Does your furry friend get excited about meal time? We’re betting that’s a yes. While our patients have wildly differing perspectives on most topics, the bulk of them agree on at least one thing: they absolutely enjoy meals and snacks. Filling Fluffy and Fido’s bowls isn’t difficult, but deciding what to put in them can be complicated. In this article, a local Saint Lucie County, FL veterinarian shares some tips on pet nutrition.

What Ingredients Should You Avoid In Pet Food?

One of the most important things to look at is what exactly is in your pet’s food. Many foods contain lots of fillers, preservatives, and additives. These may not only be suboptimal, but even harmful.

Here are some things to avoid in your pet’s food:

Corn Syrup: If you’ve developed the habit of reading food labels, you’ve probably noticed that corn syrup–especially high fructose corn Syrup – is now used in practically everything. It has been related to a number of human medical disorders, including heart disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. It is not harmful to Fido, but it is high in sugar and is generally unhealthy for him.

Artificial Preservatives: The most frequent ones are butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin. They can be found in a wide variety of wet and dry foods and treats.

Artificial Food Coloring: Your pet’s health will not be improved by the use of dyes. They are typically used to make the finished product appear more appealing and uniform to humans. Red #40, Yellow #5, and Yellow #6 are especially problematic. They all include benzidine, which is a recognized carcinogen.

Rendered Fat: While the name “rendered fat” may sound acceptable, it is really made from the byproducts of processing animals for their meat. Unfortunately, some of the animals may have been ill or infected.

Propylene Glycol: This is a food stabilizer commonly used in Fido and Fluffy treats. Large doses can induce adverse effects. It has also been outlawed in Europe, which is reason enough to be concerned.

Thickening Agents: While thickening agents are unlikely to be at the top of the list of harmful foods, they are also not without drawbacks. Carrageenan, guar, xanthan, and cassia gums are among the most often utilized. However, some studies indicate that they may be carcinogenic.

For further information, ask your Saint Lucie County, FL veterinarian.

How Do I Pick The Right Food?

We recommend consulting your vet. Several criteria are considered here, including your pet’s age, health, breed, and lifestyle, as well as any medical concerns they may have. An underweight Pomeranian has extremely different dietary needs than a plump Lab, and an energetic young Saint Bernard requires different food than a sleepy senior Poodle.

Aside from that, stick to brands that have AFFCO clearance. AFFCO, or the Association of American Feed Control Officials, is a non-profit organization dedicated to regulating pet food ingredients, manufacturing methods, and quality laws. They work to guarantee that pet food fulfills the essential quality standards to keep your pet healthy, as well as that the nutrients are in the proper amounts. A seal of approval from them confirms that the brand has been thoroughly assessed.

The AFFCO divides pet food ingredients or nutrition into six categories.

• Water: Your pet should always have access to fresh water. The moisture content of your pet’s food might affect how easily they absorb the nutrients. For instance, our feline friends actually need quite a bit of moisture in their diets. Mice, birds, and other animals make up cats’ natural diets. Fluffy also consumes her prey raw, which ensures she gets plenty of water from her natural diet.
• Protein: Protein is essential for pets’ cartilage, tendons, ligaments, skin, fur, claws, muscle, and blood cells. As it degrades, it produces vital amino acids, which are critical for your pet’s health and survival. Chicken, lamb, fish meal, cattle, and eggs are common sources of animal protein in pet food. Plant-based proteins include corn-gluten meal, soybean meal, and legumes.
• Carbs, including fiber: Carbs give dogs with energy in the form of glucose, which is essential for keeping them running and playing and making sure they have enough energy to get their tails wagging. Cats, on the other hand, require no carbohydrates in their diet. Fluffy will, however, continue to acquire carbs and fiber from her prey in the wild. However, carbohydrates should not be the primary constituent in a dog or cat’s diet
• Vitamins: Vitamins help many of your pet’s organs and systems function properly. Different vitamins have various functions. We will not go into detail about each one, save to say that it is critical that vitamins be added in the proper proportions. Both too much and too little can be harmful to your pet’s health. Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, iron, zinc, and calcium are all vital nutrients for pets.
• Minerals: Minerals are also important for your pet’s health because they maintain its internal systems. Iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium are essential nutrients for dogs and cats.
• Fat: Fat offers energy, protects Fido’s coat and skin, and lowers inflammation. It is also important for helping pets absorb nutrition, hormone production, and providing insulation and protection. Linoleic acid, flaxseed, and fish oils are all potential sources of fat in pet food. Fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, are essential for our four-legged pals.

Making Sense of Pet Food Labeling

One of the most effective things you can do is develop the habit of reading food labels. Here’s when things can get difficult. A lot of companies employ deceptive marketing strategies to make their items appear better than they are. That’s one reason we suggest going with AAFCO-approved foods. These must display a few key pieces of information on their labels.

That includes the following:

• Brands and product names
• Name of the animal that the food is for (dog, cat, etc.)
• Quality statement: This “indicates that the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage, such as growth, reproduction, adult maintenance or a combination of these, or intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.”
• Ingredients
• Feeding Instructions
• Analysis: This shows the percentages of the nutrients stated above. While some elements can be specified with a maximum percentage and others with minimums, the list must be in a specific order and in measured units.
• The name and address of the manufacturer or distributor

The ingredient list is where things can get complex, thanks in large part to labeling requirements. As with human food, pet food is listed proportionally, with the first ingredient on the label taking up the biggest percentage of the food, and so on. However, how things are presented can be complicated. For example, if an ingredient appears in the name of a product, it must account for at least 95 percent of the item. There are some workarounds, though. Something labeled ‘flavor’ just needs to include roughly 3% of that substance.

Make sure to consult your veterinarian for specific recommendations on what to feed Fido and Fluffy. That involves receiving advice on things like food sizes and meal times.

Make An Appointment At Our Saint Lucie County, FL Pet Clinic

Have you any queries or worries concerning your pet’s diet? Are you wondering what you should feed your pet? Please contact us, your local Saint Lucie County, FL pet hospital, at any time.