Should I Feed My Carnivorous Pet Companions a Vegan Diet?

On Sunday, we inherited a cat and even though she came with the essentials, on Monday I needed to go and purchase more things for her, including some cat food. I was confronted with meals consisting of "Succulent Salmon With Tender Chicken", "Tasty Tuna With Pilchard Steaks", etc. I didn't really feel that any of these sounded too yummy, but I thought my new inherited cat would probably think otherwise, so I bought them anyway. And she does - she licks the bowl clean after every meal and still meows for more!

However, being a vegan myself, the thought of feeding my cat these meaty meals somewhat irks me...but cats are naturally carnivorous so my first thoughts were that I shouldn't try to exclude animal products from her diet. Also, if I was to feed her a vegan diet, how would I know if she is getting adequate amounts of nutrients? What would I feed her? So I did some research, and was shocked at what I found...

Have you ever wondered why pet foods are labeled "PET FOOD ONLY"? I read the ingredients on the packets of food I was buying my cat and I couldn't see why. A typical packet would list salmon (or chicken or whatever the meat was), gelling agents, permitted food color, and vitamins and minerals, which all seem fairly reasonable...one can assume that these additives are human grade and similar to what is found in foods that we eat. However, the meat that goes into pet food may include slaughterhouse waste products, meat from diseased animals, spoiled supermarket meat, complete with a "delicious" soup of chicken entrails partly dissolved. I personally would not want to eat that, and definitely would not want to give anything like that to my pets!

As you would expect, there are many health risks associated with commercial pet food, including but not limited to liver, eye, kidney, neurologic, heart and skin diseases, birth defects, bleeding disorders, and infectious diseases. A number of veterinarians believe that so-called degenerative diseases like cancer and organ failure are too common, and are linked to the hazardous ingredients of standard meat-based cat and dog foods.

An alternative is to feed my cat a vegan diet. There are a few commercial vegan cat foods available in the US, but in other developed countries the choice is limited, if any. Without commercial vegan cat foods there is only one alternative, and that is to cook my own cat food. This would make it hard to provide a healthy diet for my cat as there are many issues which would need to be addressed. Cats need taurine, which is only found naturally in animals; however it can be synthetically made so a supplement can be included in the cat's diet. Cats also have evolved digestive systems which are only able to break down proteins from animal sources, and not plant proteins, so this would cause problems. There are issues concerning other vitamins and minerals which you would need to consider as well.

Feeding your cat a vegan diet, but also allowing it to go to outside where they would prey on birds and small mammals would enhance their diet naturally but some vegans may disapprove of their cat's carnivorous instincts.

If you are considering transitioning your cat into a vegan diet, you should take them to a vet regularly for check ups, even if your cat seems fine. There are many problems which you might not recognize yourself before your animal is into a progressed stage of such complications. But most of all, have fun preparing your cat's vegan food, work out their likes and dislikes and ensure they are obtaining all the essential nutrients a cat needs. Cats can be fussy eaters, and when you work out what they like stick with it.

Good luck with your vegan cat. We would be most interested in hearing stories about your vegan cats.

Suzette Austin
Cat owner & lover
http://www.vegancookingsecrets.com

Why You Should Never Feed A Snake Live Food

When it comes to feeding your snake, you need to stick to pre-killed food.

There are a lot of reasons that people prefer to give their snakes live food. One of the most common is they feel that a snake in its natural habitat would eat live food so in captivity they should be given live food as well. I used to agree with them. However, it only took one incident for me to change my mind.

I was feeding my Brazilian rainbow boa like I usually did. I removed the driftwood from her cage but left the plants inside because she preferred to hide in them before she attacked. I put a medium sized rat in the cage as usual. As usual, she attacked quickly. However, she made a fatal error. She managed to get herself bit, and that caused her to puncture her lung. She died a few minutes later.

The main reason you need to stick to pre-killed food is for safety reasons. Yes, 99% of the time your snake will take care of the live food quickly and efficiently. However, it only takes one incident to kill your snake. Feeding your snake live food is simply an unnecessary risk.

There are other benefits to giving your snake pre-killed food. It's more readily available in pet stores. The pre-killed animals are killed humanely and didn't suffer. That's not likely to be the case when putting live prey in with your snake.

