Owning a pet is rewarding but it is a role that is full of responsibilities. They have several needs which have to be met. One of the biggest duties is feeding them the right food. It is common knowledge that dogs love bones and cats love fish. But did you know that a bone can splinter and cause a cut in the digestive system and the same goes for fish bones for cats?
Serving the furry pets
Well-known veterinarian, Dr Gustavo Pinto, has over 40 years of experience. “I always recommend natural food. The simple reason is that commercial feed has got a lot of preservatives and there are issues when you give commercial feed. Chocolates are not allowed for dogs for several health issues. They cannot tolerate cocoa. There is no issue with chicken feet, except the risk of choking. It can cause a choke in the gullet, in the food pipe. If they are giving chicken legs and feet, it should be properly chopped and cooked. It's not a great choice of food for dogs compared to curry pieces. It is very healthy and it got a lot of flesh,” advises Dr Gustavo. The same goes for thorns in big fish for cats.
Dogs don't eat fruits as a rule but dogs are extra sensitive of what they eat. “I have seen a few dogs that do eat fruits. I am surprised about it. Their instincts teach them to sense and smell it and they know what to be avoided,” says Dr Gustavo.
The new fad is to avoid milk for cats and dogs. Dr Gustavo busts the myth. He says, “We have been giving milk for centuries. So suddenly this new fad of not giving milk to dogs and cats, I don't agree with it. The first thing we feed for puppies and kittens is milk and bread.”
“However, I don't recommend raw food because the dog has a taste for eating raw food and blood. That should be avoided. There is an argument that dogs have been given canine teeth. So they can tear flesh. But then they are domesticated, so it's like trying to return them to the wild. By giving raw food and inculcating a taste in them for flesh and blood, which is not good,” informs Dr Gustavo.
Feeding feathered friends
In Goa, the most common birds that are found in avaries are parrots, parakeets and budgerigars. While there are a whole lot of packaged foods that are easily available in pet shops, it’s always better to feed them a variety of grains.
Dr Lyanne Vaz practises at Campal and is a veterinarian working in small animal medicine with a special interest in neurology and exotic animal medicine and surgery. She specialises in treating birds. “For birds, one obviously wouldn't want to give chocolate, grapes and avocados. Grapes cause kidney damage and avocados are toxic and they will pass away immediately after eating avocados,” says Dr Lyanne.
Often found on the coastal belt of Goa, Cuttlefish bone is an important dietary supplement for birds as it is an excellent source of calcium. However, Dr Lyanne advises against feeding it directly to the birds. She “You normally get it from a pet shop, because those bones have been cleared, cleaned and processed.”
Foods your pets should never eat
Chocolate
Chocolate is bad for dogs as it contains theobromine. The most dangerous types are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea. It can also cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, and death.
Raw meat and fish
Like raw eggs, raw meat and fish can have bacteria that causes food poisoning. Some fish can also have a parasite that causes poisoning disease. The first signs are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes. The fish has to be cooked to kill the parasite.
Alcohol
Beer, liquor, wine, or food with alcohol will effect a pet’s liver and brain. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, coordination problems, breathing problems, coma, even death.
Plums
The problem with this fruit is the seeds or pits. Seeds can cause problems in a dog's small intestine. They can also block their intestines. That can also happen if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. Peach and plum pits also have cyanide, which is poisonous to people and pets.
Coffee, Tea, and Other Caffeine
Keep your pets away from cocoa, colas, and energy drinks. Caffeine is also in some cold medicines and pain killers. Get your pet to the vet as soon as possible if you think they mistakenly had consumed caffeine.
Sugary foods and drinks
Too much sugar can make your pets overweight and cause problems with their teeth. It can even lead to diabetes.