Biggest feeding mistakes pet owners make
Could you be overfeeding your pet without even knowing it? It’s actually easier than you may think thanks to a handful of common feeding mistakes.
Avoid these calorie-packed pitfalls to make sure hidden calories stay off your pet’s plate.
- Not adjusting for age. Most pets need fewer calories as they age, but food meant for younger pets tend to be calorically dense. Scale down your pet’s calories while also meeting their age-specific nutritional needs by feeding a food formulated specifically for your pet’s life stage.
- Leaving food out all day. Most pets aren’t good at pacing themselves. Plus, behavioral factors like boredom may cause them to eat more than they should. Control your pet’s portion size by offering measured meals.
- Guesstimating scoop size. You love your pet and don’t want them to be hungry, which means if you’re eyeballing portions, you’re bound to guess high. Eliminate this margin of error by scooping with a measuring cup.
- Going by the back of the bag. Portions on the back of the bag are good starting points, but they don’t fit all pets. Lifestyle, activity level and health status can change how much your pet should eat. Always verify with your veterinarian the correct amount to feed your pet.
- Sharing table foods. A little slice of bread or cheese here or there may not seem like a ton of calories, but they sure do add up—especially for cats and small dogs! Worse yet, table foods can be harmful and even toxic to pets. Cut out the risk and avoid all table foods.
- Feeding the entire biscuit in one go. Unless your pet’s treat is itty bitty, then odds are that treat is packed with way too many calories (that’s what makes it tasty, after all!). Always break big treats into smaller pieces or, even better, use healthy veggies, like carrots, green beans or apples, as alternatives.
Get more helpful feeding tips to keep your best bud healthy. >>