If you're worried about your snake not accepting pre-killed food, you're likely unnecessarily worrying. Almost every snake will accept pre-killed food. It may take a few tries to get your snake accustomed to pre-killed food if it had been on a live prey diet previously, but almost every snake can be taught to eat pre-killed food.

The process of feeding your snake pre-killed food is really quite simple:

1) Thaw out your rodent in warm water for 30 minutes. Snakes won't eat it if it's frozen, so make sure it's warm.

2) Dry it off.

3) Put the rodent in the cage.

4) If the snake appears uninterested, grab a pair of tongs and move the rodent around to make it appear alive.

Snakes make great pets and can be companions for years. Why risk unnecessary injury or even death by feeding your snake live prey?

Gary Ruplinger is the owner of BoaTips.com - a comprehensive snake resource site. If you're interested in learning more about pet snakes then be sure to stop by his website. You'll find all the basics to caring for a pet snake, a great snake newsletter, and specific advice on how to care for 20 of the most popular pet snakes. If you have any questions during your visit, make sure you visit the snake forum and participate in discussions about this great yet misunderstood pet.

Cat Bites - What Should You Feed Your Cat?

Generally, pet health begins with the food you give them. If you offer your cat a diet high in fat and preservatives, or even worse, people food, they will not develop a healthy internal system and chances are that they will develop a terminal medical condition. So pet health begins with what is in their food bowl. Provide a balanced diet that is high in protein; remember, in the wild, they eat raw meat and tissue, so provide them a diet that is high in protein relatively similar to a diet they would receive in the wild. However, just providing raw meat to your cat, while they may be satisfied, will not satisfy their nutritional needs. They need additional vitamins and nutrients that raw meat alone cannot provide, so pick a cat food that is a well rounded meal.

As we do, cats need a balanced, nutritional and well rounded diet. To guarantee that you cat is getting a balanced diet, the food given to them should be high in proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. It should also have such vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, C and Niacin to make certain that proper pet health is obtained. Cats also need two essential amino acids, taurine and arginine, that aid in development and preservation. Cats will not survive with a solely vegetarian diet, so refrain from giving your cat all vegetables. Cats require animal meat to get hold of the arginine and taurine to properly function. A diet low in these essential amino acids will result in your cat's death.

A raw diet is the best for animals, particularly where felines are concerned. Animals in the wild are used to ingesting raw meat, so their internal organs are designed to handle raw meats. Do not worry about feeding them raw meat. With the rise of contamination in pet food, pet health care has become of major importance. Just make sure if you change your pet's diet, that is includes all the nutrients they will need to have a happy and healthy meal. They have certain nutritional needs that must be met to ensure proper pet health. Feeding your pet a diet which will increase their pet health means that your cat or dog will live a long and healthy life by your side. Giving a kitty a raw meat diet is not advisable either. If you want an organic diet for your cat, it is best to consult your veterinarian to help design an organic diet for your cat. By asking a veterinarian, you can ensure that your kitty is getting the proper nutrients it needs to ensure the best for your pet's health. While protein is the main constituent of their diet, raw meat does not have the absolute composition of nutrients that your cat can receive from dry food or a well balanced organic, physician designed diet. If you wish your cat to have a more organic diet, there are plenty of resources that can aid you in drawing up an organic diet for your feline that has the entire, essential nutrimental requirements it needs for a joyful, fit lifestyle.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about cat care [http://bestcoolpets.info/cat-bites-%e2%80%93-what-should-you-feed-your-cat] visit Best Cool Pets [http://bestcoolpets.info] for current articles and discussions.

Should You Own a Pet Badger?

Badgers are short stocky animals and are omnivores (plant and animal eaters). They can be found in Great Britain, Ireland, North America and parts of Europe and Asia. A pet badger may sound cute, but there's more to owning a badger as a household pet.

Can I Own a Badger as a Pet?

In Great Britain it is a criminal offence to own a badger as a pet. In parts of the US you have to have a license to own a badger. They are considered wildlife and not household pets.

That being said if you find yourself in a situation where you can own a badger as a pet, it is advised that it is hand reared from when it is young. They can be ferocious animals and have extremely long claws and even hand rearing is no guarantee that it won't turn on you.

