Conhecimentos de tutores de cães e gatos sobre manejo alimentar e nutrição animal no município de João Pessoa – PB

Animal nutrition, especially for dogs and cats, is constantly being updated, with advanced knowledge regarding nutritional requirements, according to the animal species and physiological state. However, it is possible to notice that food and feed are being used inappropriately in these animals. This makes it essential to seek information regarding which types of food are being offered to these animals. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the knowledge of guardians about the feeding of their pets. This was a quantitative study carried out with 14 guardians in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, in which a questionnaire was conducted with questions related to the topic in question. Of these guardians, 57.1% were female and 42.8% were male, and they stated that they had an income between two and three minimum wages. The results show that 28.6% were guardians of felines and 71.4% of canines, and the age of 1 to 7 years prevailed with 78.6%, of which 57.1% were male and 42.9% were female. Regarding food, 64.3% control the amount of food consumed by their pet, 57.1% offer food three times a day, 71.4% do not add other foods or supplements to the food, 78.6% of owners know the quality of the food they offer their pets, 85.7% buy food based on its quality, 78.6% said they know the foods that should be used for their pet’s age group, 91.7% of owners said that food is given according to age, 50% of owners check the label on the food package and 50% said they do not. Regarding food storage, 57.1% store the food in containers. It can be concluded that the owners’ knowledge optimizes the health of their pets and is the differential for their growth, development and for meeting their needs, in addition to strengthening their pet’s immunity, preventing diseases and keeping them healthy, increasing the longevity of pets.