If you are a pet parent, you already know that all dogs and cats need good quality pet food. But since there are so many brands of dog food and cat food in the market nowadays, it can be difficult to find the right pet food for your furry children.
No need to fret, here’s a list of the right qualities that your ideal pet food should have. Be sure to check if pet food that has these components is available in your country and community. You can always go online and read reviews and articles on Petsumer to know more.
Quality Tip #1 Cat Food Is Different From Dog Food
It’s important to bear in mind that cats like cat food, not dog food. Dogs may take a liking to cat food but it’s advisable to feed them dog food. The reason for this is that cat food is formulated so that your cat can get all the necessary nutrients to assure its health and survival. On the other hand, dogs have special dietary requirements too. This is why dog food is the appropriate food for dogs. Your trusted veterinarian will tell you that many pet diseases, such as renal diseases, can be avoided if your dog and cat eat the right kind of pet food.
Quality Tip #2 Your Pet’s Food Should Be Made From the Best Quality Ingredients
This may sound like a cliche already, but you should always check if the pet food you are feeding your pet is a quality product. For example, some pet food manufacturers use meat that comes from diseased, disabled or dying animals, such as chickens. Offering quality feed and better living conditions help make chickens to lay more eggs.
The risk is that these types of poor-quality meat can be dangerous for your pets. Your pets may contract some kind of illness if you continue to feed these inferior quality products to them.
To find the best quality pet food, you can inquire with your vet for any specific brands and variants in pet food that he or she recommends. Your vet might also inform you if there are any particular brands and variants that pet owners should avoid buying. For instance, a lot of dogs don’t react well to grains and so your vet might recommend that you find a grain free pet treat producer as well as sourcing a grain free food.
You can also check some websites that review pet foods regularly. This is one way of finding out more about the components of pet food without necessarily buying it yourself. You should also check if the pet food was manufactured in other countries and then shipped for sale to your location. Sometimes, you may come across pet food that is clearly substandard because there’s a lack of quality control protocols in the manufacturer’s hub. It’s not good to do a trial-and-error product testing through your pets since they may even die if the product is bad for them.
Quality Tip #3 Price Is Affordable
Some pet owners may prioritize price above all the other qualities of good pet food. This is understandable because times are difficult. You probably want to buy affordable pet food so that your household has enough money to buy human food as well. Although price is just one of the traits that quality pet food has, you definitely must check your salary and list of expenses. This will help you see how much pet food you can safely buy with your income.
Quality Tip #4 Pet Food Variant is Appropriate for Your Pet
When you go shopping for pet food in the supermarket, you may notice that the packaging specifies the age of the pet that the food was designed for. This is because younger pets may need more nutrients since they’re rapidly growing. Older pets may need different pet food, especially if your pets are mature and have lost most of their teeth already. If your pet has some kind of illness or disorder, your veterinarian may recommend that you buy special pet food that is designed to relieve symptoms of your pet. Bearing these points in mind will help you guarantee that your pet will have a longer, happier life.
Quality Tip #5 Avoid Undesirable Ingredients Listed On the Packaging
If you are unsure about the quality of a particular kind and brand of pet food, you should learn how to distinguish between ingredients. Of course, there are manufacturers who are rather sleazy in the way they list key ingredients. They want unsuspecting consumers to buy their pet food products without adequate information about the ingredients.
If you feel you are lost in this area, ask your vet to help you. The vet is the best authority on what your pet should be eating for optimal health. You should also check for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) approval on the packaging since this will tell you if the pet food has passed their standards.
Final Takeaway
Your pets are family members and should be treated well. Although it can be tough to buy the best kind of pet food in the current economic conditions, you should always prioritize the health of your pets when shopping for pet food. Remember, that quality pet food may be a bit pricey, but it’ll cost you way too much if your pets get sick due to poor quality. Therefore, it makes sense to buy the right pet food so that your furry children get optimal care and nutrition. Follow the tips above to take good care of your pets.
About the author, Bette Buckner;
As a full-time blogger, Bette Buckner writes about topics under the sun. Her blog is very informative for different kinds of readers, as Bette publishes articles on fashion, parenting, housekeeping, and pets. Bette also covers topics on relationships and health and wellness.
This is great info. Thanks. It is so hard to know what is what on labels and to know what to look for and what to avoid.