The most common reason you will find a baby badger is if it has gotten itself lost or it's mother has been killed. If you aren't in a situation to take it to a vet or wildlife reserve, then you can set about looking after it yourself, if you pass the legal requirements. If you find a cub in the daylight it is most definitely abandoned.

What Can I Feed My Badger?

Presuming you find a badger as a cub you can feed it a variety of formula milk. It is best you stick to one type of milk and not change it around.

Feed every 2-3 hours in the daytime and longer periods at night. A bottle with a teat on it can be used. When the badger is 500g-600g in body weight you can feed every 6 hours.

Start weaning when the permanent incisors appear and introduce rusks, tinned dog food, finely chopped meat and dry dog food are all good options.

From the age of 8-14 weeks a variety of foods can be used such as scrambled eggs, cereals, grapes, yogurt, creamed rice, biscuits, sunflower seeds, minced meat, sausages and cheese. Foods can also be soaked in meat stock to increase nutrition.

You need to feed your pet badger at night once it is weaned.

Where Can I House My Badger?

Badgers like to live underground. This being said anything you put your badger in it will naturally try and burrow out of it. Having really sharp claws it will rip and dig through just about anything, even a wire cage. So take all these issues into consideration and the fact that wherever you house your badger, it will do damage as it tries to burrow.

As you can see it's not advised to own a pet badger, there is a lot to take into account that is different than owning the usual household pet. If at all possible please give your badger to an organization that knows how to handle them. Badgers are best kept in pairs and introduction back into the wild is advised. Minimal human contact is also advised for an easy return to it's natural habitat.

Should You Feed Your Dog High Protein Dog Food? Learn the Answer Here!

Should You Feed Your Dog High Protein Dog Food?



The contents of the dog food available on the shelves in the super markets are a growing concern for many pet owners. They constantly wonder if the so-called specialty foods are nothing more than a rip-off. Or, if the grocery brands of dog foods are in fact providing the nutrition the labels promise they do.

Some pet owners may even wonder if table scraps are a good thing for their pet while theirs may be naturally concerned about questions regarding the good sense of feeding their pet high protein dog food.

This article aims at answering these and other common questions and doubts pet owners may have regarding the nature and benefits of feeding their dog high protein dog food.

There are a lot of arguments for and against the notion. However, there are also a lot of things many pet owners do not know - yet. These points are presented in an easy read format for pet lovers to learn, understand and decide for themselves the true scope of feeding their furry friends high protein dog food.

Nature of high protein dog food - implications pet owners must understand

Contrary to popular belief, high protein dog food will not do any damage to the dog, irrespective of the age of the dog and the amount of activity the dog partakes in.

High protein dog food does not cause kidney damage or trouble with bone development. In fact, protein could really help the overall growth of the animal because the amount of lean muscle your dog develops is built by the protein intake he or she partakes of,and it is this balanced protein intake that contributes to a well-developed coat and skin for your dog.

However, dogs suffering from kidney trouble should be kept on a moderate level of protein and not on a low protein diet. Many dogs do not get enough protein in their diet and this is a growing and very valid concern for vets and pet owners.

If the diet of the dog lacks the required levels of protein, it could lead to a lot of health issues, such as increased stress levels, immune disorders and other problems.

Benefits of high protein dog food - tips for dog owners

High protein dog food will ensure that your dog stays away from the vet's clinic more than dogs on a low protein will.

Ensure that you pick a variety that does not go overboard with the necessary counts for calcium and protein content. Large breed puppies should have at least 2 percent more protein and calcium than small breed puppies, but not more.
High protein pet foods that get their protein from animal fat are a great choice for very active dogs, but not for animals that spend most time lying around the house - like old dogs.
Many dogs do not readily change their brand or type of food, but this does not mean that you cannot improve the protein content of the food, if required. You can do this by slowly introducing your dog to low quantities of fresh foods that contain high protein levels by adding minimal amounts of these to his or her daily diet. Some good examples of this type of healthy dog protein includes cottage cheese, fresh fish or canned fish, such as mackerel, which are sure to be happily lapped up by the dog. Other healthy protein foods for your dog are yogurt, eggs, meats and many more products that are sure to have the dog their bowl clean in no time - much like Jack Sprat!Finally, it pays to make a note of the medically proven fact that most of the time it is the high carbohydrates in the dog food that causes behavior problems, like lethargy, in an animal.

