Did you know that feeding your pets table scraps can cause behavioural problems which could, for example, worsen their reaction to loud noises, like fireworks?
According to the Pet Food Industry Association of Southern Africa (PFI), this is because feeding your pet rich foods can cause malnutrition and a loss of overall condition which, in turn, can make them irritable and uncomfortable.
Often, with rich festive foods comes rich table scraps for pets and although our intentions of giving them a delicious treat are good, the end result for the pet is not always positive.
The commercially-prepared pet food which your pet has become accustomed to is scientifically formulated to provide the right amounts of vitamins and minerals, combined with the correct balance of nutrients for the life stage and life style of your pet.
When you begin feeding your pet rich table scraps, its nutritional intake becomes unbalanced.
And, since table scraps are foods prepared for human consumption, pet safety has not been considered and feeding pets these ‘treats’ can be very harmful to their health, in the short and long term.
Table scraps interfere with the correct balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals required for optimal health in pets and the foodstuffs may even contain an ingredient that is toxic to pets.
If a pet is malnourished and unhealthy from eating too many table scraps, they can become listless and lose condition and may even develop behavioural issues, such as irritability and aggression, spasms or fits that can lead to death.
When you add the stress of fireworks, the end result can be disastrous.
Animals in general have a heightened sense of hearing, making the noise associated with fireworks extremely loud and scary.
If they’re also struggling with digestive upsets from rich table scraps, the negative experience they have will be worsened and the associations they create could even generalise to all loud noises, making daily life difficult for them.
Here are some tips from the PFI on how to keep your pets safe and calm when there are fireworks:
• Keep them securely indoors, with sufficient food and water.
• If possible, stay with them to provide comfort and love and, if they’re up to it, play a game to make it a more positive experience.
• Play soothing music to try and drown out the frightening noises outside and, if needed, give calming medication (ask your vet for advice).
• If all else fails, prepare a ‘safe space’ for your pet, where they can retreat to should the stress prove to be too much for them.
• Remember that the number of stray animals increases over this period, largely due to runaways trying to escape the noise that causes fear, anxiety, panic and confusion. These escape attempts can often lead to injury, so try and ensure that their safe space is free of injury-causing elements.
