Download Why Do I Have to Feed My Pet That?

Why Do I Have to Feed My Pet That?
by Dr. Sari Kanfer, DVM
What you feed your pets can directly affect their health. Humans can choose what they eat,
but our pets are dependent upon the food that we give them. For dogs and cats there are
numerous brands and food types to choose from, and the major pet food companies have
extensively researched dog and cat dietary requirements to create diets to help pets live
longer, healthier lives. They have also created special diets that help with treating certain
medical conditions.
In the world of exotic pets, it is not so easy. There are herbivores that eat vegetation,
carnivores that eat whole prey/meat, and omnivores that need to eat a combination of
vegetation and meat. In the bird world there are herbivores (ducks, geese), carnivores
(raptors), and omnivores (crows, jays), but there are also granivores (grain eaters, parrots,
pigeons, doves), frugivores (fruit eaters, hornbills), and nectar eaters (lorikeets). Most
mammals are either herbivores (guinea pigs, rabbits), omnivores (rats, pet pigs), or
carnivores (ferrets), but there are also insectivores (hedgehogs) and nectar eaters (sugar
gliders). Then in the reptile world, we also have herbivores (tortoises and some turtles,
some lizards), omnivores/insectivores (lizards, some turtles), and carnivores (snakes, some
lizards). With such a wide variety of animals and several different categories of nutritional
requirements, it can be challenging to feed your pet the proper diet.
At the pet store you may see bags of food labelled
specifically for your species of choice. In the wild,
natural state, most exotic pets eat a very varied
diet, depending on the season and location. It is
difficult to replicate that diet fully in a simple
pelleted form that can be fed exclusively.
Extensive research has been performed on the
needs of many bird species, and the pelleted diets
by Harrison, Roudybush, and Lafeber's are as
complete as possible to satisfy each species
dietary requirements. But in the wild birds spend
hours foraging to look for food, so we recommend
giving them interactive toys to help satisfy their foraging and mental needs.
Herbivores have naturally developed to survive on a nutrient poor, high fiber diet, so that
they must eat huge amounts of vegetation to take in enough nutrients. Think of a horse
grazing all day. Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and tortoises also have the drive to graze
most of the day on grass and hay. The diets of rabbits and guinea pigs have been
researched to provide complete nutrition in a pelleted formula. But those pelleted diets were
initially created for use with laboratory, breeder, and livestock rabbits and guinea pigs in
mind, animals that only live a year or a few years. Newer pelleted diets, such as those from
Oxbow, are geared toward a longer lived, healthier pet. In addition, it has been discovered
that rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas can develop problems when they are fed only
pellets and no additional source of fiber like hay. Rabbits especially develop dental problems
and intestinal slowdown. This has resulted in the current recommendations for rabbits,
guinea pigs, and chinchillas to eat a very small amount of pellets, with a very large amount
of hay, and for variety their diet can be supplemented with a small amount of leafy greens
each day.
Herbivorous reptiles may not eat as much
vegetation as a mammal, but they do require high
quality greens that are higher in calcium, like
kale, chard, collard and mustard greens.
Herbivorous reptiles may not receive enough
calcium in their diet and need to be
supplemented, especially if it is a female laying
eggs. In addition, reptiles require the UVB rays of
sunlight to supply them with vitamin D, which
allows them to absorb the calcium in their diet.
When herbivorous lizards or turtles don't receive
calcium and UVB rays while growing, they will
have soft, malformed bones, and may not survive.
A pelleted diet alone would be insufficient for an
herbivorous reptile.
Omnivorous reptiles, mammals and birds are easier to feed a variety of foods, and they are
less likely to develop nutritional problems. The pelleted diets for turtles may be sufficient,
but we still recommend supplementing with fresh greens and insects. Pet pigs can get
overweight on a pelleted diet, so it is best to feed them a human type vegetarian diet, with
very small amounts of pellets, and their protein coming from plant based sources, such as
tofu and beans. Pigs on a vegetarian diet tend to live well into their teens.
Carnivorous animals such as snakes, raptors, and some lizards are fed whole prey, from
mice and rats to larger prey animals. This is the closest to a natural diet for these species as
we can get. Plus eating a whole prey animal provides 100% of nutrients. Cats and ferrets
are the mammals we most commonly keep as pets that are strict carnivores. When we feed
them a formulated diet, dry or wet food, instead of a whole prey animal, it is more
challenging for us to completely replicate their natural diet. But it is hard for people who
love fuzzy critters, to feed fuzzy critters to them.
Cats that roam outdoors may eat rodents and birds, which is very healthy for them. But
indoor cats and pet ferrets rely upon the food we feed them. Many years ago, the cat food
manufacturers learned that they had to add amino acids such as taurine and arginine to cat
diets, or they would develop diseases. In addition, some of the earlier, cheaper dry cat
foods contained more minerals, and affected the pH of the cats' urine, leading many cats to
develop crystals and stones in their bladder. For ferrets there are diets that have been
created for them that are very high in protein while still providing them with the amino
acids they require. Similarly to cats, diet can affect their urine and lead to crystals and
painful stone formation. One ferret diet still on the shelves, Zupreem grain-free ferret diet,
has been linked in several cases over the past few years in causing cysteine bladder stones
in ferrets.
How can you determine if you are feeding your
exotic pet a proper diet that will keep it healthy
and help it live a long life? Talk with your
experienced exotic pet veterinarian and get
involved with rescuers and other people that
share your love for your pet. The internet has
many rescue groups and animal lovers you can
get information from. But beware, not everything
you read on the internet is true. Check the
source: is it a person trying to sell you food, or an
animal, or is it a highly respected and experienced veterinarian that has devoted their life to
exotic pets? If many different people are agreeing on the same thing, then it is more likely
to be true. For exotic pets, the best thing is a diet that most closely reflects what that
animal would be eating in the wild.