The solution for this common dog food related problem is simple - just increase the protein in the dog food and see the difference within a matter of days.

Deepanjolie Figg aims at providing original, high quality, well researched content across pet health, lifestyle and many other subjects in a way that will grab readers by the eyeballs, appeal to search engines and enhance the business presence of website owners alike. To get yourself the quality Article Writing advantage, contact her today!

Remember, the Write People Are Just A Click Away!

How Often Should You Feed Your Dog?

Many new dog owners have the question "How often should I feed my dog?" Whether a new pup has joined your family or you have inherited an adult dog, how often you feed the dog is crucial to its health. Listed below are a few useful tips for feeding your dog. Follow these tips to help ensure that your pet is receiving adequate nutrition on a daily basis.

Feed your dog at least twice a day

Depending on the size of your four legged friend, you should seek to feed your dog twice a day. This does not include snacks, which should be fed in addition to these two meals. For adult dogs, feeding twice daily helps them to beat hunger and also provides them with proper nutrition. Puppies, however, may need to be fed up to four times a day depending on activity and lifestyle. Keep in mind that puppies need not to be separated from their mother's milk until 8 weeks old.

High quality nutrition is important

When choosing a food for your pet, nutrition should always take precedent over cost. When it comes to pet food, you get what you pay for. Quality dry pet food will be more costly because it contains quality ingredients such as meat. Low cost dog food is also filled with corn and can be very bad to your dog's health. Choose to spend the money on high quality food instead of spending it on. Feeding your pooch low quality food can cause major health problems in the future.

Pay attention to dog food formulas

Many pet food brands have determined exactly what dog's need during certain stages of life and have formulated dog food to meet those nutritional needs. Be sure that if your dog is a puppy, that you are feeding food formulated for its age. Similarly, it is important that you adjust your pet's food as it becomes older. Many dog owners often feed their dog's the puppy formula too long. Pay close attention to the age and needs of your pet and adjust food accordingly.

If you are a new dog owner and are searching for tips on feeding your pet, use the tips above to help answer some of your questions. It is important that you are feeding your dog at least twice a day and only feeding it high quality food. The key to proper nutrition for your dog is being mindful of the dog food formulas according to your dog's age.

Need more advice on dogs and dog food? Visit the Burgess Pet Care website today!

How Much Dog Food Should You Feed Your Pooch? Dog Health Care Advice

Its is always good to know a few tips to help ensure your dog's health care is up to scratch. Looking after your dog requires a lot of love and attention and sometimes people make the mistake of thinking love converts into food. This refers to those who give their dogs lots of food only to think they are doing it out of love. In fact, you could be harming your pet.

Dogs Will Eat As Much As They Can

Pets don't have any control over what they eat. A dog's thinking is very much like a wolf, from which they have descended from, whereby they are always wondering where their next meal is coming from. It is for this reason that it is very hard and highly unlikely that you will be able to put a bowl of food down for your dog and not see your pet devour it rapidly. They will eat and eat until they make themselves ill, so it is up to you the owner to make sure the number of meals they eat is moderated.

Don't Be Over Generous With Treats

Most people recommend 3 meals a day for dogs, but others might say less. The problems often occur when owners give their dogs multiple treats throughout the day. Try and limit your tendencies to treat your pets - this can add to pet dependencies on being given regular nibbles, thus increasing the risk they will put a lot of weight on. Stick to a breakfast, lunch and dinner (although not too late in the day) and your pet's weight should be successfully controlled.

Resist, Resist!

In order to make the most of caring for your dog, you should discourage giving in to more food when your pet follows you around and looks up at you with those big eyes. Of course, it is their only way of asking for more food but it doesn't necessarily mean they need it. You might find that even after feeding them a couple of hours ago they still come up to you as though they are hungry again. If you give in to this, they know it works. Try and resist - even though you love your dog, too much food can be very dangerous for their health. Dog health care is all about remembering you are the owner and not letting an abundance of love take over from the effective caring of your pet.

Common Sense

So, knowing how much dog food you should feed your pet is quite easy really - it's all about being sensible and not overdoing it. Common sense should prevail when you feed your dog and remember that a dog eats differently to a human. Proper dog health care should always mean checking the amount of dog food you feed your pet.

