Feeding Is Not Enough !!

Feeding Is Not Enough !!

Feeding Is Not Enough — A Complete Guide to Responsible Streetie Management

Every day, thousands of kind-hearted people step out to feed street dogs. While this compassion is invaluable, feeding alone is not enough to truly care for a streetie.

Street dogs live in unpredictable environments. They don’t get consistent meals, medical care, or protection. This makes it even more important that whatever support we provide is complete, informed, and responsible.

This guide will help you understand what it really takes to manage street dogs properly — from nutrition to vaccination to safe sterilization.

🐾 1. Nutrition: The Foundation of a Street Dog’s Health

Most feeders believe that giving biscuits, roti, or leftovers is enough. Unfortunately, this leads to:

  • Malnutrition
  • Weak immunity
  • Skin issues
  • Low recovery from illness

⚠️ The Reality:

Street dogs often get only 1 meal a day. That one meal must be nutrient-dense and balanced. Infact giving biscuits which have sugar or feeding dogs milk is counter-productive. It leads to worms in stomach, skin infections and can lead to mange in 20% dogs or even more if their immunity is low.

✅ What a Proper Meal Should Include:

1. Protein (Most Important)

  • Chicken, eggs, fish
  • Helps muscle repair and immunity

2. Fats

  • Chicken fat, fish oil
  • Essential for energy and coat health

3. Fiber & Micronutrients

  • Pumpkin, carrots, spinach
  • Supports digestion

4. Hydration

  • Broth or water mixed in food

🥗 Ideal Feeding Approach

If feeding once daily:

  • Ensure high-protein, high-calorie meal
  • Avoid empty fillers like plain rice or roti alone

If feeding twice daily:

  • Split into balanced portions
  • Maintain consistency

💡 Practical Tip:

If you cannot cook daily, opt for ready, nutritionally balanced food designed for dogs instead of human leftovers. To save time on cooking can use Meal Mixes and add them to plain boiled rice to make an economical, complete and nutritious meal for dogs.

🐾 2. Health Management: Where Most People Go Wrong

Feeding is just step one. Medical care is where real impact happens.

💉 Vaccination Protocol (Critical)

Many people unknowingly make a dangerous mistake:

❌ Sending dogs for sterilization without proper vaccination

This can be life-threatening.

✅ Core Vaccinations for Street Dogs:

1. DHPPIL Vaccine (Core Immunity)

Protects against:

  • Distemper
  • Parvo (deadly)
  • Hepatitis
  • Parainfluenza
  • Leptospirosis

Schedule:

  • Minimum 3 doses before sterilization
  • 1st vaccination for a puppy can be done at 42 days age and 2 subsequent vaccinations 21 days apart
  • Then annual booster

2. Anti-Rabies Vaccine

  • Essential for both dog and public safety

Schedule:

  • At least 2–3 doses before sterilization
  • 1st vaccination for a puppy can be done at 75-90 days age and 2 subsequent vaccinations 21 days apart. In areas with lots of rabies cases, vaccinations can be done as soon as at 60 days age for puppies
  • Then annual booster

🧪 3. Pre-Sterilization Blood Tests (Non-Negotiable)

This is one of the most ignored yet critical steps.

Before ANY sterilization surgery, ensure:

  • CBC (Complete Blood Count) with Blood Parasite (BP Test)
  • Liver Function Test (LFT)
  • Kidney Function Test (KFT)

⚠️ Why This Matters:

If a dog is:

  • Weak
  • Infected
  • Has organ dysfunction

➡️ Anesthesia can be fatal if given to a sick dog

✅ Rule:

No blood test = No sterilization

🐾 4. Deworming: Often Ignored, Always Needed

Street dogs are constantly exposed to parasites.

🐛 Risks:

  • Weight loss
  • Weak immunity
  • Digestive issues
  • Transmission to humans

✅ Deworming Schedule:

Puppies:

  • Every 2 weeks until 3 months
  • Then monthly until 6 months

Adults:

  • Every 3 months minimum

💊 Options:

Medical (Recommended):

  • Deworming tablets available at any Vet

Alternative (Ayurvedic Support):

🐾 5. Tick & Flea Control

Ticks are not just a nuisance — they can cause:

  • Tick fever
  • Blood loss
  • Skin infections

Tick and Flea Medicines are an absolute necessity especially before rainy season but are recommended throughout the year as even a single bout of tick fever can be fatal.

✅ Best Options:

Medical (Highly Effective):

  • Bravecto
  • Simparica
  • Nulura
  • Spot-On

Herbal / Maintenance Solutions:

  • Bye-Bye Bugs
  • Useful for:
    • Prevention
    • Mild infestations
    • Regular upkeep

🐾 6. Sterilization: Do It Right

Sterilization is essential to control population, but must be done responsibly.

✅ Correct Protocol:

  1. Ensure dog is healthy and active
  2. Complete:
    • DHPPL vaccinations (minimum 3)
    • Anti-rabies (2–3 doses)
    • Dewormed
    • Doesn't have ticks
  3. Conduct:
    • CBC
    • BP
    • LFT
    • KFT
  4. Only then proceed with surgery

❌ What NOT to Do:

  • Sterilizing weak or sick dogs
  • Skipping vaccinations
  • Ignoring blood tests

🐾 7. Responsible Feeding = Responsible Care

If you are feeding a street dog, you are already their caregiver.

That means:

  • You are responsible for their nutrition
  • Their medical care
  • Their safety

❤️ The Goal

Healthy street dogs:

  • Live longer
  • Are less aggressive
  • Spread fewer diseases
  • Co-exist better with communities

🌱 Final Thought

Caring for street dogs is not just about kindness —
it’s about informed compassion.

When we move from:

“I feed them”
to
“I manage their well-being”

—that’s when real change happens.

🐶 About Mother of Strays

At Mother of Strays, we are committed to making species-appropriate, affordable nutrition and care solutions accessible for both pets and street dogs.

From balanced meals to treats, biscuits, meal mixes and ayurvedic supplements for dogs, we aim to make responsible caregiving easier for every feeder.

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