When it comes to pets, overnutrition is a serious concern. And in many cases the problem is not just how much food you feed, but what kind. As with any diet change or modification, first consult with your veterinarian or other qualified professional.
Dogs
Chubby puppies may be cute, but they might very well be priming themselves for health problems from weight issues to hip dysplasia.
Weight aside, puppy owners must also be careful not to fuel fast growth spurts: For a dog’s orthopedic health, slow, steady growth is best. For that reason, many experts caution against feeding nutrient-packed puppy food to giant and large-breed puppies, recommending adult food instead.
To create a sense of fullness in a dieting dog, substitute some green beans or plain canned pumpkin, which have a lot of fiber but fewer calories.
Cats
Fat cats and diabetes go together about as nicely as that old-fashioned horse and carriage. Exacerbating the problem are commercial diets heavy in cereal-based carbohydrates — not exactly a natural choice for a true carnivore like the cat.
To keep diabetes at bay, some feline specialists encourage owners to feed a “catkins” diet — roughly 40 percent to 45 percent protein, 40 percent to 45 percent fat, and only 3 percent to 5 percent carbohydrates. Canned cat foods, while more expensive, are far closer to these recommendations than dry.
Rabbits
Pellets are the Twinkies of rabbit nutrition. Many veterinarians who are well-versed in “bun” care recommend restricting pellets and augmenting them with fresh veggies such as carrots (tops and all), broccoli and a variety of greens.
Birds
Seeds may be addictive to parrots and other companion birds, but these high-fat, high-calorie goodies do not provide a balanced diet. Many avian vets recommend a diet of nutritionally complete pellets, combined with fresh vegetables.
Fish
Let’s bust a myth right now: Fish can’t really be fed to bursting. But raining flaked food over a tank like some nor’easter will lead to uneaten morsels rotting and creating all kinds of aquatic havoc, from cloudy water to bacteria and algae growth.
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