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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-06-22, Page 18Page 4—Crossroads—June 22, 19H3 u?: PE1 FOOD CHOICES The seemingly endless variety of foods available to your dog or cat can be broken down into five simple categories. The fust, unfortunately, "leftovers" is common as the sole source of nutrition for pets in some homes. This practice exists because of the higher costs of commer- cially prepared foods. Scraps may be tasty, due to their high fat content, but generally they are low in good quality protein, vita- mins and minerals. The net result is a poorly balanced diet. Somepet owners are aware of this and buy low cost dry food -kibble as a sup- plement- However, the scraps "dilute" what nutri- tion is in the cheaper dry food, creating a marginal diet at best_ Secondly, some owners, particularly those connected with restaurants or food out- lets, utlets, or those who feel their pet deserves "the best", will go one step beyond table scraps_ They will feed their pets solely on top quality beef cuts. It is in this group that most of the medical problems arise. No longer is there the possibility of even a marginal diet created with left over vegetables or inex- pensive nexpensive kibble being added to the meat. Serious bone problems are often the re- sult, particularly in fast growing, large breed pup- pies - A third type of food is the commercial dry foods or kibbles. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to serve and store_ Yet, due to the processing involved, some of the nutritional value is lost and the sources of nutrition are limited As the nutrition- al sources are primarily cereal in origin, the ability to digest the food is lower and the bulkif high. This canbea complicating factor when house training, stopping a pet from eating its own stool, or when an animal has a "sensitive" digestive sys- tem_ The semi -moist diets are often preferred by owners since they have good shelf lives, better digestibility, are tastier and have meat in- cluded as a source of protein as compared to just ceral_ Finally, canned foods are usually the most digestible and tastiest of all the com- mercial preparations- The higher fat content makes them more suitable for cats and small dogs, nursing bitches and working breeds_ Canned foods, however, are also the most expensive be- came of their high water content and the amount of meat they contain. If only canned food is fed, it must be of a type that has both cereal and meat in order to provide a balanced diet. Some con- tain only meat, in which case kibble should be added_ Additional points to remem- ber about canned food diets is that puppies should only be fed canned food designed far the fast growth rate of youth dogs_ Also, dog food in what- ever form should never be fed to cats_ The reason for this is that cats require a substance called taurine which is not contained in dog food Without it they will go blind_ A word about the cost of pet foods. There is a high variation but it is certainly fair to say that you get what you pay for. All the manu- facturers purchase from the same sources, so one of the major reasons for price variation is the quality of the product_ If you feed a good quality, nutritionally balanced conmiereial food, you will be far ahead in the long run by avoiding prob- lems with your pet's health_ This advice has been tit to you by the Ontario Veterinary Association_ TERRY SPROUL CONSTRUCTION Asphalt Suring Old or New Ings In Business over 10 years_ FreeEstates CALL EVENINGS: Brussels 8874185 SCHNEIDERS GIANT HOT DOG SALE • DAIRY DEPARTMENT WAVE mane ta'(tta- YEGETIOIKE are frIn E «096 D'MIMIE TOW m 'FE66AAeE Schneiders 500 gr_ pkg. 1.88 Mini Sizzlers Schneiders 250 gr_ pkg_ � 1.13 Meat Pies Schneiders 200 gr_ pkg_ Quiche Schneiders 200 gr. pkg_ Florentine Quiche Schneiders 200 gr_ pkg_ Cheese & Onion Quiche P11 M 1.28 1.28 1.28 OR DELl COUNTER Schneiders T huri.nger Summer Sausage Schneiders Olde Fashioned Ham Schneiders Popular Meat Loaves sliced per fl 00 gr - .66 sliced per 100 ga. .87 ®50 sliced per Mgr. �. sliced per Il ¢1CB gr. ®66 Schneiders Regular Cooked Ham 0VV OFF 900 gr. tub Schneiders Bucket of Chicken Schneiders Soft Margarine p 2®llb. tubs Regidair Ike 1 1 l 1 f Redeemable at Preibusgefs Food Market, Elmira,. Mount Forest. $4.49 SCrispy Crust Lard chneiders Ii Jib. pkg. •89 89 .89 169 259 CUP AND SAVE TODAY! _ wari comoit PER BUCKET Offer expires June 28, 1983. Schneiders fl Dh. pkg. Crispy Flakefening Schneiders 250 gr. pkg. Single or Thins Cheese Slices Schneiders 500 gr. pkg. Single or Thins r eese Slices ............. . WE CARRY A LARGE SELEt ON OF BULK SCHNIlS CASE.