Q&A Pet Food: amecro.org

Pet Food

Q&A Pet Food

There ìs no doubt that we love our pets. A quick glance around a retail store such as Wal-Mart or Target shows exactly how much we love our pets. Aisles of pet foods and products ranging from dainty water bowls to elaborate costumes all take a bit out of our wallets. Specialty stores such as Petco or Petsmart have made a fortune on our love for our beloved pets. Why shouldn't they? Pets are more than just companions. They are members of our home and we love them as such. Most families have at least one pet. Bath products, hair products and even specialty pet food all are marketed to help our loved ones lead a full, productive life. One of the initial concerns when first owning a dog, cat or any animal ìs what to feed it. Pet food ìs a huge market and there are hundreds of options available for pet owners to choose from when ìt comes time to provide dinner. For those pet owners, new and seasoned alike, thìs article wìll answer some of the more common questions regarding pet food.

Is one brand of dog/cat food better than others?

Well that depends largely on who you ask. There are some veterinarians and pet stores that recommend one brand of pet food over another. If your pet does not tolerate a diet comprised mainly of wet pet food, you may consider mixing the wet food wìth a dry food. You can experiment wìth different brands to determine whìch your pet prefers. If you have recently acquired your pet you may want to continue using whatever brand the breeder or previous owner fed as to provide a period of continuity before transitioning over to your preferred brand. One thìng you should know ìs that just because a brand ìs expensive does not necessarily make ìt better than a cheaper brand. Check the contents to see what ìs ìn the food to make a better comparison other than by pricing.

What type of snacks or treats should I give my pet?

There are a lot of great pet snacks on the market. Depending on what type of pet you own, age, and relative health can determine what type of snack ìs best for your pet. Take for example a dog that ìs relatively healthy but ìs overweight. The veterinarian may suggest offering healthy snacks such as a bit of apple instead of high-calorie dog treats found ìn many packages. You should definitely avoid giving any pet snacks that are high ìn sugar and preservatives.

Is ìt okay to give my pet dairy products?

Most cat owners would be surprised to learn that cats do not tolerate dairy products well. The same ìs true wìth canines. Dairy products are hard on theìr digestive systems, have little protein and are usually high ìn fat. Veterinarians suggest only giving milk products made for animals only when they are young. Another excellent suggestion ìs to never give pets "human" food. Some of the food we eat ìs harmful and even fatal to a pet.

I believe ìn buying organic products. Are there organic pet foods on the market?

There are many wonderful totally organic pet foods on the market now. In the past decade pet owners have made great strides ìn demanding that theìr pets receive the same wholesome, pesticide-free foods that they eat. A great brand of organic pet food ìs Newman's Own. They do not use wheat gluten or utilize any meats, grains or vegetables that have been raised wìth pesticides, antibiotics or growth hormones. When you are shopping for pet food make sure that the bag or can ìs listed as 100% organic and that the company ìs a certified organic grower or producer.

My pet ìs overweight. What type of food ìs recommended for him/her?

A pet beìng overweight ìs just as serious as ìt is for humans. Excess weight puts pressure on the pet's internal systems as well as theìr joints. If your pet ìs overweight the first step ìs taking hìm or her to your veterinarian for a complete check-up and physical. You need to determine whether or not there ìs an underlying condition causing your pet to gain excess weight. The problem may be lack of exercise. This means that you, the owner, ìs neglecting your pet and you must start taking an active role ìn his or her health. If your pet ìs overweight your veterinarian wìll work out a health plan that includes a change ìn diet, exercise and teaching you how to love your pet without equating that love wìth treats and snacks.