When it comes to feeding the four-legged family members, what is the best food?
“There’s no scientific evidence that any food is better than the next,” says Joseph Wakshlag, D.V.M., Ph.D., an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Consumer Reports added to that comment saying “A higher price could mean better ingredients and better quality control during and after manufacturing. But you might also be paying for pretty packaging, marketing, or a fancy name.”
A report from the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University backs that up. “There is no ‘best diet,’ despite all the marketing claims to the contrary. Every pet is unique and the goal is to find the best diet for the individual pet. Expense doesn’t necessarily equal quality.”
Pets are like people. Some people like broccoli. Some don’t. Some people are allergic to peanuts. Some are not allergic to peanuts.
If your dog or cat is having problems eating, first check with your vet. Make sure there are no disease or physical problems. If you get the all-clear, then buy small or sample packs of various foods. Let your pet eat these until you find one or more your fur babies like and can eat without problems
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Cats and dogs have different nutritional needs. Cats need cat food. Dogs need dog food. They should not share food.
The first thing is what animal are you feeding? Kittens need a kitten diet until they are about a year old. Small to medium puppies need a puppy food until they are about a year old. Large breed puppies need a large and giant breed puppy food because of their body’s requirements.
Once the pet is an adult, start with adult feeds. Cats need more protein than dogs. This is why cat food has a higher protein content than dog food. Cats also need meat protein because they are evolved to digest this. Vegetable-based protein will not supply everything they need.
Dogs need less protein. A dog food with 18 percent protein is ideal. That’s about the same amount of protein you should get in your food. Dogs can also digest vegetable matter better than cats. Unless your vet recommends it, don’t feed your dog a vegetarian diet
Pet food and treats from China continues to be questionable. The US Food and Drug Administration is still looking into complaints.
Need more information? My Hometown Vet has the answers.
