Often we are asked the question, "What type of food should I be feeding my pet?"  Here are a few points to consider when choosing a well-balanced diet for your pet:  

1. Does your pet have any specific dietary requirements?

For instance, a growing, bouncy puppy will need a greater amount of protein in its diet than an adult dog that spends a good part of its day choosing its next napping spot! For a puppy, the extra protein means healthy development of the musculo-skeletal system and vital organs, in the adult dog, it may mean a few extra pounds to carry around.  

Other common dietary considerations are made for senior pets, cats with hairball issues, dogs and cats that have dental disease, pets who have difficulty maintaining an appropriate weight, and many more. Feeding a suitable diet, tailored to your pet's individual needs, may have a great effect on his or her quality of life as they age.  

2. AAFCO Statement

You should always look for an AAFCO statement when purchasing your pet's food. AAFCO stands for Association of American Feed Control Officials. The organization is responsible for setting and monitoring the nutritional standards for pet foods in the U.S. and Canada. Every bag of food you see on the shelf is required to have an AAFCO statement, but always make sure to check! I have heard of a few that have managed to make it into pet stores without one.

An example of an AAFCO statement reads as:

"Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Science Diet® Puppy Large Breed provides complete and balanced nutrition for growing puppies."  

3. Methods of Determining Nutritional Adequacy

The organization recognizes two methods of determining nutritional adequacy. One way is by formulation, the other is by feeding trial. The AAFCO statement will clarify which method was used.

The formulation method is less expensive for the producer, as feeding trials and digestibility trials are not required. The drawback to this method is that there is no guarantee of the taste or the nutrient bioavailability. Basically, someone sat with a calculator to determine how much of each ingredient should be included in the diet.

The second method is a feeding trial, in which the food is fed as a sole source of nutrition to ensure that it is able to maintain weight and health. We recommend those diets that have AAFCO statements indicating that a feeding trial was performed.

If your pet is currently on a diet that it is thriving on, then there is no need to change it, just take a look at the bag to ensure it is AAFCO approved. If you do decide that your pet might benefit from a change in diet, we commonly recommend brands of food that also produce a line of prescription diets. Hills, Purina, Iams and Eukanuba put a lot of research into their products. Buying an over the counter pet food, with one of these brand names, means you get the benefit of the research they have put into their prescription diet products.

       4. Demystifying the Cat/Dog Food Label

Click the links below to take part in an interactive slideshow that will help you learn more about AAFCO statements and your pet's nutrition.

 Cat Food LabelsDog Food Labels 

If you have any questions about your pet's current diet or a new diet that would be suitable for your pet's specific requirements, please contact me. I would be happy to help!