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Why Human Food is Bad for Pets
Not all human food is good for humans, much less pets. Cats and
dogs are developed to eat raw meat, bones and organs by the
nowadays is also not the best—raw meat can contain salmonella or
e. coli posing a risk to humans and pets and bones can puncture
the esophagus and intestinal tract, requiring surgery.
The reasons human food is very bad for dogs and cats are twofold:
the calorie content and the fat content. (In the case of cats,
carbohydrates don’t help either). Many human foods, especially the ones that cats and dogs like, are loaded with
calories and fat -- both of which most animals are not prepared to handle on a day-to-day basis, so they become
obese. Most cats need between 250 -300 calories daily, and any extra snacks need to be considered carefully on their
calorie content. With dogs, there is a much wider variety of calorie requirements based on size, breed, and activity
level, but many people feed much more than their pet requires.
To avoid obesity, your best bet is to weigh your pet every few months. If you start to notice an upward trend, it’s time to
consult your veterinarian. They can help you develop a plan for both diet and exercise that can get your pet on the
path to being slim again. Putting on the pounds is much easier than taking them off!
Related Articles: Obesity a Serious Disease for Dogs and Cats, Human Foods That Can Harm Pets
Dr. Lauren Bowling owns and operates Bloomington Cat Hospital and Happy Tails Mobile Vet Services with her
husband, Dr. Elad Stotland. Both are graduates of Texas A&M University. They share their office with cats Deek and
Scout. They share their home with Seamus, a great dane; George, a chihuahua; and cats Charlie and Meg.
