system is the first to react to the “wrong” food: vomiting or upset occurs.

Food allergies manifest as redness and skin rashes around the lips, eyes, ears, stomach, and anus.

Conversely, stool, healthy skin and coat, activity, and a good appetite are signs of good food tolerance.

Speaking of appetite. It can be awakened not only by the taste but also by the smell, texture, and temperature of food, as well as the memories associated with it (e.g., a kitten that was fed processed cheese immediately after weaning from its mother will still love it 10 years later).

Tasty does not always mean healthy.

What not to do:

Mix different types of food. In factory feeds, the ratio of nutrients is clearly adjusted. Giving your pet additional “treats” inevitably upset this balance, which can lead to illness.
Give foods such as pork, fish and seafood, sweets, canned food, smoked meats, milk, and potatoes.
Feed the animal table scraps. In addition to digestive problems, your pet may develop a bad habit of begging.
Overfeed.

How to feed a kitten or puppy?

The answer is simple – animals have special diets from the first day of life. If you choose such an animal, or there is no chance of maternal feeding, then you can use them. From the age of one month, puppies and kittens are almost able to eat the diet typical of adult animals. You definitely shouldn’t feed newborn kittens and puppies with cow’s or goat’s milk; this will lead to problems with the digestive system and will not allow your pet to grow into a full-fledged, healthy cat or dog.