Healthcare Traveler - December 2008 - (Page 12)

Paws for Thought To eat or not to eat E N S U R I N G P E T H E A LT H AT H O M E A N D O N T H E R O A D Owning a picky eater is a formidable problem. Here are some ideas for making mealtime more enjoyable for everyone. Kim Kilmer A lthough I prefer to offer all animals food on a schedule, I have found that as long as nutritional food and water are available in reasonable amounts, most small companion animals, including cats, will eat as needed. Now I am by no means saying that these pets can’t be picky. They certainly can. The outcome is just a little less complicated for small animals that have access to indoor potty facilities. Chances are, no matter their feeding time, you will not have to deal with critical consequences—as long as you keep their litter boxes clean and accessible. accessible all day. Unfortunately, if you don’t know when food goes in, it makes determining when it will need to make an exit a bit of a science. In essence, if your dog is dependent on you to let him outside to eliminate, free feeding can be an issue with serious consequences—especially if you and others in your family have the same work schedules or are away from home for similar blocks of time. If you have a healthy animal that is a picky eater, follow these suggestions to improve his habits: Determine if the change is due to a recent move. If you bring your pet on Ask Kim I have an 8-year-old, 19-pound male Papillon that was purchased at a pet store when he was 9 weeks old. I began crate training immediately and still let him out every 3 to 4 hours, but as soon as I turn my back, he eliminates in the house. My vet examined him and he is in good health. If my other dog, a female Corgi, has an accident, she is mortified; he seems to know it is wrong but doesn’t care. Any suggestions? — Kathy If a normally reliable eater suddenly has a change in eating habits, consult your veterinarian. Similarly, small dog breeds that are trained to eliminate on indoor piddle pads or in dog litter may present a far less complex problem than a medium or large breed dog that has decided to “go off his feed.” If you happen to be traveling with a member of the canine crew that is a picky eater, you already know it can create a difficult situation. Read on for tips you can incorporate into your daily routine, whether at home or on the road. assignment with you, it may take the animal some time to feel relaxed in the new housing. Keep his feeding schedule and brand of food the same throughout any transition. Give dogs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Both tend to increase hunger. Feed twice a day. Leave food down for 30 minutes per feeding. Pick up any leftover food or the empty bowl when feeding time is over. If dogs know the “restaurant” is not always open, they will learn to eat when food is available. Do not supplement meals with snacks. Most dogs will not starve themselves, so if it takes your pet a few days to get back on schedule, let him anticipate scheduled mealtime. Snacks will only enforce the idea that food is always available. In the pet store industry, puppies typically have to potty in their enclosures from birth until the day they are sold. That behavior is abnormal, and it often causes problems once they go home. Make sure feeding, potty breaks, and exercise are scheduled as consistently as possible. With proper guidance, most dogs will understand going inside is wrong. Use an enclosure that allows him only to go outside or to eliminate in an acceptable area on a piddle pad. Try an exercise pen with a lid instead of the crate. Or put the dog on a leash and keep him with you when in the house. Becoming more reliable eaters For pets that are naturally picky, there are a few tricks of the trade to help them become more reliable eaters: Make sure your bowls are clean. Presentation counts, especially to animals with great senses of smell. » » Attention travelers! Do you have a question for Kim? Send it to plederman@advanstar.com and it could appear in the next edition of “Paws for Thought.” www.healthcaretraveler.com Improving eating habits When dogs turn their noses up at food, the first thing most wellmeaning owners do is to leave food 12 Healthcare Traveler December 2008 http://www.healthcaretraveler.com

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Healthcare Traveler - December 2008

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