Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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.