Author Mark Woodcock is a Webmaster of a wide variety of online speciality shops including a very popular site on Dog Health Care. Visit http://www.pethealthinfo.org.uk/ today.

What Do Iguanas Eat and How Often Should You Feed Your Pet?

In order for your iguana to thrive, you must feed your pet the right diet. There are many great vegetables, fruits and breads to feed your iguana. But beware, as there are also a lot of foods that you should not, and you will not feed your iguana. All the foods described below in which you should feed your iguana, should be chopped into small enough pieces so your iguana will have an easy time swallowing. Iguanas rip and tear at their food, and thus swallow their food whole. So it is crucial you are not feeding your iguana big chunks of food.

You should feed your iguana in the morning and you should get into an everyday pattern when feeding your iguana. You should feed your iguana as much as they can eat, so be prepared and take notice in how much your iguana will eat.

Now you will be able to feed your iguana the below foods either NEVER, occasionally or anytime. Occasionally will refer to once a week. Anytime means you can feed your iguana this food type everyday or on any day. NEVER, should be very clear, do not feed your iguana this food type as it can be very harmful to your pet!

You will want to mix the following food groups up when you feed your iguana. This is so because you want to allow your iguana to taste different foods. In other words, do not feed your iguana the same thing every single day, mix it up. A proper diet will make your iguana thrive. Further, place the food in a bowl that can be easily cleaned by you. If your iguana does not finish its food, make sure you throw it away so it does not spoil. So here are the food groups:

o Meat- NEVER!

o Crickets, insects, worms- NEVER!

o Dog or cat food- NEVER!

o Dairy products- NEVER!

o Collard greens- anytime

o Mustard greens-anytime

o Turnip greens- anytime

o Alfalfa- anytime

o Apples- occasional

o Bell peppers- anytime

o Blackberries- occasional

o Broccoli- occasional

o Brussels sprouts- occasional

o Carrots- occasional

o Celery- occasional

o Grapes- occasional

o Green beans- anytime

o Kiwi- occasional

o Mango- anytime

o Okra- anytime

o Parsley- occasional

o Peaches- occasional

o Pears- occasional

o Strawberries- occasional

o Tomatoes- anytime (iguanas might not like the taste though)

o Zucchini- occasional

Of course you do not need to go out and get all these different types of fruits, vegetables and bread, but make sure you mix up your iguana's diet. Your iguana will appreciate you!

Rob Stevenson is an iguana enthusiast. For more information on, what do iguanas eat? [http://www.petiguanacenter.com/what-do-iguanas-eat/] Feel free to visit PetIguanaCenter.com [http://www.petiguanacenter.com].

Feeding Dogs Bones: What You Should Know

The safety and wisdom of giving bones to dogs has long been a source of controversy among pet owners. While dogs clearly relish the opportunity to chew on a bone, anyone who has taken their pet to the emergency room for intestinal blockage would warn against this. Of course, there are some risks involved with feeding bones to your dog. With the right information though, it is possible to minimise the chance of harm while still giving your dog the chance to enjoy a good bone.

What kind of bones?

There are a few rules to follow if you want to feed your dog bones. First and foremost, never feed your dog cooked bones. These bones are dried out and brittle. When your dog chews on these, the bones will splinter and harm your pet if swallowed. When feeding your dog bones, always give him raw bones. These are flexible and soft. If part of the bone is swallowed, the dog's stomach acid will break it down and allow it to be digested.

You also need to be wary of the size of the bone. The bone should not be small enough for your dog to swallow whole, or for your dog to fit entirely in his mouth. And never feed your dog bones that have been cut or sawed: these tend to splinter when chewed on.

Choking hazard

Anything you feed your pet, including kibble and rawhide bones, has the potential to be a choking hazard. Whenever you feed your dog a bone, you should supervise him while he chews. It is also important to train your dog to obey commands like 'drop'. If your dog chews too hard on the bone or if he gets a hold of an unsafe bone, you need to be able to remove the hazard. You should also throw away any old bones that have been chewed.

