Feeding a high quality diet to your pet is a requirement for keeping him healthy and strong. But with all the different varieties of food available, deciding which food is best can be a daunting task. It is much more involved than just picking a pet food brand off of a shelf in the pet store.
Investigate the Pet Food Manufacturers
There are many companies that manufacture and market pet foods. The best companies:
- have a nutritionist on staff
- allocate a part of their profits to perform research to further our knowledge of pet nutrition
- should have a contact number where they can reached to answer questions
Decide What Type of Food Best Suits Your Lifestyle and Personal Tastes
There are many different kinds of foods available: dry, canned, semi-moist, raw. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Many people find feeding dry pet food to be most convenient, but there is a concern that the moisture content in these foods may not be adequate, particularly for cats.
Canned pet food can spoil if left in the bowl too long.
Some people prefer raw diets and many pets do very well on them. However, there is the risk of exposure to contagious diseases, such as salmonellosis, for pets and family members.
Pet foods also come in a variety of flavors: beef, poultry, venison, fish, etc. Some people prefer to avoid one or more of these ingredients.
You will need to make your own decisions regarding what form and flavor of pet food works best for you.
Examining the Pet Food Label
When looking at a pet food's label, remember that the pet food ingredients are listed by weight. Moisture must be taken into account when evaluating the label. For instance, chicken may be listed as the first ingredient on the label followed by soy. However, because chicken contains a great deal of moisture and soy is a dry ingredient, it is possible that the soy actually contributes more solid weight to the food than the chicken does. This can make it difficult to evaluate labeling.
By-products and meal concern some people. By-products are proteins which have not been heat-processed, or rendered. These products consist of head, feet, animal viscera and other animal parts. Meal consists of by-products which have been rendered to remove fat and water.
Other items listed within the pet food ingredients label are preservatives, whether natural or synthetic.
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Labels
AAFCO has established guidelines for performing feeding trials on pet foods. Look for the AAFCO seal on the pet food label, indicating that the food has undergone a "feeding trial for the life style and species intended". This is preferable to a food which is "formulated to meet requirements for life style and species intended". Though AAFCO standards have critics, it is still preferable to feed a diet which has undergone some form of evaluation while being fed to the animals similar to those intended to receive the food.
Consider Your Pet's Life Stage and Health Needs
Dogs and cats of different ages and affected by different medical conditions require different nutrient profiles. A puppy pet food differs drastically from a senior dog pet food. Choose a formula appropriate to your pets individual requirements.
Watch Your Pet's Response to the Chosen Diet
Lastly, your pet's reaction is an important element in evaluating a pet food. The best pet food for your dog or cat will be one that your pet will eat readily. While being fed this diet, your pet should display well-formed stools, the hair coat should remain healthy, and the weight should be maintained at a healthy level.
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