Common Pet Diet Mistakes to Avoid: A Guide for Pet Owners

One of the greatest ways that as a pet owner you can make sure that your pet remains healthy and lives to its fullest potential is by feeding them right. It is a shame that most pet owners commit dietary errors that can result in the long-term health complications of their pets. It could be an excess, incorrect food type, or unhealthy treats; however, the consequences of your incorrect dietary choices can greatly affect the well-being of your pet. This article will discuss the most prevalent errors you can make in pet diets and offer some professional advice on how you can make healthy choices when it concerns the nutrition of your pet. Pet Fresh Supplies aims to provide comprehensive information and guidance to the pet owners for their lovely pets

Why Is Proper Pet Nutrition Important?

Not only is proper nutrition to your pet important to the overall well-being of your pet but also to energy, skin, coat, joint and digestive system of your pet. Pets must be fed on balanced diet like humans which is composed of all the essential nutrients; protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Lack of these nutrients can lead to health issues such as obesity, malnutrition, joint pains, and digestive constipation to your pet.

It should be mentioned that it is essential to feed a pet with the appropriate kind and quantity of food depending on his/her breed, age, and level of activity, and its health conditions. Pets have their own nutritional needs and such needs need to be considered. We shall enumerate the most common mistakes pet owners make that we can prevent in order to make your pet happy and healthy.

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What Are Some Common Pet Diet Mistakes?

This is one of the most frequent errors that an owner of a pet makes. Now, it is quite tempting to give your pet an additional meal or a snack, which can result in obesity, which is one of the biggest health issues of pets at present. The consequences of overfeeding include but are not limited to heart illness, diabetes, and joint issues. Most pet owners are unaware that their pets are overeating; they also tend to beg for food thus it is hard to resist their pleads.

Not selecting the appropriate food to meet the particular health requirements of the pet is another error that the pet owners commit. Pets can also be allergic, have food sensitivities, or have a medical condition which needs a special diet, as humans do. An example is that dogs with kidney disease need to be fed low-protein, whereas pets with food allergies might need to avoid some common allergens, including grains or beef. What is even worse is that neglecting such dietary requirements may complicate health issues and worsen the conditions of your pet.

The other frequent error of most pet owners is the feeding of the pet with human food. It could be a pleasant experience to share your walk with your animal but most of the food that people consume is harmful or is toxic to the animals. Onions, alcohol, grapes and chocolate are dangerous to pets as a case in point and can cause severe health complications, or even death. Even the type of food that seems to be perfectly safe, such as avocado or nuts can be poisonous to cats and dogs. To avoid this, feed your pet with only pet safe treats and meal that are formulated depending on the diet needs of your pet.

The other common mistake is failure to read labels of pet food carefully. Many brands of pet food are labeled with vague or deceptive packaging therefore, the pet owner might be unable to tell what he is feeding the pet. The high-quality ingredients do not have any meaning of natural, holistic, or grain-free. As a matter of fact, they may not all contain the correct quantity of fillers, by-products, or other artificial preservatives that may harm your pet. Always check the list of ingredients to make sure the food your pet is eating contains high-quality protein and other essential nutrients.

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How Can You Avoid These Pet Diet Mistakes?

The most effective prevention strategy in the problem of typical pet diet mistakes is to know and make wise choices related to what your pet eats. The most common errors can be prevented in the following ways:

The first is talking to your veterinarian about it. The pets are unique and so their diets may vary depending on their age, genus, health and the intensity of their activities. Someone who can help you make the right decision regarding what and how much to feed your pet is a veterinarian. Your vet will be in a position to prescribe a specific kind of food that will fulfill your needs in case your pet has specific food needs (such as food allergies or health conditions).

Portion control is one of the simplest methods of making sure that you are feeding your pet the right amount of food. Overeating is a widespread problem, and it is easy to provide your animal with more food than he/she requires, particularly when it insists on scraps. Measure the doses of your pets using a measuring cup or scale and divide it in accordance with the daily calorie intake they are supposed to have. You may also request your veterinarian to give you some guidelines regarding the portion size depending on the weight and the health objectives of your pet.

