Feeding pets improperly is one of the biggest mistakes an owner could do. Some foods could be poisonous for animals and they can get sick, choke or even die. Your little furry friends need some special diets that help them grow beautifully and healthy.

So, vets reveal the biggest mistakes people make when feeding their pets. Read on for more!

Don’t let them share the food bowl

“Animals naturally prefer to have their own food. Even pets who know each other may fight over food,” said Gary Richter. “Food aggression is common, and it’s easily preventable by feeding in separate rooms or crates.”

“Cats are carnivores, which means that they eat meat. Dogs are omnivores, which means they eat meat, grains, and vegetables, so they need a more varied diet than just meat alone to meet their nutritional requirements,” Richter said. “Similarly, dog food lacks the vital nutrition that cats need to live a long, healthy life.”

Don’t feed it with cooked bones

“Cooked bones should never, ever, under any circumstances, be given to a dog. They can splinter and perforate any part of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, or wedge there and need to be surgically removed,” said Ann Eliopulos.

Don’t skip the meat from cats’ diet

“Taurine is an amino acid that is important for normal heart function, vision, and reproduction,” he explained, adding that it is found only in animal-based proteins and cats need it.

Don’t give them treats

“The most common feeding mistake pet owners make is inadvertently teaching their pets to beg by giving them treats outside of mealtimes. I frequently hear things from owners like ‘My pet is always hungry,’ ‘He follows me around the kitchen,’ or ‘He begs at the dinner table,'” Joslin said. “These are all conditioned behaviors that we have trained in our pets.”

Don’t cook special meals

Pets need some vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients in each stage of their life that depend on the age, breed or other characteristics.

“My No. 1 pet peeve is home-cooked pet diets,” Ann Eliopulos said. “In most cases, these diets are simply not nutritionally adequate.”

The frequency of meals depends on the breed

“Generally speaking, you should feed your dog twice a day, with meals spaced evenly throughout the day. However, some small puppies or toy breeds can experience low blood sugar if they are fed too infrequently. Therefore, three to four small meals a day may help keep their blood-sugar levels constant,” Joslin said.

Don’t free-feeding it

“Though some pets can regulate their dietary calorie intake and maintain a healthy weight by free-feeding, most cannot,” Antje Joslin said. “This can easily lead to overfeeding and thus obesity.”

Don’t feed them leftovers

“Every treat, dental chew, and food scrap counts when it comes to your pet’s daily calorie count. These calories add up fast, especially for small dogs,” Joslin said, adding that overfeeding a pet can lead to obesity and nutritional imbalances.

Don’t follow the serving size on the food bag

“Do not follow the feeding instructions on the bag. In general, the manufacturer’s suggested serving size is a little too much for pets,” said Sara Ochoa.