Many dog and cat parents are often confused about what constitutes safe and healthy food. They have misperceptions about ingredients and aren’t clear about what types of nutrients their pets need. All pet parents want to make sure they are feeding their pet the right food in order to ensure the overall health of their fur baby.
What do you need to know about Pet Food?
When it comes to pet food it’s not about taste.
Human beings have a strong sense of taste with around 9,000 taste buds compared to a dog’s average of about 1700 taste buds and cats with an average of about 470 taste buds, so it’s common for us humans to have the misconception that our pets feel the same way about the taste of what they are eating. Not so. With our furry family, it’s more about the smell, than the taste when it comes to their grub. Dogs have about 125 million sensory cells in their noses, as opposed to us humans with our 5 to 10 million, so when your dog loves food it’s not the flavour so much as the smell that gets that tail wagging or your kitten purring. Ever notice how excited your dogs and cats get when you open a fresh bag of food? Do they seem to lose interest over time?
As foods age, they lose their delicious aroma, so it’s important to keep your pet’s food fresh and smelling its best. The average dry dog or cat food is at its peak for about a month after you crack that bag open, so be sure to keep the bag closed tight, or in a container with a proper lid to seal in that new food smell.
With a variety of food(s) available in the market today, pet parents need to realise, they can only make the right choice by considering various factors of their pet like the age, the breed, various health issues and whether she is nursing or pregnant?
A quick requirement table should help you -
|
Factors |
Requirements |
Reason |
Puppy/Kitten |
Pups & kitten diet should typically contain about twice the amount of protein and fat than adult diet. |
Pups & kitten have higher energy requirements and are actively developing muscle and other tissues. Energy comes from the breakdown of protein fats and carbohydrates.
|
Adult |
Approximately 10% of adult diet should be protein and up to 50% carbohydrates by weight (to include 2-4.5% fibre). |
|
Senior
|
Approximately 20% less total calories than before |
Due to their reduced activity levels and slower metabolism |
Large breeds
|
Look for certain diets that are made for larger breeds & that help promote joint & skin health. |
Joint issues are more common in large and giant breeds. Certain breeds are at a higher risk of joint & skin conditions |
Small breeds |
Small and toy breeds use the nutrients from smaller kibbles, they chew them better and more completely. |
They chew them more completely. |
Pregnant or Nursing |
Pregnant and nursing pets require food that is higher in protein and has lots of water, like a pregnancy or puppy diet. |
|
“Consumers often read the ingredient patch on a bag and make a judgement about whether the food is good or bad. We need to move away from the focus on ingredients and instead focus on the nutrients those ingredients provide,” says Jennifer Adolphe, Ph.D., nutrition manager. Since pets clearly have different nutritional needs than their owners, pet food scientists & doctors have developed complete and balanced meals that give pets all the nutrition they need in one product.
As pet parents we are often confused about the kind of pet food we should be feeding our four legged fur balls.
|
WET FOOD |
DRY FOOD |
|
Opened cans needs refrigeration. |
Easy to store. Can be stored in its original bags in cabinets |
|
Wet food is more susceptible to bacterial growth. Leaving this food out for prolonged periods of time will lead to contamination. Because it has high levels of moisture, it will go bad in only a matter of hours |
Doesn’t spoil easily |
|
Has a strong scent. This helps entice older pets who may have lost their olfactory senses or sick pets who may have a loss of appetite |
Has a strong scent |
|
It can help in hydration with pets who don’t drink much water |
Can be used in training |
|
Good for pets with dental problems |
Formulated to clean the pet’s teeth while chewing |
|
Helpful for dogs with jaw and teeth problems as it is soft and moist to chew |
|
The most commonly made pet food mistakes:
1. Overfeeding
Bulky pets may look cute but it’s not good for them. More than half of our pet dogs and cats are overweight and that can lead to all sorts of health problems. Healthy weight can be supported by proper measurements and avoiding too many treats or human foods.
2. Feeding from the Table
No matter how cute your pet is, feeding from the table is a strict no, even though he would urge you several times. This feeding mistake leads to severe behavioural mistakes in the future.
3.Feeding Leftovers
Your pet has a certain nutritional requirement which is taken care of by the pet food which is thoughtfully created for it, however feeding it leftovers which are full of spice and calories can prove unsafe and cause health issues over a period of time.
4. Not taking into account the feeding environment.
Don’t just consider personal comfort while feeding your pet but be aware of the environment they are being fed in. The feeding space needs to be clean and familiar for the pet to eat well.
Parting thoughts
As a pet parent, you are the best person to decide what will suit your pet best. So it’s not just the food but your time, the cuddles and kisses and the effort which will help in promoting the overall health of your furry baby.
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Disclaimer:
The author has been a pet parent for over 30 years. The above guidelines are based mainly on personal experiences & loosely based on excerpts from experts. The above content is for reference only. In case your pet is pregnant, nursing, or having any health conditions, please consult a vet who would be the best person to guide you accordingly.
