Pet's Delight nutrition advice

Pet's Delight nutrition advice

Pet's Delight nutrition advice

Interested in learning more about pet nutrition? Here we answer pet nutrition questions that our customers have sent us on social media...

How do I get my cat to stay hydrated and make sure she's getting enough water during the day?

Question from @joycedxb2019 on Instagram

Answer:

Hydration is key for cats just as it is humans, they need water to function and be happy and healthy. Cats typically aren't the easiest pets to keep hydrated, however, but there are things you can do to encourage them to get their daily intake.

Water fountains
If your cat refuses to drink out of a water bowl, she might prefer running water. Many kitty parents realise that their furry friend who regularly ignores her water bowl, is happy to drink from the tap when it's running. For some cats there's just something about running water that is far more appealing. We have a selection of water fountains for you to choose from, if you think this might encourage her to drink.

Wet food and toppers
Another way for cats to get their hydration is through wet foods. Whether it's an Applaws topper that you add to their dry food, or upping their wet food intake from once to twice a day - you can encourage them to take in more fluids. Be careful though, it's important you don't overfeed your pet - ensure that you aren't taking her over her calorie intake for the day.

My dog loves to eat even after he finishes his food. If he sees me eat he wants to eat as well. What should I do?

Question from @sabine_haddad2000 on Instagram

Answer:
It's safe to say you're not alone. This is one of the most common behavioural pet peeves that we hear about from our customers. We often recommend putting your dog's food out at the same time you sit down to eat yours, this way, he'll be distracted by his own food. If he finishes quickly and then runs over to you, it's best not to feed him from your plate, and not really acknowledge him much at all. By doing this you're training him to learn that sitting next to the table won't result in him getting more food. If this fails, you might need to recruit a trusty dog trainer to help.

Can I give my dogs eggs daily?

Question from @simamondal42 on Instagram

Answer:
Eggs are packed with nutrition, making them a brilliant ingredient to have in your dog's diet. It's safe to include eggs in your dogs diet daily, however, if your dog is overweight, you might not want to overdo it. One eggs contains around 70 calories.

Tips and strategies, to get pets to eat food they are fussy about?

Question from @emm.cat123 on Instagram

Answer:
So, you've upgraded your pet's food, or picked up a new flavour, and you're super excited to treat your furry friend to this nutritional goodness you have got for them - but when you put it down, they turn their nose up at it. What's happening? Shouldn't they love this healthy food?

Pets can be fussy. Cats in particular are known for their fussy ways, they love chicken today, hate it tomorrow - sound familiar? Cat parents often have a wide selection of wet food flavours to keep their kitties happy and combat this common challenge.

However, what if your pet needs a specific diet and they just won't eat it? Or, you've upgraded their kibble to something more nutritious and they just want the cheap 'junk food' they've had before? Maybe your furry friend refuses to eat kibble, and will only get excited about wet food. These things happen, and there's nothing necessarily wrong with your pet or with the food choices you're making.

Switching kibbles

When you're changing your pets dry food it's important to do so gradually. Dog tummys in particular can be delicate to sudden change, and this can be the same with cats, although less common. Change the dry food over the course of 7-10 days, adding the new food to the old food and gradually adjusting the ratio until your pet is on the new food completely.

Not only is this good for their stomachs, but it gets them used to the new flavour and texture.

Encouraging your pet to eating dry food

Many pets far prefer wet food over dry. Wet food is great to add some flavour to your pet's diet, but many aren't complete, which means if you feed these on their own your pet isn't getting all of the nutrition they need. Dry food is also great for dental health. If your pet refuses to eat kibble, it might be due to the texture. Adding a topper (we have some great toppers from Applaws) will change the texture of the kibble which your furball might enjoy more. Adding wet food to dry has a similar impact, and adds another flavour.

If your pet is refusing to eat, it is a good idea to consult your vet to ensure there are no underlying issues.

Is tuna cat wet food safe as a daily diet for my kitty? Is mercury poisoning a concern?

Question from @a_cat_named_patchi on Instagram

Answer:
a) Wet food is absolutely safe to feed your cat daily, as long as you feed a dry, complete kibble too, which ensures your kitty gets all of the nutrition she needs as well as the dental benefits of kibble.

b) Mercury poisoning in humans is something most of us are aware of, but as cats don't show any symptoms for this illness, it can be hard to spot. Generally, it takes much higher doses for cats to show signs of mercury poison than humans, but that doesn't mean they aren't suffering. You can guard against this by being aware of the high and low mercury fish. Sardine's, for example, are low in mercury, as is trout and salmon. Swordfish and shark fall under high mercury fish, as does certain types of tuna (bigeye, ahi). We would recommend switching up the different wet foods your feed your cat, which the majority of cat parents do anyway due to our fussy kittys. If you have any concerns about the above, then do speak to your vet.

Have a pet nutrition question?

Pop us an email at info@petsdelight.com, and we'll do our best to help.