Pet Health And What You Feed Them
August 30th, 2009
Since most Americans are more concerned about our health than we’ve ever been, we should have equal concern for our pets … especially regarding the ingredients in their food. In theory, we would want the ingredients in our pets’ food to be acceptable for human consumption. If byproducts are no longer tolerated in our food, why should they be tolerated in our pets’ food? We’re also starting to realize that our pets need daily supplements just like we do, in order to take care of their bodies for the inevitable woes of aging. In the span of an animal’s life, an early start at good health ensures less vulnerability to degenerative diseases, joints that are less likely to creak with pain and a healthier heart. We love our pets and we want them to live with us for as long as possible.
The very first thing we usually encounter as new pet owners is the issue of food. What should we snatch off the shelves and what should we run away from? Introducing a young animal to the world of food should be a very delicate and sensitive process. We must monitor closely how much food we give our new pet versus how much they are eating. We should be stringent about how quickly we increase the amount of food because we always run the risk of overfeeding.
It’s also important to be weary of dyes, chemicals, artificial preservatives as much as possible. For example, BHA … one of the most common synthetic antioxidant preservatives mainly used to prevent food discoloration and rancidity … has been found in scientific studies to cause stomach cancer in lab rats at certain doses. In lesser doses, the preservative doesn’t have a cancerous effect but there is no telling what BHA can do to the body in small doses over long periods of time.
Protein is crucial in a pet’s natural development. Look for foods with whole ingredients such as meat, eggs, fish and dairy rather than byproducts. Unbleached rice is also one of the most digestible carbohydrates and supplies a wonderful source of energy for your pet. Corn and wheat, on the other hand, are much harder to digest. It’s also a really good idea to look for antioxidants. In recent years, we have become much more conscious of our antioxidant intake, so why shouldn’t we have the same attitude towards our pets? Free radicals also wage war on their bodies so let’s fight off those rascals so that we can all live longer together!
Treats can be used to enhance the human-animal bond and to reward pets on good deeds and behavior. They’re a fantastic training tool. Our whole philosophy on giving treats is that if we’re going to reward our pets, why not reward their taste buds, their minds and their bodies? The idea is to bestow treats with a purpose, not just a biscuit stuffed with artificial flavor and vacant calories. Did you know that there are edible dog bones out there made with so called “edible” plastic? The companies claim this is perfectly safe. Best believe there are plenty of bones out there with other questionable ingredients.
When you are feeding premium pet food, it only makes sense to feed wholesome, premium treats and bones.
Lori Matthews
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/pet-health-and-what-you-feed-them-52214.html
Rachieeee
What can happen to a cats health if you feed a cat the wrong foods?
Hay everyone…
Thanks for helping me…
i am currently doing my Animal Care Diploma, and got to this question,
""What can happen to a cats health if you feed a cat the wrong foods?""
I have wrote about the basics if you over feed your cat it will go fat but i need alittle bit more details and information to what will happen, what might happen, how to stop it (outside cat and inside cat)….
I hope someone can help me
Thanks
Rachieeee
xxxxxxxxxx
August 30th, 2009 at 8:16 PMjuztin_in_cali
If you feed your cat a food without Taurine in it (like dog food for example) it can go blind. So you should always feed cat food that contains Taurine.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:18 AMReferences :
http://www.iams.co.uk/cat/Food-Nutrition-4/Taurine-Importance-Cat-Foods-183.html
Bozema
Poor quality cat food can lead to cats being underweight, overweight, having nutritional deficiencies, dental problems, allergies and commonly bladder stones. Being underweight or overweight can lead to a number of other health problems.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:20 AMReferences :
Bridey
Major risk of overweight cat: arthritis, diabetes, misery
Limit food intake, feed low calorie high fiber food, can also feed low carb foods
http://www.messybeast.com/overweight.htm
August 31st, 2009 at 1:22 AMReferences :
Kassie
the cat will get sick and as it gets older it has a better chance of getting worms… so treat your cat with care.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:24 AMReferences :
sweetypie
hi i had a BEAUTIFUL grey persian cat for 7 yrs when i bought him as a kitten he always had a really dodgy tummy so i contacted the breeder and she said to only feed Him iams dry cat food which i did due to the fact that when ever i tried anything else he had a dodgy tummy ie- diarrhoea anyway when he got to about 7 yrs old he suddenly got very very thin and could no longer wee properly i took him to the vet and the vet had to do 2 operations because he was suffering with kidney damage unfortunately it didn’t work and we i had to have him put down i was distraught and wanted to know why he suddenly got so ill the vet did some sort of autopsy and said that because of the cat food he was being fed ie iams dry mix it meant that my cat needed alot more fluid in his System as the dry cat food made him dehydrated i said there was always fresh water available to my cat but the vet said it wouldn’t of made a difference because my cat didn’t know any different he wouldn’t of taken any extra fluid to combat it thus leaving him with kidney failer so if i hadn’t taken the breeders advice and found an alternative of my own ie dry and meat cat food maybe my cat wouldn’t of been so poorly hope that some help
August 31st, 2009 at 1:26 AMReferences :
troublesniffer
Hi there,
To begin my answer, let me provide a link to a really useful site for information about what foods should never be fed to a cat, and the reasons are included.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1&aid=1029
Here is one of my answers on Yahoo about tuna, whether red meat or human grade white tuna, they both are nutritionally lacking important elements. These foods can be highly dangerous for cats, especially if fed frequently. The explanation is on the answer itself with other resource links for you.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090309074729AAFnMsY
http://www.thensome.com/drjean/ is a link that talks about what foods are good for cats and why.
