Shelter’s Edge

Making sure that the animals in your care are provided good nutrition goes beyond the bowl (or paper tray, as the case may be). Here are some important guidelines and a couple of tools to help determine when, how and how much they should eat.

It’s All In The Presentation…
No china and crystal needed here: flat-bottom stainless steel bowls or disposable paper food trays are your best bets. Use clean bowls or new trays at each feeding, and remove uneaten food and used bowls or trays.

Photo: Amelia Hughes for Animal Rescue League of Boston

…And the Ambiance
If possible, separate morning feeding from cage cleaning. Ideally, let the animals eat before the disruption of cleaning.

Be Calculating…Be Very Calculating
How much to feed? This can be determined by a formula that takes into account not only an animal’s life stage, health status and activity level, but the type of food you’re feeding.

Our handy calculator lets you enter the number of calories per cup of a specific food and then calculates the quantities for weight and life stage for dogs and cats.

Watch—and Record—What They’re Doing
It’s important to monitor whether animals are eating, drinking and eliminating. Use a worksheet like this one to help you track this information consistently. Any significant appetite or elimination abnormalities? Route animals promptly to the veterinarian.

Please leave YOUR top tips in the comment box.

P.S. Those are just the appetizers, people! Check out our two new articles, Provide Good Nutrition and
Five Tips for Good Nutrition, for the whole enchilada.

Related links:
Provide Good Nutrition
Five Tips for Good Nutrition
Feeding Enrichment in the Shelter: “A Kong By Any Other Name”

Tags: Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Shelter Standards, Shelter Health, Tips

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