The Truth About Treats

Most dog owners, and an increasing number of cat owners, feed treats to their dogs, as well as their regular food. Treats are rarely "complete and balanced", and are often loaded with salt, fat, artificial colorings and preservatives, all of which comprise "junk food" for animals. A daily vitamin and some biscuits every day will not harm your pet unless it has a diet related disease, but it’s best to give these items in moderation. Stick with a crunchy biscuit type of treat for your cat or dog. Some of them, such as Hill’s line of life stage biscuits, are better than others. Read labels before you buy. Also, these biscuits help slow the build up of dental tartar, but they cannot remove tartar once it is present. Your pet will still need dental care even if you feed him this type of snack.

Supplements & Calories
Do not give any vitamin, herbal, or mineral supplements to your dog or cat without your veterinarian’s advice. These types of supplements can easily cause harmful nutrient excesses, or in the case of herbals, could actually be a poison to the animal.

Puppies and kittens need lots of calories to grow on, and plenty of fresh water. Until they are 4 months old, feed at least three meals a day, giving as much as the animal will consume in a ten to fifteen minute feeding. Kitten food may be left out all the time, but it’s much easier to housebreak a puppy if you feed him or her at set times every day. Puppies will then have regular, predictable elimination times as well.

Frequency
 

Cats are nibblers and need at least 2 meals a day throughout their lives. Continue to feed a diet made for kittens until your cat is 1 year old.

The most important daily contribution you will make to your pet’s health is his or her diet. So choose wisely, and feel free to consult with us about any nutritional questions you may have.