Bones and a raw food diet

The essence of a raw diet is a return to the foods dogs ate before they were domesticated. If you look at the dogs' closest wild relative, the wolf, you can get a pretty good idea of what the species was built to eat. Wolves eat a diet made up mostly of raw meat plus the stomach content of their prey, leading to some suggestions that a percentage of vegetables and fruit should be added to a raw diet.

Bones are an integral part of the raw food diet as a source of calcium as well as a natural part of their diet. Dogs are carnivorous and before they were domesticated, dogs caught and ate the meat of prey as well as the bones. Wild foxes often eat entire chickens and wolves are known to chew on the bones of their prey. Cleary, canines are equipped, and in fact intended, to chew on bones.

Health benefits of feeding dogs bones

There are many health benefits to feeding bones to your dogs. First, bones are full of calcium, phosphorous, protein and other vitamins and minerals that your dog's body needs. Because the bone is served raw, none of the nutrients have been lost through cooking so your dog gets the maximum benefit from the bone.

Benefits of chewing

Chewing is a very pleasing, instinctual activity for a dog. If you've ever watched your dog chew a bone, you'll have noticed that your dog becomes very involved in the process. Many pet owners claim their dogs seem happier and calmer when chewing on a bone; observations that can be attributed to the dog satisfying a very basic urge to chew and gnaw.

Aside from satisfying an instinctive drive, chewing on a bone is also beneficial to your dog's teeth and gums. Bones are almost like a toothbrush for dogs: they remove plaque, massage the gums and generally improve the periodontal health of your pet. If your dog regularly chews on bones, you will find that you no longer need to bring him into the vet for things like flossing and brushing.

Where to get raw bones

Raw bones can often be purchased from a butcher, grocery store and some pet supply stores. Be sure to choose bones that are the right size for your dog and also avoid bones with fat attached to them. You can also buy dog food and bones online.

At K9 Natural you can buy dog food and find out more about the benefits of raw meaty bones.

How Much You Should Spend on a Pet Bird?

Getting any kind of pet will cost an owner a considerable amount of money. After the actual purchasing of the pet, there are a thousand other costs that will factor in to how much you should spend on a pet bed. These are not limited to but include feed, veterinary bills, and the cost of toys and cages. Also, different types of bird will accrue different expenses.

Spending money on pets can be pricey but it is a choice that every owner makes when deciding to get the pet in the first place. For this reason, it is important not to be too cheap when buying a pet bird. Firstly, they need regular check-ups at the veterinarian's office to ensure a long, happy, and health life for the animal. These prices vary from doctor to doctor.

Birds also require different feeds to eat. Bird feed is probably the cheapest item on this list of bird needs but because it will constantly need food, over time this can cost a lot of money. Choose the bird feed that is right for the species of pet bird owned to ensure they get the nutrients and quality of food they enjoy and need to survive.

Also, different bird cages, toys, and accessories can also run a pet owner a pretty coin. Birds require their own bird cage so they cannot escape into the wild, toys to play with while in the cage, and some sort of receptacle, like newspaper or a tray, to catch droppings. These items can be found for discounted prices in a variety of outlets.

Choosing to buy any pet and bring them into a home environment will cost a considerable amount of money on behalf of the owner. However, having a companion in the home can be priceless, especially for someone who lives alone. Costs can vary and how much is spent on a pet bird is really up to the owner, what they can afford, and how much they love their pet.

Do you enjoy watching birds and other wildlife? Then you should check out the Nikon Monarch Binoculars If you are into hunting, then you will also want to look at the Nikon rifle scope considered by many to be the best scope on the market.

Supper Time! What Should You Feed Your Pet Rabbit?

One of the most important aspects of properly caring for a pet rabbit is providing him with a healthy, satisfying, and well-balanced diet.

Fortunately, doing so is relatively easy, since there is general consensus about what is good for rabbits and a wide range of great food pellet options. Rabbits can also eat many of the fruits and veggies that you probably have on your dinner table every night (see below for recommendations and portions).

Pellets

Rabbit pellets, available at your local pet store, on the internet, or through mail-order, can be a backbone of your pet's diet. They provide many nutrients in a dense fashion, and they make your job as a feeder so easy. However, you don't need pellets to keep your rabbit healthy. Hay, veggies and the occasional treat of fruits can be an equally or even more effective diet. After all, rabbits in the wild subsist on hay, grass, and veggies ... why should domestic rabbits be any different? On the other hand, pellets are easy and widely available. The choice is really up to you.

