Please put down what you can for a dog or cat

[surfmeetseast]

A dog that is hungry and homeless is only likely to live 17 hours in this cold. A homeless unfed kitten or cat will only live 6 hours apprx.
Please, if you see a stray in this cruel weather, give some bread or anything you can spare. Many f us are cold at home, but imagine living in the cold and rain and starving......
Please xxx

[Ragged Robin]

Whilst the last thing I want is to provoke controversy nor denigrate the kind intentions of the poster, I would like to see the advice of KAR or a Vet on this. Animals (including humans) who are seriously undernourished need small quantities of easily digestible food at regular intervals: an overlarge or indigestible meal could cause stomach upsets which would aggrevate the problem. I am not an expert in animal nutrition but I suspect bread would not help could even hurth small pups and kittens. At least if you give it or any other dry food soak it and also provide water anyway - I know there is a lot of about but not necessarily within reach of a weak animal.

And please dont feed strays - particularly cats - close to residential premises where dogs are kept (particularly if they are tied up or caged and not particularly well fed themselves). It will provoke barking which may in turn provoke a nasty person into putting down poison and causing a lot more animals an even nastier death.

I think probably plain yoghurt (which is not too expensive here) might be better, but again I would be grateful for expert advice. For adult dogs cooked pasta allowed to cool provides energy needed in cold conditions.

[Maisiemoo]

Plain yoghurt can be OK for some cats but it must be plain with no additives. No cat should be given milk as it can cause diarrhea and some cats are lactose intolerant and should be given no milk based products at all. I have in the past mixed rice in with canned food to bulk it up and feed to the strays.

[surfmeetseast]

Points taken. I suggested bread because I think many people would not bother with nutritious food. Our latest rescue pup survived on god knows what until we found him.
Now he is putting on weight and not looking back

[jazzdolly]

Okay...here goes...

I think the world has gone mad.....Lactose intolerence for cats?....Surely not!!!

(Or is it just me?!!!!)

I for one would always help wherever I could. Without question. I can't say I would stretch to not giving a cat milk though!!!

[sophie]

Put down what you can, whenever you can, in this weather you can't afford to be picky and the animals won't care. Anything is better than nothing. My 4 pampered pooches just love to drink from muddy dirty water when I take them for walks!!

[Marions]

Agreed. Any creature that is starving is grateful for anything. It might kill them, but killing with kindness is better than killing with ignorance and disregard.

And hey since when should I not give my cats milk. Have done all my life and mky cats beg for it. If I give them only food and water the screams don't stop until they have some milk. Maybe it is because they also (as doe smy dog0 love drinking rainwater form puddles as well.

[Maisiemoo]

Whilst I agree that the strays are probably grateful for any food they can get their paws on I was just passing on what my vet told me and yes there is such a thing as lactose intolerance for cats, strange as it may seem! I have mixed bread with gravy and the stray cats have loved that, but I have had strays turn their noses up at some food, one will not eat anything that contains beef and sniffs everything thoroughly before he deigns to eat it.

[Marions]

Thanks Maisie Moo. I know cats can be 'fussy' eaters just like humans. my cats won'[t eat the same things!!!

I think we alljust need to do whatever wecan. Very interesting about cats and lactose, but I guess they are the same as any other living creatures, - their bodies have intolerances too. Me I love peanuts, but they can kjill someone else.

[Ragged Robin]

I just suggested food for strays that would be suitable for undernourished dogs, but wouldnt stretch the budget too far for those who already had difficulty making ends meet to feed their own families (particularly adopted four footed ones).

I didnt mention cats because I have no experience of them(my dogs refuse to let me have one!)

I have to admit, though, that when I lived somewhere with a wall too high for the dogs to reach, I left out bowls of milk (diluted with water) for a couple of stray cats and they seemed to thrive on it! When I moved and tried to find someone else to give them at least a small snack, I discovered that one was already scrounging from at least three other people!


What I do know is that any animal at starvation point needs careful feeding because the stomach shrinks and digestion is damaged. Teeth may not be too strong either.

Another cheapie is to boil the bones of a cooked chicken, strain the broth, and finely shop the skin and other parts not wanted by humans and either give it neat which will also help dehydration -or for adult dogs cook pasta in it. DO STRAIN IT THOUGH as chicken bones splinter and can cause internal damage and bleeding.

There is such a thing as "killing with kindness" and it is due to ignorance. Would you be grateful for being fed something that might cause you more pain. There are plenty of websites that advise on foods suitable and unsuitabe for dogs and cats, and their nutritional needs are very different. That is something else to bear in mind about feedings strays - the wrong species may get it.

