What Should You Feed Your Pets? A Guide to Food, Treats and Drinks to Add to Your Three Day Store

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

Why Water Bowls for Dogs at Cafés, Pubs and Shops Might Do More Harm Than Good

Keeping Pets Safe in Public Spaces.

It’s a common sight in dog-friendly cafés, pubs, and garden centres across the UK: a communal water bowl placed outside the entrance or tucked near a table, inviting thirsty dogs to take a drink. 

On the surface, it seems like a kind and considerate gesture for our four-legged friends, especially during the summer months. But while well-intentioned, shared water bowls in public places could pose hidden health risks to dogs.

The Danger of Shared Water Bowls

Dogs don’t just drink from bowls, they slobber, drool, and sometimes even dip their noses or tongues deep into the water. 

Unfortunately, this can create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and viruses. When multiple dogs use the same water bowl, there's a real risk of cross-infection.

Canine Distemper: A Real and Rising Threat

One of the more serious infections that could potentially spread through shared water bowls is Canine distemper. This highly contagious viral disease affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Though vaccination has made it less common, outbreaks still occur in the UK, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates.

Distemper is spread through aerosol droplets and saliva, making communal water bowls a potential vector. If an infected dog drinks from a bowl, then another dog laps up the same water shortly after, the virus could be transmitted.

Other Illnesses to Watch Out For

In addition to distemper, dogs can pick up other infectious diseases and parasites through communal water bowls, including:

Parvovirus – a highly contagious and potentially fatal virus.

Kennel cough – easily transmitted in places where dogs congregate.

Giardia – a parasite that can live in contaminated water and cause diarrhoea.

Leptospirosis – a bacterial infection spread through urine-contaminated water, which can also infect humans. 

Hygiene Concerns and Unmonitored Bowls

Many establishments leave bowls unattended for hours, without regular cleaning or refilling. Dirt, food crumbs, or even faecal matter from muddy paws can end up in the water, creating a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.

Also, during hot weather, stagnant water can warm up quickly, another ideal breeding ground for harmful organisms.

What Responsible Establishments Can Do

Offer water on request: Instead of communal bowls, cafés and pubs could provide clean, fresh water in sanitised containers upon request.

Encourage owners to bring their own bowls: Foldable or travel bowls are widely available and easy to carry.

Use no-touch dispensers: Some dog parks and pet-friendly venues have started using dog-friendly fountains or push-pedal dispensers to limit contamination.

What Dog Owners Should Do

Always carry your own bowl and fresh water when out with your dog.

Avoid letting your dog drink from bowls in public spaces unless you’re confident they’re regularly cleaned.

Make sure your dog’s vaccinations, especially against distemper and parvovirus, are up-to-date.

We all want to create a welcoming environment for dogs and their humans. But when it comes to something as simple as a bowl of water, it’s vital to weigh good intentions against potential risks. 

By being aware of the dangers and taking simple precautions, we can keep our beloved pets safe while still enjoying dog-friendly days out.

Why this blogpost? My wife and I went out for a meal the other day and noticed that an establishment had a dog water bowl that looked absolutely filthy.

Furr Boost is ideal for the canine member of your family

What is Furr Boost? It's is a fantastic Hydration Smoothie Drink for your dogs. 

It's guaranteed to be 100% natural and what's more, it contains additional vitamins and oils for functionality to support and assist your dog's health and well being.

The drinks come in six different flavours and these all support the dog's: Hydration, Skin and Coat, Immunity, Anxiety, Metabolism and Digestion

Available flavours are: Venison, Butternut Squash and Cranberry, Pork, Sweet Potato and Apple, Salmon, Sweet Potato and Blueberry, Chicken, Butternut Squash and Cranberry, Beef, Broccoli and Blueberry and for dogs with allergy issues or on a restricted diet, there's also a Vegan Plant-Based version, too!

Each carton is 400ml and these are handy for grab and go on long walks, travelling etc, as the carton is easy to open with a tear off strip across the top.

With Spring and summer just around the corner these make the perfect hydration drink, but also can be used as a topper poured over food. Plus they are freezable, so great as an icy treat or poured and frozen in to enrichment toys like lickimats, kongs, etc.

To learn more and to place your orders please visit them at https://furrboost.com.