Pet Diet and Nutrition
When it comes to choosing a diet for your pet, we know how easy it is to become overwhelmed! The choices seem almost endless! How are you supposed to choose one that’s right for YOUR pet? Let us give you a few tips that we think will help.
First, let’s talk about what you should NOT be basing your choice on:
The ingredient list. This one might have you scratching your head a bit, but let us explain. Many people select a diet based on ingredients in the food that sound good to them rather than on the diet that is the most nutritious and made with the best nutritional expertise and quality control. Your pet needs nutrients, NOT ingredients!
The most persuasive labels. Unfortunately, most of the information on a pet food label is marketing, rather than factual information. Just because you see the words “ancient grains”, “grass-fed”, “holistic”, “free-range”, “superfoods”, etc., does not mean it has the proper nutritional values that YOUR pet needs. Choosing a food based purely on words on the front of the bag can actually be harmful to your pet.
Rating websites or commercials. Current ratings websites base their ratings on marketing information, not on which diet has the best nutrition or quality.
Recommendations from a pet supply store. Now, don’t get us wrong…not ALL of the employees at these stores are incapable of helping you choose a food. But chances are, they have done no actual studying into the nutritional values truly needed by our pets. There is a good chance that they may just be promoting the food that has the highest profit margin, the store’s private label or brand, or again, the ones with the best marketing.
If you are using any of these tactics to choose your pet’s food, please reevaluate right now! The BEST source of information in choosing a diet for your pet is your veterinarian. They have not only studied nutrition at some point in their schooling, but they see the effects of good and bad nutrition every single day.
You also need to understand that pet diets are not a “one-size-fits-all”. Dogs and cats should be eating a food that is appropriate for the life stage they are currently in. This means that puppies and kittens should be eating “puppy” or “kitten” foods, and feeding your senior pet a diet specifically geared toward their age group will help them live out their last years as healthy and comfortable as possible. There are diets for pets that are overweight, diabetic, have bladder issues, oral health needs, allergies, sensitive stomachs…the list goes on and on.
Your veterinarian will be able to direct you towards a diet that is best for your pet based primarily on your pet’s needs and the nutritional values of the food. Your vet will also be able to help you understand how to read feeding guidelines to insure you are feeding your pet the correct amount per day. Over or under feeding can be detrimental to your pet’s health. Go take a look at your pet’s food right now and if you are unsure that you have chosen the best one for YOUR pet, schedule a consultation with your veterinarian today!