My dogs are very convincing that they are starving when chocolate biscuits are around, but I dont let them have them, because I know chocolate is dangerous for dogs.

[sophie]

Don't worry, you are not likely give your dog too much chocolate unless of course you hand it out by the Kilo. If you Google the question there loads of Vets dispelling the myth that all and any chocolate is dangerous. However, you can hand out too much sugar if there is a suspicion that your dog might be diabetic. Plus, a fat dog is an unhealthy dog (same for cats) but unlike us, they don't do a twirl in front of the mirror and groan!!

[stellasstar1]

I feed 8 garden cats(strays) for a cost of 25 lira a week.. I give them a diet of cooked pasta in chicken cubes, tinned dog food and cat biscuits. Now I know dog food on its own does not have the necessary nutrients, but mixed with everything else it is fine. The 25 lira is 2 bags of pasta (at 95 kurus a bag), 2 large tins of dog food ( 3.99 each) and 2 kilo's of cat food 15 lira. 25 lira does not break the bank and all cats are well fed and healthy and love it. Two of them do have it mixed with a little milk with no ill effects. If possible try and make some beds for them as well. They are perfectly happy with a cardboard box filled with old towels or jumpers.

[jazzdolly]

stellatstar...you are a diamond!!!

Good on you x

[Marions]

Thanks everyone. Lots of handy hints for those who want to help. Many people here who care are on tight budgets, so hints on how to help without creating an overdraft in the bank are more than welcome.

Actually the tale of chocolates being dangerous to dogs I heard for the first time over her.e Nowhere else at any time of my lif.e Like we two legged animals, most animals like a treat, and judging form the response by dogs on chocolates and cakes, one cannot think it is harmful in small quantities. Same goes for humans after all. My old mum used to say 'A little of what you fancy does you good' and Ibelieve there was a Music Hall song on the same line,s or maybe it was just a different way of saying what St.Paul said 'Moderation in all things' plus 'A little wine for your stomach's sake'. Guess that applies to four legged friends as well.

Feeling frozen here at home, one can wellimagine the pain from the cold to our four legged friends out there.

[Owl Lady]

As well as chocolate being wrong for dogs, I have been led to believe that onions should be avoided, please can someone confirm!!!

[surfmeetseast]

Never had a dog who was fond of onions, Owl Lady, might make them a bit 'windy' Another food to apparently avoid is dried fruit.

[Dalartokat]

Owl Lady, I had to think why/where would a dog/cat come into contact with onions regarding pet food and even why anyone would cook something with onions to give to their pet, I looked it up and....


http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/onion ... ret_killer

[Owl Lady]

Hi, nowhere have I mentioned giving my dog onions. On one occasion I dropped a bit whilst cooking and she ate it. I thought I had heard they were poisonous like chocolate, so just confirming. Should have Googled it myself, thank you.

[Dalartokat]

As well as chocolate being wrong for dogs, I have been led to believe that onions should be avoided, please can someone confirm!!!

Owl Lady I have not accused you of giving onions to your dog, if you read my post again I have not referred to you, your posting above says "I have been led to believe" which is why I said "why anyone would cook" I was not referring to you, it was a generalisation. I was interested in knowing what affect it would have.

[Owl Lady]

Hi no offense taken, there were no problems with the onion!

[surfmeetseast]

Haha, calm down ladies 'mnhjhyt

[Dalartokat]

I'm calm, always am

[Ragged Robin]

Its not a case of giving chocolate to dogs, it is a matter of never leaving a chocolate biscuit on the table (or letting guests do so) when the dogs are around! I first heard of the danger on the Internet - and apparently the more expensive the chocolate the more dangerous it is for dogs, something about the ingredients. So possibly the occasional cheap chocolate or coated biccie wont do long lasting harm to a healthy mature dog. Lemar used to stock " chocolate" drops specially for dogs but I havent seen them recently.

Grapes are also supposed to be dangerous for dogs,, but I didnt find out that until my dogs had been gorging for years on bunches blown off the vine , and short of cutting the vine down its difficult to know how to stop them.

Then when you think of all the things that are said to be "bad" for humans, we would probably starve if we avoided them all! With dogs I think it is better to be safe than sorry , however, when there are plenty of other treats they enjoy.

Probably depends on the age, size and condition of the dog. My small, very elderly and frail terrier had stomach upsets recently, which seem (touch wood) to have been solved by replacing part of the meat by yogurt which is easier to digest.

What about vegetable (preferably olive) oil? I was told to give a spoonful occasionally in their food to improve their coats (and though I sez it as shoulnt) mine have lovely coats. Should be specially good for dogs living outoors in this weather?? Or as that got the "thumbs down" too?

However back on topic , malnourished strays may be more susceptible to suspect foods.