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Digestive Tidbits on Dogs and Cats

In the future we’ll be presenting more specific nutritional information on dogs and cats.   But first here is a short primer and interesting tidbits on their respective digestive systems:

Dogs are classified as carnivores and are well adapted to eating meat.   However, they can consume and manage on a diet of an omnivore.   Still, the more meat the better.    There sense of smell is estimated at 10,000 times more sensitive than humans.   Therefore an appetizing aroma on their meals is important and why small amounts of hot water on kibble will tease their appetite.    They have 42 teeth designed for cutting and tearing.   They have fewer taste buds than humans.    They have very little salivary amylase (an enzyme) so therefore very little pre-digestion of carbohydrates occurs unlike humans.    They have a very expandable stomach adaptable to eating large meals.   Their stomach ph is more acidic than humans to assist in digestion of small bonelike substances and to protect against harmful bacteria.   The time food spends in the digestive tract is 12-30 hours compared to humans which is usually considered 30 hours to 5 days!

Cats are classified as obligate carnivores.  They absolutely have to have meat in their diet.   They have 30 teeth designed for cutting and tearing and have no sideways movement of the jaw at all.   They have even fewer taste buds than dogs and cannot taste sweets.   They have NO salivary amylase.   Their stomach is relatively small and designed for several small meals per day.   Which is why you can leave food out for the cat….unless your dog can get at it!    Like the dog the stomach is a more acid environment than humans.   Transit time through their system is 12-24 hours.   Their small intestine is well suited to digesting proteins and fats.   They need a protein rich diet.  Thus protein levels in cat food exceed the protein level in  dog food recipes.

The most essential nutrient for both is of course WATER!   Water can be obtained through drinking of course but also through their food.    Feeding a cat canned food will result in a very noticeable reduction in the amount of water they drink.   Canned foods are about 80% water.

Lotus Brand Dog Food

If you have a fussy or picky eater in your furry friend we’d invite you to try our Lotus Brand dog food.   The holistic formula is BAKED rather than extruded and I can personally testify that our very picky Teddy Bear “Murphy”  loves this food!!!  In the near term we will be expanding our varieties.

Another idea for a fussy eater is to moisten the kibble with HOT water.   It probably only takes a teaspoon per 1/2 cup of kibble to really release the tantalizing aroma of the food.

Is Your Pet “chipped”?

What happens if your family pet suddenly turns up lost?    You may have a tag on them and the finder may decide to do the decent thing and contact you.    But what if that tag has been lost  (they frequently are)?   There’s a good chance there is no tag.    Regardless, a microchip provides permanent identification that cannot fall off, be removed or become difficult or impossible to read.    A microchip may just serve as the conduit to reunite you and your pet.   Dog or cat.       A microchip is not a GPS.   It’s not a tracking device.   They are instead a radio-frequency identification implant that does not require a power source.   There is no battery in it.   The microchip gets power from the external scanner and then transmits the number to the scanner.    Veterinarians and rescue centers all have scanners that can read the chips.    The microchip is inserted under the loose skin between the shoulder blades with a sterile applicator.   It only takes a few seconds as though it was a simple vaccination.    The chip has been compared to a grape seed.    Once microchipped the number needs to be registered with a pet recovery service.   If your pet is recovered by any of the multitude of rescues, etc. out there they will scan for a chip and report the number to the recovery services which will then contact you.

Bonus benefits of microchipping your pet

Some microchip registries offer additional services for your pet’s care:

• Specialists available 24/7 to assist with advice and support if your pet is lost
• Travel assistance for pets found far from home
• 24/7 Emergency Medical Hotline
• Lost Pet Alerts sent to a network of animal shelters, veterinarians, and concerned citizens around where your pet was lost.

Remember as long as there are pets, even those belonging to the most responsible parents, they will go missing.   That is why we are happy to sponsor a microchip clinic at the store on June 6 from 1-5 pm.    The cost is just $25 for the chipping and all proceeds will go to the Animal Protection and Education Charity.