Common Misconceptions About Feeding Pets

1 Common Pet Feeding Mistakes

What Are Common Pet Feeding Mistakes?

1) Feeding white rice and organ meat: this easily causes skin problems such as eczema, dandruff and itching in pets. Too much organ meat can lead to vitamin toxicity and bone issues; feed organs only occasionally. Long-term rice also makes dogs bottom-heavy with poor shape.

2) Feeding ocean fish: fish have bones pets don’t spit out, risking throat obstruction. Fish bones are high in calcium and phosphorus, and long-term feeding can cause urinary stones in cats. Squid, cuttlefish and some shellfish contain unsuitable components that cause digestion and gut problems, and some seafood can inflame cat skin. Let a cat try a tiny amount first and only feed more if there is no reaction.

3) Feeding fish and chicken bones: dogs swallow without chewing, a common cause of vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Fish or chicken bones can lodge in the throat and, being hard and sharp, may even tear the intestines, so avoid them. Small amounts of pork or beef bones for gnawing are fine (for teeth), but bones don’t make bones stronger. Cats are even less suited to bones.

4) Feeding your own meals: human food is high in oil and salt and often has seasonings unsuitable for pets. An adult cat or dog needs only about 5% salt; too much oil and salt harms health. Spicy food easily triggers gut problems, so control strictly.

5) Long-term raw meat: pets love meat but don’t feed it long-term, or they become picky eaters and develop mouth problems such as cavities and tartar — the most common being bad breath. To avoid a smelly pet, watch this.

6) Feeding chocolate: the theobromine in chocolate poisons dogs. About 9 g of chocolate can be lethal to a 1 kg dog; poisoning causes vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination and breathing difficulty, even death from heart failure. Never give dogs chocolate.

7) Feeding milk and raw egg white: milk is nutritious but pets’ guts don’t digest it well and it causes diarrhea. Also avoid raw egg white, which contains avidin that binds important vitamins and impairs a cat’s ability to absorb them.

In summary, if you have any of these feeding habits, correct them for your pet’s health.