A Blog About Golden Retrievers and Dogs in General
Here Jenny and I will write and share our favorite Golden stories and articles. Hopefully we'll give some informative tips on the Golden Retriever breed that may also help those with other breeds. Feel free to comment or add to our blog. In addition, if you would like to write a story, feel free to contact us. Our goal is to keep this light hearted, heart warming, or fun. Thanks for reading!
Dog and Cat Nutrition – Important and Easier Than You Think
Written by Administrator Sunday, 04 October 2009 04:06
Having pets my whole life and having been in and out of the pet business I’ve seen a lot of changes. However, the variety of pet foods available is one of the biggest changes seen over the last decade. The choices can be overwhelming and many people don’t understand how important nutrition can be to your dog or cat. However, it’s actually quite easy to ensure your pet has a healthy diet and it doesn’t necessarily have to break the budget.
The key for pet owners to understand nutrition is first understanding their pet. Dogs digest food nearly twice as fast as humans. As a result, it’s important that a dog food is packed with the right ingredients. There are basically four types of dog and cat foods with organic falling under natural.
- Your typical grocery brand
- The second is a premium brand. (May be available in some grocery stores, but offers superior nutrition and consistency)
- Natural (All natural ingredients including natural preservatives)
- 4. Holistic (A full body view of nutrition with a wider variety of natural ingredients)
Note: There are also some organic foods which avoid ingredients derived from sources that use pesticides or chemicals in the process of raising or growing their products. If you shop organic for yourself, then you’ll understand this food option for your dog or cat.
A premium food offers better than the minimum AAFCO nutrition standards. In addition, there is typically a greater level of consistency with a premium food. However, premium foods may contain preservatives or proteins based off of by-products. Nonetheless, these foods are a step up from many grocery store brands. There are often age specific blends as with puppy, adult, and senior. In some cases there may be breed specific. Generally puppies are up to one year, adults from 1 – 7, and seniors 7 and up. The front of the bag usually gives guidelines.
A natural food contains all natural ingredients. Even the preservatives are based from natural substances. This food is very close to what cooking your own food for your dog may be like with several VERY important differences; ADDED VITAMINS, MINERALS, and CONSISTENCY that is impossible to get from cooking your own dog or cat food. However, if you like the quality of the ingredients of a home cooked type food, a natural food is a great alternative that is actually healthier for your pet. These foods are often designed for all ages. Although the quantities for ages may vary, the quality of the ingredients are excellent for all life stages of your dog or cat. Some natural foods may still offer breed specific blends.
Holistic foods are very similar to natural foods. However, holistic foods take natural a step further by offering a wider variety of ingredients. You’ll notice items like berries as part of a holistic food ingredient label. It’s basically a full mind and body approach to nutrition.
So what does that all really mean and why should I spend more money on it? The first myth to upscale dog and cat foods is that it’s automatically more expensive than a grocery store alternative. If you look at the feeding instructions, you’ll find that most natural dog and cat foods require about half the daily serving size to feed your dog or cat. As a result, that bag of food that cost twice as much really doesn’t cost much more at all. Often times the cost is very similar. Moreover, you may save money on future vet bills or additional nutritional supplements that may be recommended by a vet.
Natural foods also offer the ability to avoid some food allergies, which should be determined by a veterinarian. Some brands offer several blends that might exclude ingredients that could be a problem for your dog or cat. For example, some natural brands offer chicken, duck, or even fish as options among others. In addition, some brands avoid wheat or corn as an alternative for a pet that has allergy problems.
So you are considering a natural or holistic food, but don’t know what to look for?
People will argue about “The best brand.” However, here are some key things to look for and some misconceptions:
Meal is good- For example; chicken meal has more protein per ounce than chicken. Why? Because chicken is over 70% water, but meal is dried out chicken that is grounded up. The result is more protein per ounce. Good foods offer both whole meat and meal based proteins as one of the first few ingredients.
