Managing
the feeding of your dog and cat
 The
Dog
Getting
the quantity of food right is important, as both under and
overfeeding can lead to health problems. This depends on the
owner taking account of individual variations...
 THE
FUSSY EATER
Feed once daily, usually 5 -7 p.m.. Offer
less than the recommended amount for the dog's weight e.g.
if the dog weighs 20 kg offer 5-6 ounces (125 - 150gr ) rather
than 8 ounces (200 gr.) Any food not consumed within 10 -
15 minutes should be taken up and no more food offered until
the same mealtime next day. At the next meal, offer slightly
less than the amount eaten the day before.
Experiment with quantities until you ensure
that your dog is READY for its meal each day, consumes the
whole amount and would even eat a little more if it were available.
After the first few days, if you have to offer extras to encourage
your dog to eat then your are probably overfeeding.
THE
"HUNGRY" OR "GREEDY" DOG.
With these dogs, appetite is NOT a reliable
guide to requirements. Offer the prescribed maximum according
to weight. This can be given as one feed or split between
two feeds depending on preference and the amount can then
be adjusted depending on results.
The Cat
Many owners overestimate how much food their cat actually
needs. Cats are small animals and are not noted for strenuous
physical exercise. These factors reduce their food requirements.
Consistent overfeeding leads to loss of appetite, fussiness
and contributes to toxin production.
THE
FUSSY EATER
Feed 2-3 times daily, on demand ensuring that
the quantity offered is such that the cat will consume the
whole amount. For most cats a few pellets at a time will suffice.
This "rationing" helps to avoid overfeeding and
should stop the cat from seeking food elsewhere.
Any food uneaten after 10 minutes should be removed and none
offered until the cat next demands feeding. Occasionally your
cat may ask for food but refuse Burns. Resist the temptation
to try an alternative food. If you give in at this crucial
stage all will be lost.
You will probably find the cat will eat happily a few hours
later confirming that he/ she wasn't really hungry in the
first instance.
THE 'HUNGRY' OR GREEDY CAT
Here, appetite is no guide to need. Feed 2-3
times daily but do not exceed the daily amount according to
weight.
Being out at work each day does create some problems but a
slight change in established routine is worthwhile. Feed in
the morning but lift uneaten food before departure and give
the main feed in the evening.
Special Considerations
What if the pet won't eat?
Some older pets may be underweight yet have
poor appetite due to loss of sense of smell and taste. These
can be encouraged to eat by e.g. more frequent meals, handfeeding,
adding some home-made food, warm water or vegetable stock
to the food to increase palatability.
The anorexic pet
Some pets will not eat due to stress. This
applies particularly to the dog or cat with a timid or nervous
disposition. Initially they may benefit from handfeeding several
times daily. If possible, eliminate the cause of the stress.
But too much effort towards getting the pet to eat will itself
cause stress to pet (and owner) and perpetuate the problem.
The show dog or cat
"Show condition" often requires
that the pet should have lots of "body". In this
case "body" usually means "fat" not muscle
and judges tend to pick fatter rather than healthy lean pets.
Many owners of show dogs complain that they cannot get the
dog to eat enough to achieve the necessary "body"..
This is because the dog is eating enough to satisfy its own
needs but not enough to get the dog fat enough for the show
ring.
Pets with digestive problems
If your pet is underweight as a result of
poor absorption of food there is a strong temptation to increase
the food to build the animal up. But it is better to proceed
cautiously in order to avoid any setbacks. An occasional hard-boiled
egg can be a useful supplement. When changing to Burns you
can expect to see normal stools within a short time. But the
intestines may need several weeks of correct feeding before
regaining their efficiency. Increasing the food intake reduces
the efficiency of absorption.
Changing to Burns
Burns is a food which is low in protein and
fat but high in complex carbohydrate. This tends to produce
a lean, fit condition so one would expect a slightly overweight
dog to slim down. Most pets can change to Burns over the space
of a few days. However, a small percentage who are changing
from a diet high in protein, fat and sugars (the "normal"
pet foods) lose too much weight and become bony. If this happens,
the solution is NOT to increase the amount of
food but to slow the rate of change. It may be necessary to
make the change to a more natural diet over a few weeks. The
same thing can be seen in humans who change to a more natural
diet from the typical Western diet of meat, sugar and refined
foods to a diet based on wholefoods.
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