After more than a year in this pandemic, there’s still a lot of things to be grateful for that we might overlook — being with our family members and especially our fur babies.
According to a recent study, 1 in 3 people—and nearly 1 in 2 in Generation Z—adopted a new dog or cat during COVID-19[1]. These fur babies come with a wide range of benefits to the mental health of people, especially in coping with the pandemic. In fact, adults with pets have been found to have healthier physiologic responses to stress, and a strong pet-owner bond has been associated with lower levels of loneliness and social isolation. Pets are after all, a man’s best friend.
Being a pet owner myself, I’ve definitely observed my dog can be quite a character. She would immediately demand for a treat when she’s done something good or when we just express how cute and adorable she is. It’s like her cuteness entitles her to unlimited treats. However, there’s a lot of science behind this feeding and rewarding.
Mars Petcare, a leading provider of high quality, science-backed nutrition and therapeutic health products, recommends mixed feeding to address digestive problems in pets.
“Alternating between dry and wet food gives your pet the best of both worlds since they receive the complementary benefits of each food.” says Dr. Saza Curaming, Technical Advisor, Mars Pet Nutrition. “This is a good method of adjustment since pets may exhibit difficult behaviors during mealtime due to the pandemic.”
First time pet owners usually start with dry food. Aside from being less expensive than wet food on a per kilogram basis, dry food packs a complete and balanced list of essential nutrients.
Another positive thing about dry pet food is that it aids with dental care. Chewing on the crunchy kibble promotes good oral health. For grown dogs, chewing helps keep the teeth healthy and the jaws strong, while puppies instinctively relieve the pain of their new teeth growing out of their gums. Studies showed that pets feeding on dry food have fewer mouth care problems. Dentastix, a daily oral dental chew for dogs, aids in reducing plaque and tartar build-up by up to 80%. Overall, good chewing habits stem from pets being calm and well cared for.
“Dry food is a concentrated source of nutrition and energy, its moisture content is only at 10%-12%,” shared Dr. Curaming who has a cat of her own. “For a change of pace, wet food can deliver a variety of tastes and textures, enhancing the palatability of food during meal times.”
Due to quarantine restrictions, pets stuck indoors have a tendency to gain weight. Switching to wet food can be a healthy choice since it contains fewer calories per gram than dry food. At the same time, the high moisture content aids in reducing the risk of urinary disease.
Transitioning to new pet food can be daunting at first for every pet owner. The trick is to slowly transition, give-or-take a healthy seven days lead time,” Dr. Curaming advised. “Pets might reject the food if you change the brand drastically. Worse, they may suffer from indigestion or vomit due to unfamiliar food. In the first two days, give ¼ of the portion of the new diet and ¾ of the old. In the next two days, you can offer the food half-and-half until they fully accept the new diet.”
The global COVID-19 pandemic has forced countless people in the country to stay in their own homes, without the company of their usual social circles and unable to do activities outside as they normally would. Beyond the pet selfies and pet information circulating in social media, having the right knowledge on food and nutrition ensures a longer and healthier life for the animals.
[1]Mars Petcare. (April 9, 2021). New Survey Shows Being Pet-Friendly is a Smart Move for Workplaces. Retrieved from: https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/articles/new-survey-on-bringing-pets-to-work
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