Millions of pet owners across the UK could be putting their pets at risk because they don’t know what to feed them, when to feed them or how much to feed them.

That’s according to a new survey out today by Burgess Pet Care which shows that nearly four in ten owners (39%) admit to having missed their pet’s feeding time at some point - and it’s rabbit and hamsters that fare the worst.
They are three times as likely to go a whole day without food when compared to cats and dogs. So is it really a case of loving all creatures great and small?

Overfeeding is also a problem for the one in five owners who admit to giving their pet more food than they know they need.

As a result, nearly one in five pets (18%) have become ill through something they have eaten – and in some cases ‘misfeeding’ can even prove fatal for your furry friend.

Despite this over a quarter of pet owners (29%) still think they don’t need to seek advice on feeding their pet at all. According to the Burgess Pet Care survey these days almost as many pet owners would look online for nutrition information (35%) as would consult a vet (36%).

In many cases owners are clueless about the range of nutrients their pet needs in order to stay healthy. For example, many rabbit owners are unaware how vitally important fibre is in the diet of their cute companions, potentially cutting the lifespan of their rabbit in half.

To help owners of the UK’s three million pet rabbits on how to feed and properly care for their animal, Burgess Pet Care has launched a website with information like their veterinarian-approved five-step complementary feeding plan. The website is part of a campaign to improve quality and length of life for the country’s third most popular domesticated pet.