Pet Food Myths Busted!
Published on April 24, 2009 by Freelance Contributors · 3 CommentsWhat you should and shouldn’t feed your pets
Many of us feed our pets what we think they like as opposed to what is right for them. The Pet Food Manufacturers Association are keen to dispel some of these common myths and set the record straight for pet owners everywhere.
Top five pet food myths
Pet food myth… Right or rubbish?
1. Chocolate is a killer for dogs
Right
In reality….
* Dogs will eat pretty much anything you give them but did you know that when you give your dog a human chocolate treat you are poisoning them?
* Chocolate in any form is extremely toxic to man’s best friend as it contains a harmful chemical called theobromine, which is fine for humans but is very dangerous for dogs
* One and a half bars of chocolate could be enough to kill a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier
* If your pooch has a penchant for chocolate it is better to give them a specially formulated dog chocolate which contains only good ingredients for your pet
2. Cat’s got the cream Rubbish
In reality….
* Cats may like the taste of milk but after they are weaned they often can’t cope with digesting it
* The sugar in the milk makes it hard for cats to digest and results in nasty tummy upsets
* If your moggy is fine after drinking milk, then it is okay to give it as an occasional treat but water is the best thing to give to your cat if it is thirsty
3. Carrots are the best food for rabbits Rubbish
In reality….
* Don’t believe everything you see on TV when it comes to feeding your rabbits. Despite Bugs Bunny’s favourite food being a carrot the reality is that carrots are not a great food to feed your rabbit
* Carrots are high in starch, making them hard to digest and making your rabbit feel unwell
* Why not treat your pet by feeding it flower petals, rabbits adore them
4. All dogs must be fed twice a day Rubbish
In reality….
* Dogs can have one, two, three or even four meals a day, the important thing is not to overfeed your pet
* Manufacturers guidelines advise on daily amounts – your dog’s appetite will depend on its size and lifestyle
* The key to a happy, healthy pet is feeding them the right kind of food and the right amount of food on a daily basis
5. Cats can’t taste as well as dogs Right
In reality….
* Our feline friends have a limited taste palate compared to their canine counterparts
* Cats only have 473 taste buds compared to a whopping 1,700 in dogs, and if you are interested humans have an impressive 9000 taste buds
* Cats may not have as many taste buds but what they do have is a sixth sense whereby they can use their tongue to smell food…quite impressive really
For more information on what you should and shouldn’t feed your pets please visit www.pfma.org.uk and ask our pet food expert for advice.
Highly Recommended: This could be the most important link you EVER click as far as your dog’s life is concerned – see why….!
Tags: pet food myths
Really interesting, I knew most of them but found the bit about cats, dogs and human taste buds great
“Cats may not have as many taste buds but what they do have is a sixth sense whereby they can use their tongue to smell food…quite impressive really”
Hm, I’ll take that bit with a pinch of salt ta! (Pun intended)
Try clipping or plugging your nose closed then try sampling different foods. Your sense of ‘taste’ is extremely dependant on your sense of smell.
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