Are You Feeding Your Pets Right? Vets Reveal 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Feeding Their Pets

Taking care of a pet is a lot of work, but there are a few things you could be doing wrong when it comes to feeding your animal.

Veterinarians highlighted a few of the biggest mistakes people make when feeding their pets and how to avoid them.

1. You shouldn't follow the suggested serving size on the food bag.

Feeding instructions on packages of commercial pet food might have you serving your buddy more calories than they need, according to Dog Lab's veterinarian Sara Ochoa.

"Do not [come after] the feeding instructions on the bag," Ochoa told Insider. The manufacturer's suggested serving size is "a little too much" for pets, she added. 

It's better to keep your pet on the "thinner side," according to Ochoa, because an obese animal is at risk of experiencing more health problems.

You could coordinate with your vet to help your buddy lose weight through reducing portion sizes and limiting treats if your pet is already a little bit pudgy.

2. Giving cooked bones to dogs can be dangerous.

Ann Eliopulos, a veterinarian and adviser for Wag, says giving cooked bones to a dog is a big no-no since the skeletal substance is a health risk for your buddy.

"Cooked bones should never, ever, under any [conditions], be given to a dog," Eliopulos told Insider. "[The bones] could [cut] and [penetrate] any part of the dog's gastrointestinal region, or prong there and need to be surgically extracted," she added.

Try filling a rubber toy with peanut butter or a few pieces of kibble if you want to give your dog a tasty treat that keeps them occupied for a while. Have you heard deer antlers for dogs? You can consider this instead of bones if you want to give them something to chew on. 

3. Free-feeding can cause your pet to become overweight.

Pet parents who work long hours or preoccupied with feeding times may free-feed, which usually requires leaving a large bowl of food out for your pet to nibble on all day, or refilling their container whenever it's empty.

However, that is not always the best idea - especially if you have one more pet - according to Dogtopia's resident veterinarian Antje Joslin. She pointed out to Insider that most pets cannot regulate their dietary calorie intake and maintain a healthy weight by free-feeding.

An automatic pet-food dispenser might be a great option if you're looking for the adaptability of free-feeding while making sure your pet isn't overfeeding. These items allocate a pre-portioned meal on a set schedule that you can program, so your pet could eat even when you're not around.

4. Feeding your pet leftovers or scraps of food from the table is never a wise idea.

Giving your pet parts of people's food (some call it "table food") could add hundreds of undesirable calories to their diet, according to Joslin.

Joslin said each treat, food scrap, and dental chew adds up when it comes to your pet's daily calorie count. "These calories [combines] fast, especially for small dogs," Joslin said, adding that overfeeding a pet could lead to obesity and imbalanced nutrition.

It is recommended to pre-portion a daily allotment of treats instead of sneaking your pet scraps so you can reward your furry friend guilt-free.

Conclusion

Every loving pet parent wants their four-legged family member to live the most extended, healthiest life possible. While life is inconstant, a massive part of helping your dog or cat reaches a ripe old age has to do with nutrition. While there is no "proper" diet that works for every animal, avoiding these five common feeding mistakes would help make your companion healthier from the inside out.