| Saying "no" when your pet looks at you with pleading eyes and coaxes
for food from the table can be difficult. However, succumbing to your pet's wiles
has the potential to create several problems. Consistently adding human
food to a nutritionally balanced commercial pet food may upset the nutrient balance
of the diet. You may also be creating behavior problems. Your pet will come to
expect food from the table when it coaxes. If a handout is not forthcoming, the
pet may steal food from the table or the food preparation area. To avoid
this problem, try feeding your pet at regularly scheduled times, such as when
the family is having breakfast or dinner. Feed only enough to maintain your pet
in good body condition. Ignore its coaxing for additional food, or give hugs instead. Supplementing
with human food adds calories to a pet's diet and may lead to an obese pet. When
you do give your pet treats, use those formulated for dogs or cats. Remember that
the treats contain calories. Reduce the amount of your pet's regular diet proportionally
to the treats being offered. Perhaps you are among the pet owners who worry
about whether or not your pet is getting all the nutrients it needs from a commercial
food. Having a variety of foods in our diets is necessary to get the balanced
nutrition we, as humans, require. However, all the needed variety is built into
complete and balanced pet foods. When it comes to proving optimum nutrition
for our pets, reputable pet food manufacturers have done the work for us. Research
scientists have formulated commercial diets containing all the nutrients normal,
healthy dogs or cats need for a particular life stage. Not only are high quality
pet foods nutritionally balanced, they are also formulated to be highly palatable
to the pet. Some foods fed in excess may cause health problems. For example,
repeatedly adding raw eggs to a pet's diet may cause a deficiency of the vitamin
biotin. Egg whites contain an enzyme which destroys the vitamin biotin. Symptoms
of biotin deficiency include dermatitis, loss of hair and poor growth. Milk,
if it is offered, should be in small amounts and never used as a substitute for
water. Some adult dogs and cats are not capable of digesting large amounts of
milk. It contains the sugar lactose, which requires the enzyme lactase for breakdown
in the intestinal tract. If the intestinal tracts does not contain sufficient
lactase, consumption of a high level of milk may cause diarrhea. Although
we may associate meat or meat by-products with a dog or cat's nutritional needs,
meat in itself is not a balanced diet. While meat is a good source of certain
nutrients, it must be combined with other ingredients to provide complete nutrition.
High quality pet foods provide the nutritional balance a pet needs. When
it comes to minerals, some pet owners believe that additional calcium, and possibly
other minerals, should be added to the diets of pregnant and nursing females and
growing puppies and kittens. It is true that more minerals are needed at these
times, but they are normally obtained through increased consumption of a high
quality nutritionally balanced diet. Adding them out of proportion to other nutrients
can create skeletal deformities and other problems. High quality pet foods
contain levels of vitamins adequate to meet a pet's needs. Excessive supplementation
of certain vitamins can create toxicity symptoms. This is especially true with
vitamin A. When a pet owner consistently adds liver to a nutritionally complete
diet or supplements with a vitamin A source, poor growth, abnormal eye conditions
and impaired reproductive performance could result. Wheat germ and cod liver
oil are sources of vitamin D. Excessive supplementation of vitamin D from these
or other sources over a long period can result in soft tissue calcification and
skeletal disorders. Some cat owners feed baby food to induce a cat to eat
or as an ongoing treat. Recent studies suggest that certain baby foods contain
levels of onion powder which are toxic to cats. If your cat is not eating, it
may be a sign of illness and your veterinarian should be consulted. Commercial
cat treats are your best bet to reward your cat for being your good friend. Always
keep chocolate out of your pet's reach. It contains theobromine, which is toxic
to pets. A final thought Sometimes it's
difficult to take a firm stand with a pet who is a consummate "con artist" and
knows how to get its own way. Remember the problems excessive supplementation
may cause. This should help you take a firm stand and feed a nutritionally balanced
diet that tastes good to your pet and is good for their health. -------------------------------------------------
// ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission
by Ralston Purina Canada | 