Just like humans who don’t eat healthy diets, and become obese, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease can result. Felines are obligate carnivores and require a high quality grainless meat based food which contain the protein that they crave.
For another excellent resource link for your project, visit this website, provided and written by a veterinarian who is an expert in the field of feline nutrition.
http://www.catinfo.org/
I think you will have all the information you need to do an excellent project. I wish you all the best.
Troublesniffer
August 31st, 2009 at 1:28 AMOwned by cats for over 40 years
Member: Cat Writer’s Association
References :
talim27
I have known lots of people who use lots of different cat dry and wet foods and honestly all of theirs are healthy. I fed mine Cat Chow her whole life (Well you know, kitten chow, then cat chow, and now cat chow indoor formula). She is over weight and diabetic, although we have told the vet how much we feed her and it was never too much. We think it was more a genetic thing. On the other hand her coat is very shiny and she is very active, very happy. Hope that helps at least a bit
August 31st, 2009 at 1:30 AMReferences :
Jen the Cat Captain
Well, there are several things that can go wrong by feeding a cat an improper diet.
Okay, aside from feline obesity, which you’ve already covered, they could survive on the wrong food, but it wouldn’t last for long.
By feeding a cat the wrong food, you would notice it starting to deteriorate in health.
If it is still a kitten, it would not be able to develop properly, which would be extremely detrimental to it’s future health.
What MIGHT happen is just an early and sudden death. Or the cat will, out of hunger, eat random things like plastic, or bits of human food dropped off the table on accident, and become deathly ill.
I’d equate it to raising your child on Big Macs, fries, and ice cream.
It’ll survive for awhile, but the end result is gonna be far too soon, and tragic.
Now, a bit more detail would be the first signs.
A) A cat isn’t going to eat what it doesn’t want. If it’s not proper nutrition, most of the time, the cat will refuse to eat it. For instance, if the "wrong" food that you gave it was bird food, the cat’s just going to stare at you like, "What is this crap?"
So in turn, the cat will slowly starve itself.
B) If the cat did eat the wrong food that it is provided, then there’s a sequence of things that will generally begin to happen.
-The cat would become lethargic and listless, and not want to play or be active. It would choose to sleep as often as it could, and move as little as possible.
- The cat would be vomiting and have trouble digesting what it does eat.
-Then the cat’s fur would fade in color, and become dull, and start to fall out in clumps.
- It’s eyesight would begin to deteriorate, to the point of total blindness.
- It will begin to have trouble using the litterbox, and just go wherever it pleases.
- It will be in so much pain, feeling miserable and ill.
- And consequently, death will result.
This can be changed by gradually introducing proper diet with complete nutrition and vitamins that the cat needs. It may need to be on a special care formula diet until it’s stomach becomes strong enough to handle proper, excellent cat food.
You prevent malnutrition by doing the research beforehand, and reading the labels on packages of cat food.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:32 AMBy feeding them a high-quality food, the cat will be more active, happy, healthy, affectionate and playful.
References :
P.S. Ah, I missed your last couple questions, I’ll have to go see if they’re still open!! =)
Laurie
Most importantly, a cat must eat food for a cat and not for a dog or other animal. Cats require Taurine. Without it, blindness will occur. In addition a cat requires different caloric values than a dog. Cat food is higher in calories, Water is the only acceptable drink for your cat. Besides quenching thirst, it helps to provide cleansing of the kidneys through urination, just as it does for all animals. Milk can cause diarrhea, causing gastric upset so should not be fed to cats. If one feeds dry food, a good quality canned food should also be incorporated into the diet. Easier to digest and fills the stomach instead of with dry food just causing the pellets to swell up with water, for that false full feeling. I have had cats who preferred only dry, others that have preferred only canned, but they will eventually eat the canned if you find the right flavor.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:34 AMReferences :
bell
So many things can go wrong, it depends on what wrong foods.
Diabetes
Loss of vision / partial blindness
Malnutrition causing loss of muscle mass, weakness, organ failure
Underweight / overweight due to too much fillers / not eating what they need.
Urinary tract infections
Urinary crystals / blockage (crystals can cause blockage especially in male cats which is fatal if not treated)
Kidney Failure (common in older cats, but early onset in younger cats with poor diet)
Kidney stones
Allergies
dull coat
Irritable bowels / diahrrea
bowel obstruction / blockage
stomach bloat / worms (you sometimes see this in feral kittens)
Outdoor cats may hunt and eat a mouse or rat that ate poison, so it could result in poisoning (some rat poison contains warfarin which is a horrible way to die)
How to stop it:
August 31st, 2009 at 1:36 AMKeep cats indoors, feed them a proper balanced diet and make regular visits to your vet for checkups.
References :