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| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Dos and don'ts of feeding your pets In a recent issue, we discussed the correct methods of feeding your pets. We hope you are now following those methods. As we promised, this week we are bringing you more information on this topic. Read the instructions given by Dr. D. A. U. Samankumara B.V.Sc. of Kirindiwela Animal Clinic and check whether you are aware of the dos and don'ts of pet feeding. As we mentioned earlier, rather than giving your pet a low grade meal in bulk, a small quantity of high concentrate food will be ideal. More than the quantity of the food, you have to concentrate on its quality. There are several important facts that need to be taken into consideration before deciding your pet's meal, such as its weight, age, health condition and whether it is an outdoor or indoor pet. For example, outdoor pets need more energy than indoor pets. The latter should not be given large quantities of food since it gets less exercise. And always remember, food that is suitable when the animal is in good health maybe unsuitable when it's ill. Thinking that dogs and cats are solely meat eaters is a common mistake made by pet owners. If trained in their early age, dogs and cats can survive only on vegetarian food. You can even mix both meat and vegetables when making their meal. Add some green leaves such as kankun and veggies like carrots and pumpkin when you cook meat. They will love it. But don't forget to start this from their early age. Boil the meat in whole. When it is half cooked(cooked on the outside), you can feed your pet, because most cats and dogs like the rawness inside meat. Fresh meat can be given as raw. But some pets are unable to digest raw meat. Such pets should not be fed raw meat.There is no exact time to feed your pet. If it's a working pet such as a watch dog, feed it early, and refrain from providing any food during the 'working hours'. A common question asked by pet owners is how frequently pets need to be fed. There are no hard and fast rules, but this again depends on the breed and size of your dogs. Small pets such as cats and Pomeranians should not be given several meals a day. This will increase the carbohydrate level in your pet's body which will leave you an unhealthy cat or dog.By giving a bone to munch after the main meal, your pet will be able to digest the food well. But avoid the bones of rabbit, fish and poultry. Always make sure that your pet has a bowl of fresh water throughout the day. Don't forget to remove unconsumed food.Some pets love to eat chocolates and sweets. But these too will increase the carbohydrate level and lead to bad odour and bad teeth. Pregnant pets should be fed two times a day. If you fed your pet twice a day before it got pregnant, then, make sure you increase the quantity of food. Young pets need more protein than adults. Don't forget to ask your vet to recommend a vitamin for your pet. Next time we will discuss more about puppies and their food. CNK |
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