Some corn isn’t bad- As long as corn isn’t one of the first ingredients; it’s actually not just filler. Actually some corn, especially meal based, does offer some essential vitamins. The goal is to avoid foods that use corn as a primary ingredient because it can be tough to digest ( Better foods will have any corn based ingredients listed fairly far down the list of ingredients if at all). Avoid foods that list corn as one of the first several ingredients or altogether if your veterinarian has indicated that your dog has an allergy.
Not all by-products are 100% bad- You’ll want to look for a named bi-product. Avoid nameless by-products like poultry bi-product. However, if a name is given like “Chicken bi-product” it can actually be a decent source of protein. There are those who argue 100% against any by-products in food. Although humans may not prefer the thought or taste of other parts of an animal, and they aren’t designated for human consumption, that doesn’t necessarily negate all nutritional value. That said, if the food brand won’t even list the meat source (chicken bi-product for example) then be very wary. I personally prefer more whole protein options like, for example, strictly chicken meat or chicken meal, but that is a personal preference. Most high end natural foods avoid by-products altogether.
Ingredients on pet foods are listed in order of weight (remember what I mentioned about corn?). Look for foods that list a good protein as one of the first four ingredients. The best foods will list more than one. For example, chicken and chicken meal is often listed in the first four or five ingredients in most good natural foods. I use chicken as an example, but it can be a combination of some meat protein and meat protein meal (chicken and then salmon meal for example). The ingredients after that may include some form of cooked carbohydrates like brown rice followed by a variety of other natural ingredients. The vitamins and minerals will follow. Though vitamins and minerals do not make up the bulk of the food weight, they do provide important nutritional benefits. Both vitamins and minerals help move nutrients and proteins throughout the body and are essential to pet health.
Although dogs are typically considered carnivores, their eating habits and diets remain closer to omnivores. Their foods are typically made up of a variety of ingredients for well balanced nutrition including meat. However, cats are strictly carnivores. Cats will NOT survive on a strictly vegetable diet. Cats need taurine, which will only be found in meats. This is not to say some cat foods won’t offer other ingredients, but they MUST include some meat option or a taurine source.
In summary, know your breed, its age, and its potential allergies as noted by your vet. Compare brands and feeding instructions. Look for brands that avoid preservatives (other than natural ones). Avoid brands that use corn as a primary ingredient. In addition, make sure your brand of choice offers several good protein options in the first part of the ingredient list; one being some type of meal (Chicken meal for example). Lastly, if you have a cat, make sure you feed a food that includes meat or includes taurine in the ingredient list.
The brand of choice is up to you. Every brand has its share of fans and foes. I’m avoiding promoting any specific brands in this article for that reason. However, if you do some research online, you’ll see that some brands consistently rank higher than others. Remember this: Just because the brand says its natural doesn’t mean it is. Look at the ingredients and confirm its claim. Ask around and do your OWN research. Take the time to read labels. Avoid radical opinions for or against a specific brand. Look for reasonable explanations or reviews.
If you make a food switch, be sure to do so gradually. Start off with one part new food three parts old food. Gradually add the new food into the mix.
Where you get your foods is also optional. The goal is to provide your pet with quality nutrition. Petco offers a wide variety of premium and natural foods as do other major pet retailers. The key is to look for a store that is consistent in keeping your food in stock (unless the food manufacturer is the reason for the delay). Keep an eye open for sales on your brand to keep a reasonable stock level and save money. Petco regularly offers discounts to PALS members on premium and natural foods. Also, many stores offer a frequent buyer program (buy ten get one bag free). However, avoid buying foods too far in advance (more than a few months), because most high end foods have expiration dates because they do not contain as many preservatives. If you get in a jam finding a food in stock, check online as some major pet retailers like Petco, among others, offer online food buying programs.
I love my dogs and my cats. Unfortunately they aren’t with us as long as we’d all like them to be. As a result, I feed my dogs and cats high quality foods and give them regular exercise. I want their time with me to be as long and enjoyable as possible.