LEFTOVERS AND HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS

Too often, people give their pets leftovers thinking they are spoiling them or doing them a favor. If they knew the harm it could do, they would think twice about it. We consider as leftovers even the food specially prepared by their master as small treats.

Many think that cats get tired of their regular food. This is completely false, cats are animals of habit, and always eating the same food, has absolutely no effect on them. Cats are basically carnivore and their stomachs have a reaction each time food is changed, causing a lot of stress. Often the little treats we give them are high in calories and is added to the animals normal ration. For animals that are overweight, it just adds to the problem. That's right, how do you expect to control his calorie intake when always adding more. Many will even tell you that "diet" food reduced in calories that they use, has absolutely no effect on their animal. It's for sure, since this poor little thing is being feed twice the calories that the specialized food can reduce.

Today dry commercial food is precisely balanced. Adding other food products destroys this balance, and if we base the animal's diet on these products we are heading for real problems. Since problems usually arise quite a while later, it is often too late when we realize it. A stable and balanced diet is therefore a guarantee for a long and happy life.

Also, animals given leftovers become very difficult and fussy eaters. How many of you have noticed that your cat will no longer eat commercial food. They become too spoiled and since they are very good manipulators, we fall into their trap and give them what they want. The same thing happens if you continually change the flavor or the food company. Then you will see food becoming a real headache. Show you love for them by being firm. You will both profit from it.

Here are some articles often used in food products or as treats and a brief glimpse of ill effects they can have.

Milk, and milk products.

Many animals will as they get older lose the enzyme necessary to digest the lactose in these products (or at least this enzyme will weaken). The intake of these products could bring on serious digestive problems, from vomiting to severe diarrhea. You can see that the myth of the cute kitten drinking from a saucer of milk is totally false.

Dog Food

Have you ever compared the labels on dog food with the label on a good cat food. If not, try it. You will notice a big difference. Cat's nutritional needs are higher than those of a dog, cat's food must be richer in protein and fat to complete his needs. Also the vitamin and mineral balance is not the same and will cause a deficiency in a very important amino acid called taurine. A deficiency in this amino acid in cats causes cardiac problems and could cause blindness. This food is to be banished from the cat's diet.

Raw Fish

Raw fish contains an enzyme that will destroy the vitamin thiamin, an essential vitamin for the well being of the body. A deficiency can cause weight loss, cardiac and nervous problems, and can even cause paralysis or death. Since this enzyme is destroyed by heat, if you prepare fish for your cat, at least cook it.

Tuna and Fatty Fish gras

These have a serious deficiency of vitamin "E" that can cause, among other things, inflammation of fatty cells.

Eggs

Too many raw egg whites in the food affects the biotin and can cause problems with the skin.

Raw Meat

They can cause an unbalancing of the vitamins and minerals in the body. For example, they are very rich in phosphate but very poor in calcium. Prolonged usage of raw meat can bring about an important calcium deficiency that affects the bones. Also, the overdose of phosphorous causes problems with the absorption of the calcium into the body. With time, it causes the loss of calcium in the bones. To overcome this, you're thinking perhaps a calcium supplement; it would have the opposite effect, and would cause a phosphorous deficiency. No miraculous answer.

As you can see, these little treats that you are thinking about giving your animal is really a poisoned gift. The answer? There is one naturally, just choose a balanced commercial food from a competent manufacturer and one that you are satisfied with the results. As for the treats, your love will suffice.
Vitamin supplements

A vitamin surplus is not only useless, but harmful. If we go over the necessary dosage, we could get a vitamin intoxication. The oils from fish liver (particularly cod liver) contains a high rate of vitamin A and D, an overdose would cause bone problems.

Liver

Often used as a treat, liver is very rich in vitamin A. As this food is very tasty to a cat, he could eventually refuse all other foods naturally preferring liver. An excess of vitamin A can become poisonous. It then causes stiffness, pain in the neck, or worse yet, problems in the bones and joints and also liver diseases. Liver is a great treat, but moderation is definitely the answer.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws