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One of the first and most important issues for pet owners is the problem of proper feeding. Usually, new owners ask the breeder or seller what and how to feed the dog or cat. Many people think that their food is suitable for the animal. The most responsible owners buy specialized literature or consult with specialists (veterinarians, cynologists).
Three main types of feeding
Homemade dog food, i.e. the same foods that people eat (meat and dairy products, grain food, vegetables, etc.). In order for the animal to feel good with this type of feeding, it is necessary to carefully balance the diet for the main nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals).
Industrial dog food, dry and canned. There are a large number of pet food companies. It is better to use the channels of well-established companies that have research centers or cooperate with them. We recommend several “good” brands of feed: Brit, Carnilov, Miratorg.
Mixed food for dogs, feeding both ready-made and homemade food. In our society (after the introduction of ready-made meals), this type of feeding has become the most common, although there is no scientific justification for it. On the contrary, all serious and specialized manufacturers of complete rations do not recommend adding anything other than water to dry food.
We veterinarians recommend using specialized pet stores where you can buy special cat food or special dog food, in short, pet food. In our pet stores you can buy both pet food and the right advice.
Overweight and obesity in dogs and cats
dog food; cat food; pet shop; animal feed
Many people have pets, most commonly cats and dogs. Feeding a pet plays a leading role in the relationship between the owner and the pet. You can feed the animals both ready-made feeds and homemade feeds. But, as in any business, feeding also has its own rules. Food provides the body with energy, and the required amount depends on many factors: animal species, breed, body weight, temperament, body type, metabolic type, age, ambient temperature, obesity, physical fitness, health status, etc.
Where is energy from food spent? It is spent on food intake and digestion, on life movements: obtaining food (in wild animals), on moving the body in space (in domestic animals, these are games, walks), on thermoregulation (short-haired and especially hairless breeds spend more energy on thermoregulation). After eating, energy, that is, incoming nutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates), is spent on the synthesis and construction of tissues, after which glycogen and fat are synthesized from the remaining energy.
Fat is necessary for any organism, it is a source of energy, which means that the body feeds in a situation of lack of nutrients. If fat accumulates more than normal, it is not consumed by the body for movement (this is one of the main problems in keeping an apartment), then we notice overweight or obesity in pets.
Thus, being overweight is considered 10-15 percent more than ideal. If the weight exceeds the ideal by more than 15%, then this is one of the signs of obesity. Interestingly, owners often do not notice the presence of excess weight in a pet, both in dogs and cats. When talking about obesity, cat owners often think that a cat or dog is just “big” and fat.
Obesity has two stages:
Dynamic. Lack of movement and excessive food intake (animal eats as much as it wants)
Static. The weight is already increasing, but the animal is eating less.
If the pet is fed dry and/or wet food, it is important to respect the daily dose. It should be noted that the average daily diet is indicated on the feeder. If you feed at the correct rate (not by eye, but weigh the daily rate on the scales), and the pet is overweight, then you need to reduce the indicated rate by 10%. If the diet includes wet food, then for every 50 g of wet food, it is necessary to reduce the amount of dry food by 10-15 g.
