A common way cats can contract the parasite if they have been living indoors is by eating raw meat

In addition, the average lifespan of gray wolves in the wild is only 5-6 years, but with good diet and care, they can live 15-20 years in captivity. Feral cats (Felis silvestris) live an average of only 8 years in the wild, while long-lived domestic cats can live up to 20 years.

It can be seen that natural ≠ better. In order for cats and dogs to live healthier, longer, and happier lives, it is best not to feed them raw meat.

Feed only raw flesh and blood, many problems

Balanced and complete nutrition is key to maintaining the health of any animal. However, many raw meat diets, as well as some other homemade grains, have serious nutritional imbalances and incomplete problems.

If the liver is taken as the staple food, it is easy to cause excessive intake of vitamin A; if the phosphorus in the food is too much, it may cause hyperparathyroidism; if the important nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are too low, it is easy to cause insufficient osteogenesis , which has a particularly serious negative impact on developing cats and dogs. Unlike dogs, cats need to obtain these important nutrients from food because they cannot synthesize enough taurine, arginine and niacin on their own

The dog suffered from severe osteopenia (osteopenia) and was in pain and unable to walk because of the nutritionally deficient homemade diet.

After the diagnosis, the dog food with comprehensive nutrition and balanced ratio was replaced, and the osteoporosis was improved.

In many people's minds, pets are often associated with the image of eating bones. However, veterinarians do not recommend feeding bones to cats and dogs. Feeding bones has significant risks, for example, bones that are too hard can easily break teeth, and broken bones can easily scratch the esophagus, cause intestinal perforation, and are more likely to get stuck directly in the gastrointestinal tract, which can only be removed by surgery. Feeding bones may not only cause expensive medical bills, but also pose a danger to the lives of cats and dogs, which is not worth it.

If feeding raw flesh and blood is to hope that cats and dogs can have a good mouthful of teeth, you can consider a safer method,

Such as brushing teeth, feeding toothpaste, or going to the animal hospital for teeth cleaning (requires anesthesia)

Insist on feeding raw meat or homemade food,

What should I pay attention to?

Although supporters of raw flesh and blood believe that feeding raw flesh and blood has many benefits, such as healthier teeth and skin, better hair, a stronger immune system, and even better smell of feces... However, these "advantages" Mostly just anecdotal, and not enough research evidence to back it up.

After knowing the relevant risks, if you still insist on feeding raw meat or homemade food, it is recommended that pet owners pay more attention and consider the following measures to minimize possible risks and hazards.

In terms of hygiene:

1. In order to reduce the reproduction of harmful bacteria, raw meat must be kept frozen during storage. When thawing, the meat should be thawed in the refrigerator, not directly at room temperature. If there is any leftover after eating, it should be discarded as soon as possible.

2. Wash your hands after touching raw meat, and thoroughly clean kitchen utensils such as stoves and chopping boards.

3. The food bowls and water bowls of cats and dogs should also be disinfected frequently.

4. Don't kiss cats and dogs, especially after they've just eaten raw meat; don't let them lick you either.

It should be emphasized that freezing does not kill bacteria, and cats and dogs still defecate and groom their fur with their tongues, so even with all precautions, it is still impossible to completely prevent harmful bacteria from being spread to the surrounding environment.

In terms of nutrition:

1. Pure feeding of raw flesh and blood is difficult to ensure a comprehensive and balanced nutrition.

2. As for homemade food, although high-temperature heating can kill bacteria and improve food safety, many pet recipes on the Internet are mixed. If you insist on feeding homemade food, please communicate with a licensed veterinary nutritionist. According to the age of cats and dogs and physical condition, etc., to formulate suitable recipes.

3. In addition, cats and dogs cannot obtain the vitamins and minerals needed by the body by eating enough vegetables and fruits, so nutritional supplements that provide additional vitamins and minerals are indispensable in homemade food. In the process of making the diet, it is also necessary to strictly follow the recipe formulated by the veterinarian, because any deviation may lead to incomplete nutrition of the final meal.

Finally, I hope that everyone will keep their eyes open when choosing to buy any cat and dog food, and choose products from reliable companies. It is recommended to equip a Biophilia Guardian at home to monitor the health of cats and dogs at any time!

I wish everyone's cats and dogs eat healthy and happy! Bon Appetit!