If you do decide to feed your rabbit pellets, alfalfa pellets are recommended, as are the excellent rabbit pellets offered by Oxbow (Bunny Basics), Purina or Manna Pro. Feed your rabbit a small amount twice daily (morning and night).

Purchase in small bags if possible (not jumbo size) to ensure that they are as fresh as possible by the time your bunny actually gets to eat them. Pet rabbits are widely known as picky eaters who respond badly to sudden changes in diet, and they may balk if you try to feed them pellets that are spoiled or that have gone rancid or stale.

Veggies

Pellets are a great starting point, but they are only a portion of an overall balanced diet. Rabbits also love to consume vegetables, and many vets recommend giving pet bunnies a small amount of a variety of veggies each day.

Here are some veggies rabbits love:

Alfalfa sprouts

Basil

Brussels sprouts

Carrots

Celery

Clover

Green peppers

Mint

Parsley

Peppermint leaves

Radish tops

Wheat grass

While you may have seen bunnies crunching down on carrot sticks in the cartoons, it's important not to give only carrots or to overfeed too many carrots to your pet. Carrots contain vitamin A, and too much of it can cause problems. On the other hands, vitamin A is essential to good nutrition, so aim for one item that contains it per day. Besides carrots, some veggies that contain vitamin A are:

Beet tops

Broccoli

Endive

Romaine leaves

Dandelion greens

Be careful not to give your rabbit too many vegetables, as they are high in water content and can cause diarrhea or loose stools. If this happens, reduce or eliminate veggies from the diet.

Moreover, don't give your bunny rabbit so many veggies that he starts to eat them only and neglect his pellets. Veggies should be a supplement, not a main dietary staple.

Fruits

While you should give your rabbit more veggies than fruits, some fruits can be a nice treat for your pet. Only give him fresh fruit, never canned (which often has added sugar). Again, give only small amounts, as too much can cause watery stools.

Rabbits tend to like apples, bananas, kiwi, and strawberry. Papaya and pineapple are also great choices, as they both contain papain, which is an enzyme that helps to keep rabbit hairballs at bay.

Be Consistant!

Rabbits tend to be quite sensitive when it comes to changes in their diet or feeding schedule. In fact, if there is a sudden change or interruption, a rabbit may lose his appetite or become ill.

Therefore, it's important to maintain consistency. Establish a feeding routine that is easy for you to stick to each and every day. Set your timer and fix the feeding schedule into your own everyday routine. Make sure you have enough rabbit food (whether hay, pellets, veggies, etc.) on hand so that you don't run out unexpectedly.

Feeding your rabbit a consistent, balanced and healthy diet is one of the best ways to ensure that your pet rabbit has a long and happy life as your prized companion.

by Andrea Austin,

http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide: Bunny Rabbits

What Should I Feed My New Puppy?

Age Specific

Choose food specifically made for puppies. As a general rule, it's better to buy brand name puppy food rather than generic or low-priced food. You can't really tell from the ingredient whether or not a particular food is good or bad.

Many things that you would look for on the labels of food you buy for yourself -- extra protein or vitamins -- may actually harm your pet rather. Over supplementing can be factors in major health issues for your dog, including contributing to hip dysplasia or other orthopedic problems.

Size Specific

Look for large breed puppy food if you have a large breed puppy (Great Dane, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, etc.) It isn't just the kibble size that's different,large breed food is actually formulated differently than regular puppy food. It is specially made for very rapidly growing puppies.

How Often Should I Feed My Puppy?

Very young puppies do better when offered food three times a day. As they grow, they will require fewer feedings, but will eat more at each feeding. If your puppy doesn't seem to be hungry that often, cut the feedings down to twice a day.

After ten or twelve weeks of age, you should just offer food twice a day -- once in the morning, and once in the evening. Even adult dogs should eat two times a day. If you are currently feeding your grown dog two cups of food once a day, try feeding one cup twice a day instead.

Dogs who are only feed once a day often become overly hungry and then overeat when they are fed.

How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?

Let your puppy eat as much as she wants in fifteen minutes and then pick up the food dish. Again, this holds true for adult dogs as well.

