What should pets eat and drink? A UK guide to complete pet food, safe treats and fresh water for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and parrots. And what to store for them.
We spend plenty of time deciding what’s for dinner, but what about the other diners in the house? A
cat may inspect its supper as though it’s judging a restaurant, and a parrot can make its opinion of the menu perfectly clear. The trick is knowing what belongs in each bowl, however persuasive the diner might be.
Dogs and cats: look for the word ‘complete’
In the pet food aisle, look for a food labelled complete and choose one for your pet’s species and life stage. A complete food is designed to provide the nutrients your pet needs when fed as directed. A complementary food, such as many treats and toppers, is intended to go alongside the main diet.
Wet food, dry food and a measured mix of the two can all be options. Wet food also provides some of your pet’s daily water intake. Cats Protection’s feeding guide and the RSPCA’s guide to feeding dogs.
Rabbits, guinea pigs and parrots need different menus
For rabbits and guinea pigs, good-quality feeding hay should be available all day. Suitable fresh greens and measured portions of species-specific pellets round out the diet. Guinea pigs need vitamin C from their food, so buy pellets made for guinea pigs and offer suitable vitamin C-rich vegetables such as bell pepper. PDSA’s rabbit feeding guide and RSPCA guidance on guinea pigs.
For many pet parrots, including African greys, suitable formulated pellets and a variety of bird-safe vegetables and fruit are a good starting point. If your bird currently eats mainly seeds, ask an avian vet how to introduce the new food gradually. Royal Veterinary College’s guide to feeding parrots.
What should pets drink?
Fresh, clean water should always be available. Wash bowls daily and check that drinking bottles still flow. Some cats prefer a fountain or a bowl away from their food. Pet-shop cat milk is an occasional treat, and ordinary cow’s milk can upset a cat’s stomach. Dog beer is an optional novelty. Keep human beer, tea and coffee for the humans. Cats Protection’s guide to drinking water and milk.
As for sharing from your plate, keep chocolate, grapes, raisins and anything containing xylitol away from dogs. If your dog eats any of these, ring your vet straight away.
For everyday treats, a few pieces from your pet’s usual food allowance can do the job. The cat may still give the service two stars.
https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/caring-for-your-cat/diet/feeding
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/diet
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/rabbits/feeding-your-rabbits
https://rspcasurreyeast.org.uk/animals/caring-for-guinea-pigs
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/small-animal/documents/Feeding-your-parrot-fact-sheet%202017.pdf
https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/caring-for-your-cat/diet/cats-and-drinking
https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/d/rspca/getting-ready-for-your-rescue-dog