How to keep your pet healthy
Pet obesity is an epidemic. A recent census revealed that 89 per cent of dog owners think their pet’s weight is fi ne, while vets say at least a third of dogs are carrying a few extra pounds. Here is a round-up of what you should do to make sure your pet stays healthy.
Weight A healthy dog’s ribs should be easily felt, and there should be an abdominal tuck after their ribcage. Many owners think this means their dog is underweight, so compensate by overfeeding them.
You should also abide by feeding guidelines. Consult the guide on your chosen food and measure portion size accurately. Over time, the wrong portion size can take its toll on your pet’s waistline. Also, remember that many pets will happily eat up larger portions, even if it’s harmful.
Exercise Only 11 per cent of dog owners reward their dog’s good behaviour with walks, while 58 per cent off er their pets doggy delicacies. Rescue pets, in particular, tend to receive excessive treats to compensate for their ‘hard lives’. Such rewards may be well intentioned, but they’re detrimental to a pet’s health, as it will end up overweight. An alternative is to show your love with a long walk – your pet is bound to appreciate the extra attention and exercise, plus it benefi ts both your waistlines.
Small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits need exercise, too. Many hutches are too small and don’t allow enough movement. The minimum hutch size should be 6ft x 2ft x 2ft, with an attached run. Many savvy owners opt for a shed, or have house rabbits and guinea pigs so there’s more room to roam.
Diet and labels Owners need to know their pet’s dietary requirements to ensure the pet is eating the right food – 20 per cent of owners don’t know the nutritional values to look for when selecting their pet’s diet.
It also pays to be aware of what you don’t want your pet to eat. Higherquality pet foods don’t use chemical additives or preservatives and do list individual ingredients by name. Owners can therefore identify and avoid ingredients to which the pet is known to be allergic or intolerant.
Some chemical preservatives in dry foods have been thought to be carcinogenic and are often labelled as ‘antioxidants’. Many pet owners are feeding their pets a diet containing chemical preservatives and don’t even realise it. Another blanket term to be aware of is ‘cereals’, which doesn’t explain the exact ingredients.
Pet foods can be preserved with natural antioxidants (vitamins E and C). Apart from being natural, they also have nutritional benefi ts. Fortyseven per cent of dog owners and 63 per cent of cat and rabbit owners choose their pet’s food based solely on price. Cheap foods are generally made with cheap ingredients. Unsurprisingly, they are poorer quality, and you may need to feed your pet more to ensure they receive the nutrition they need. As a result, they aren’t always as economical as they seem.
Dental health Dental disease is a common problem that’s diffi cult to spot. It aff ects many older cats, but they don’t show discomfort, even when the condition is severe. Cats rarely reveal they are in pain, but signs to be aware of are loss of appetite, increased salivation and reduced grooming and exertion.
Plaque is the main cause. Initially, the plaque layer isn’t visible, but a vet can use a disclosing solution to reveal it. As a plaque layer develops it may be noticeable as a soft, grey or white fi lm on the tooth surface. Rabbits’ teeth can also be problematic, as they are constantly growing. The teeth rely on high-fi bre food, such as grass and hay, to wear them down via a sideways motion. Dry food is crushed in an up-and-down movement and doesn’t promote good dental health. Checking rabbits’ teeth regularly is important. Unfortunately, you will only be able to check the incisors and not the cheek teeth, so watch out for other symptoms of dental disease such as dribbling or refusing hay.
Fiona Firth is head nutritionist at Burns Pet Nutrition: 0800-083 6696, www.burnspet.co.uk
Weight A healthy dog’s ribs should be easily felt, and there should be an abdominal tuck after their ribcage. Many owners think this means their dog is underweight, so compensate by overfeeding them.
You should also abide by feeding guidelines. Consult the guide on your chosen food and measure portion size accurately. Over time, the wrong portion size can take its toll on your pet’s waistline. Also, remember that many pets will happily eat up larger portions, even if it’s harmful.
Exercise Only 11 per cent of dog owners reward their dog’s good behaviour with walks, while 58 per cent off er their pets doggy delicacies. Rescue pets, in particular, tend to receive excessive treats to compensate for their ‘hard lives’. Such rewards may be well intentioned, but they’re detrimental to a pet’s health, as it will end up overweight. An alternative is to show your love with a long walk – your pet is bound to appreciate the extra attention and exercise, plus it benefi ts both your waistlines.
Small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits need exercise, too. Many hutches are too small and don’t allow enough movement. The minimum hutch size should be 6ft x 2ft x 2ft, with an attached run. Many savvy owners opt for a shed, or have house rabbits and guinea pigs so there’s more room to roam.
Diet and labels Owners need to know their pet’s dietary requirements to ensure the pet is eating the right food – 20 per cent of owners don’t know the nutritional values to look for when selecting their pet’s diet.
It also pays to be aware of what you don’t want your pet to eat. Higherquality pet foods don’t use chemical additives or preservatives and do list individual ingredients by name. Owners can therefore identify and avoid ingredients to which the pet is known to be allergic or intolerant.
Some chemical preservatives in dry foods have been thought to be carcinogenic and are often labelled as ‘antioxidants’. Many pet owners are feeding their pets a diet containing chemical preservatives and don’t even realise it. Another blanket term to be aware of is ‘cereals’, which doesn’t explain the exact ingredients.
Pet foods can be preserved with natural antioxidants (vitamins E and C). Apart from being natural, they also have nutritional benefi ts. Fortyseven per cent of dog owners and 63 per cent of cat and rabbit owners choose their pet’s food based solely on price. Cheap foods are generally made with cheap ingredients. Unsurprisingly, they are poorer quality, and you may need to feed your pet more to ensure they receive the nutrition they need. As a result, they aren’t always as economical as they seem.
Dental health Dental disease is a common problem that’s diffi cult to spot. It aff ects many older cats, but they don’t show discomfort, even when the condition is severe. Cats rarely reveal they are in pain, but signs to be aware of are loss of appetite, increased salivation and reduced grooming and exertion.
Plaque is the main cause. Initially, the plaque layer isn’t visible, but a vet can use a disclosing solution to reveal it. As a plaque layer develops it may be noticeable as a soft, grey or white fi lm on the tooth surface. Rabbits’ teeth can also be problematic, as they are constantly growing. The teeth rely on high-fi bre food, such as grass and hay, to wear them down via a sideways motion. Dry food is crushed in an up-and-down movement and doesn’t promote good dental health. Checking rabbits’ teeth regularly is important. Unfortunately, you will only be able to check the incisors and not the cheek teeth, so watch out for other symptoms of dental disease such as dribbling or refusing hay.
Fiona Firth is head nutritionist at Burns Pet Nutrition: 0800-083 6696, www.burnspet.co.uk