Having food continually available encourages overeating. Pet obesity is on the rise, and many people don't realize that the affects on your dog are just as deadly as they are to people.

Often free-fed puppies never get very hungry, so they become finicky eaters -- which leads to feeding treats. Treats are OK, but don't let them become an important part of the diet.

Remember, those cute little chubby puppies will grow up to be fat adult dogs with orthopedic issues such as hip dysplasia, torn cruciate ligaments, luxating patellas, etc., as well as the same cardiac issues humans suffer.

Canned food vs. dry food.

We used to think that canned food was bad for your puppies teeth. But, research has shown that's not the case. The myth of dry food being better for your dog's teeth has turned out to be just that -- a myth.

In fact, for young dogs, canned food is probably the better choice overall because of the extra moisture content. Although I will be the first to admit dry food is cheaper and easier to use.

To Recap:

Feed age specific food
Feed name brand rather than generic
Feed size specific food
Feed very young puppies 3 times a day, then cut back to 2 times a day
Canned or dry food is a personal preference, not a health issue

CD Miller is the founder of Mill Creek Animal Rescue. You can view pets available for adoption at Petfinder.com
Also, be sure to visit The New Pet Zone for the latest news and product reviews for a healthier happier pet!

3 Tips You Should Follow When Feeding Your Pet Rat

Feeding your pet rat can be easy, convenient, and fun. But if you do not know the right way too feed it, the process can be time consuming, expensive, and unhealthy for your pet. This article will provide you with three essential tips you should follow, when feeding your pet.

First, you want to be sure that you provide your pet with a diet catered specifically to rats. This may seem like common since but far too many people fail to follow this advice. While a nutritional mix can be very good for your little guys if done correctly, it can be unhealthy not done the right way. Also, your rat will most likely pick and choose what it decides to eat, and will often not eat everything in the mix. This will cause it to miss out on some important nutrients it may need. An ideal and convenient diet would consist of lab pellets. Be sure to provide pellets per day. Make sure your pellets are made specifically for rats, as hamster, gerbil or other rodent pellets are not a good substitute.

 

Second, you will want to know what fresh foods you can feed your rat. As a supplement, your rat can benefit from a wide variety of fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables. They can give the rat a wide assortment of the vitamins and minerals they need. Remember, to keep in mind your pets size when feeding at, as too much vegetables-especially greens can cause diarrhea. Also make sure that it as an amount that you know your little critter will eat in one day. These animals, by instinct like to store away what they do no eat and do no understand that food spoils. So, your pet may eat food that has gone bad, which may cause them to get sick. Some good options for food include apples, grapes, bananas, strawberries, broccoli, peas, carrots, some very lean cooked meats, meal worms, yogurt, and brown rice. Your rat may also enjoy a special treat now and then, but make sure its healthy. Treats such as popcorn, a peanut, an almond, a small piece of pretzel, dried fruit, a dab of peanut butter or a kibble of dog or cat food are great treats for your pet.

 

Third, you will want to know what foods not to feed your rat. There are lots of foods and treats you can give to your special critter, but you want to make sure that they are not foods that will hurt it. Foods that are high in fat and sugar can be harmful for your rat. So, avoid any table scraps that are high in fat or sugar. Foods such as chocolate, raw beans, green potatoes, cabbage, brussell sprouts, carbonated drinks, caffeinated beverages, or even store brought treats can be very harmful to your pet. Also, feeding your pet too much or too little can be harmful to your pet. Make sure to watch its wait and make sure that it is not overweight or underweight. Consult your vet for a full list of foods that your pet cannot consume.

 

Remember to be sure to have fun when feeding your pet. Watching you little friends eat is a fun and enjoyable adventure in itself. Also, be sure that your has sufficient space to store any food it may not east- as long as it is not fresh food. Your rat will want to store away any pellets it does not eat in a house, so be sure that your rat has a sufficient cage space and a house to store its goodies in. 

Phillip is a pet enthusiast who has done extensive research in the area of rat care. If you are interested in finding out more information about pet care and pet care supplies including rat cages [http://www.petcagesuperstore.com/servlet/the-Rat-Cages/Categories] and other pet cages [http://www.petcagesuperstore.com/servlet/StoreFront] visit Phillips website