Pet themes 2010
More than just food
A healthy, balanced and species-appropriate diet is important for the well being of our pets, but dogs, cats, rodents, birds and fish need more than “just” food to keep them healthy and happy.
With dogs, it’s very important that you feed chew bones or dental care treats regularly. They are essential for keeping their teeth clean. It doesn’t matter whether your waggy-tailed friend prefers rawhide bones, chew sticks or pigs’ ears; chewing is a gentle and natural way to remove coatings.
Hairballs are an important subject when it comes to cats. They form in the stomach when cats swallow their hair when grooming. Along with cat grass, lots of cat owners offer their little tigers anti-hairball treats and malt paste.
When it comes to rodents, it's essential that the teeth wear down correctly so that rabbits, guinea pigs and friends don't have problems eating. Rabbits always need to have enough hay in their hutch, because the molars are worn down by nibbling on this raw fibre. You can treat guinea pigs to parsley stems or untreated branches for chewing. Untreated wooden hutches and wooden toys are also a great way for rodents to wear down their little gnashers.
Birds love to nibble too. One natural, non-fattening snack is a piece of foxtail millet, which can easily be clipped on to the cage. Our feathered friends can sharpen their beaks on it and it will keep them occupied too, because it’s actually not that easy to pick out the little grains. So the millet not only keeps boredom at bay but it’s also healthy and aids recovery after illnesses. It's a valuable food supplement for young birds too.
Fish, on the other hand, need plants. And not just for food, although they do quite like to nibble on them. They mainly need green plants because they produce essential oxygen under the influence of light. It's essential that you select real plants and not plastic ones for your aquarium, even if they are more work and struggle to grow or get pulled out by the fish in the beginning. Choose plants with robust rootstock - they are tougher. Plants also give shy fish, like the goldfish for example, somewhere to hide.
No matter what “edible” accessories you need for your dog, cat, rodent, bird or fish, you can find everything for your pet at Maxi Zoo.
