Pet Feeding Mistakes You Should Avoid

You want your four-legged friend to live a long and healthy life. One way to make sure that your pet dog or cat lives to a ripe old age is by paying attention to the kind of food you are feeding them. Here are some pet feeding mistakes that pet owners make, most times without even knowing it.

Obesity

Obesity is a condition that affects most pets, yet the issue can be avoided entirely and even reversed. One of the most problematic habits with pet owners that contributes to their pet’s obesity is feeding them “people food.” Other causes of obesity can include underlying issues such as worms and parasites.

Diseases such as hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease can also contribute to weight gain. To avoid this, it’s important that you are always aware of the kind of food that your pet gets so they don’t start gaining unnecessary weight.

Life Stages

You probably know that your pet needs different kinds of foods at different stages of their lives, but most pet owners rarely take this as seriously as they should. There are a number of food categories to ensure your pet always has the right kind of food when they require it. The thing with feeding your pet food that is not appropriate for them at their life stage is that they may be receiving nutrients that they don’t need.

Most pet owners make the mistake of switching to adult feed too soon, thus introducing the new food even before the pet has a fully developed skeletal structure. You can only start feeding your pet adult food once they’ve reached one year old—that’s when they need the nutrients to grow.

Marketing

The “holistic” or “natural” tags on your pet’s food shouldn’t be the reason you choose one type of food over another. Though they sound appealing, you have to know what type of food will benefit your pet. Take “holistic”, for example. The term has no legal definition when it comes to pet food and is merely used to market overpriced food. Ensure you choose pet food based on what nutrients it provides for your pet rather than following the marketing phrases. In this case, you should make sure you know the ingredients list before buying any type of food.

Be wary of brands purporting to provide the “best” food for your pet because the truth is, they are just trying to make a profit. You are better off buying what the vet recommends rather than buying what seems to be popular with pet owners.

A Note From GR8NESS

You treasure your pet, and you want them happy and healthy. You need to feed them right, and it all starts with knowing what not to do by avoiding these pet feeding mistakes. Always be sure to speak to a professional about feeding regimens you may not know too well. Getting the hang of the right feeding practices might take time, but the results will totally be worth it.