POLOKWANE – Here are some tips to help you look after and feed your pet a diet which will not only be beneficial to their health but also help them to be the best they can be.
Adult dogs:
• Feed adult dogs cubes and, if your dog is older than seven years, you must feed them food meant for senior dogs.
• If this seems too expensive, substitute half of the dog cubes with cooked rice, maize meal or potatoes and vegetables.
• Smaller dogs need to be fed once a day and larger dogs twice a day.
Things not to do:
• Do not feed your dogs bones as these might get stuck in their teeth, cause choking or damage their intestines.
• Do not feed dogs food that contains spices or fat.
• Do not spoil your dog with tidbits from the dinner table.
Puppies:
• Feed small breed puppies the small breed puppy food and feed large breed puppies the larger breed puppy food.
• Puppies that are between four and 12 weeks old must be fed three times a day.
• Puppies that are 12 weeks and older need to be fed two times a day.
• Small breed puppies are classed puppies until they are 12 months old whereas large breed dogs are classed puppies until they are 18 months old.
Things not to do:
• Do not give puppies milk as it can cause tummy upset and diarrhoea.
• Do not give puppies bread as it has very little nutritional value.
• Do not give puppies food containing spices or fat.
Cats:
• Do not give cats milk as it can cause tummy upsets and diarrhoea.
• Do not give cats fish as it is not part of their natural diet.
• Allow them to eat insects as they are carnivores.
• Feed cats cubes and pellets.
• Speak to a veterinarian as cat food is highly specialised with specific breeds needing specific food.
