Feeding Behaviour Of Dogs And Cats

Providing proper care to dogs and cats is of great interest and concern to both pet owners and professionals who work with them. Just as it is important to provide proper healthcare and medical attention it is equally important to provide adequate nutritional care.

- Dr. Punith*

In order for pet parents to provide the required amount of nutrition it is important to first understand their feeding behaviour.

DOGS

Dogs' hunting behaviour comes from their ancestors the wolves, where wolves would hunt large prey and eat the hunt as quickly as possible. The same behaviour still prevails in dogs which leads them to rapidly eat their food. This tendency to eat rapidly can be a problem in certain dogs, since it predisposes them to choking or swallowing large amounts of air. Adding water to the dog's food immediately before feeding decreases the speed of eating and minimises the chance of swallowing large amounts of air. A recommendation for pet parents would be to use a bowl that includes a central hub which would also help to slow down the eating process. Another key point of dogs' ancestry suggests that an intermittent feeding schedule consisting of large meals interrupted by periods of fasting is the most natural way to feed dogs.