A young injured coyote is brought in for rehabilitation after being hit by a car. What is the most appropriate diet for this animal that would most closely mimic its natural diet?

• A. Vegetables and fruits, raw meat, berries and grasses
• B. Only dry kibble
• C. Fish-based diet
• D. Milk-based diet

Answer: (A)

Coyotes are omnivores that eat a mix of animal prey and plant foods in the wild, including small mammals, insects, berries, fruits, and even some grasses. Feeding a rehab patient should reflect that natural mix to support digestion, nutrient balance, and natural foraging behavior during recovery. A diet that combines raw meat with fruits, berries, vegetables, and grasses provides high-quality animal protein and moisture from the meat, while the plant foods supply vitamins, minerals, fiber, and additional moisture the gut needs. This approach better mimics what the animal would encounter in the wild than any single-source option.

Relying only on dry kibble misses the moisture and variety of a natural diet and may not meet the animal’s digestive and nutritional needs during rehab. A diet based primarily on fish could skew fatty acid balance and still wouldn’t reflect the coyote’s typical prey mix. A milk-based diet is unsuitable for most canids and can cause digestive upset.