Then there comes the consideration of what is contained in the food you are buying. Find foods where a high-quality source of protein can be found, as the first ingredient, like chicken, turkey, or lamb. It is advisable to avoid corn, by-products, and soy as too many fillers. Such ingredients lack nutritional value and in certain cases have the potential of resulting in digestive problems. Also, make an attempt to buy food without artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors because they can be detrimental to the health of your pet in the long run.

In terms of treats, it is better to buy those that are formulated so specifically to pets and whose nutritional value they provide. Do not feed them human food and most importantly those known to be harmful to animals. You can buy healthy low-calorie snacks to reward your pet without causing any inconvenience to their diet and without leading to the development of overweight. Unprocessed and healthy snacks that you can use are fresh fruits or vegetables like carrots, mothballs of apples or blueberries.

Lastly, in case you do not know which type of food is more appropriate to your pet, you can reach out to pet nutritionists.Dr.  Lisa Freeman is a board certified veterinary nutritionist who advises pet owners to pay attention to the customized diets that suit the needs of their pets. Dr. Freeman advises that pet owners cannot feed their pets on one-size-fits-all diet, especially when a pet has special health requirements. It is also possible to find useful information about pet nutrition on the websites of such organizations as the American Kennel Club (AKC) and PetMD that can help you in determining what to feed your pet.

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What Are the Risks of Poor Pet Diet Choices?

The consequences of feeding your pet on the wrong diet may prove to be severe in the long run. An example of these causes is obesity, which is at the center stage of most health issues with pets. Obese animals are prone to diabetes, heart ailments and rickets and loss of life expectancy. Unhealthy diet may also hamper the immunity in your pet causing him to become vulnerable to infections and disease.

Pets allergic or sensitive to food can have skin problems, digestive and chronic ear infections unless they are on a special diet. Likewise, ailing animals such as those having kidney disease, arthritis or diabetes will also demand special diets to heal their ailments. Leaving out these food requirements can result in a low quality of life in your pet and even deteriorate the condition.

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 FAQs 

1. What are the signs that my pet is overweight?

Symptoms of an overweight pet can be troubles breathing, sleepiness, sore joints and inability to perform physical exercises such as walking or running. It is also possible to see that they have less easily feeling ribs, and can have a fat layer around the abdomen.

2. How much should I feed my pet?

Food requirements of your pet will depend on the factors of their age, breed, size, and activity Never leave out the advice of your veterinarian to decide on the right amount of portions and caloric content of your pet.

3. Can I feed my pet human food?

It is not advisable to feed your pet on human food. Some of the food that humans consume is even poisonous to pets and consumption of scraps by pets can result in health problems. Use pet safe food and treats that are constructed to meet the nutritional requirements of your pet.

4. How do I know if my pet has food allergies?

When your pet starts to scratch, lick, vomit, diarrhea, or ear infection, he or she might be allergic to a food. Refer to the veterinarian to diagnose them and give them alternate food suggestions.

5. Should I choose a grain-free diet for my pet?

Pets do not necessarily have to be put on grain-free diets. Most pets can safely take grains (rice, barley, etc.), although there are pet cases where grain-free is desirable (due to food allergies). A veterinarian should be asked regarding a grain-free diet before transitioning to it.

6. How can I prevent my pet from overeating?

Give your pet in controlled amounts to avoid him/her over eating, do not free feed your pet and reward and punish your pet sparingly. It is also possible to make mealtime more interesting with the help of puzzle feeders which slow down the speed of eating.

Conclusion

One of the best ways of making sure that your pet is happy and healthy is a good diet. The best thing you can do to make your pet thrive is to take the utmost common mistakes out of the equation, including over feeding them, feeding them human food or simply not knowing what they can and cannot eat. It is always good to seek the advice of a veterinarian or other pet nutritionist before you decide about what your pet eats, and that you are feeding your special health needs with the correct food. It will not be required that your pet will die too soon as with proper care and diet it can be your companion to long healthy life.