Pet Diets
05/18/05

Today’s pets are able to eat better than most people in third world countries, and it shows.  Our pets are living healthier, longer, happier lives than ever before, in part because of vastly improved nutrition.  On the other hand, choosing the appropriate diet can be dizzying at best.  Giving good nutritional advice in 300 words is equally dizzying so this subject will be divided into two articles.

In general terms, pet diets can be divided into two classes, commercial and premium.  Commercial grade diets are usually made with ingredients that have been rejected from human consumption, i.e. our pets must eat what we are unwilling to. “Premium” diets are made from higher quality ingredients and are therefore more fully broken down, absorbed and utilized.  Improved “digestibility” means you feed less volume to achieve the same level of nutrition. Furthermore, improved nutrition will lead to fewer health issues in general resulting in fewer veterinary expenses. Despite the extra expense of premium pet foods, they can actually be cheaper to feed when all factors are considered.

Reading ingredient lists is tricky at best. The first ingredient in the list is the largest additive by weight. Since high quality protein sources provide more nutrition per unit than a low quality source, less of it is required which, ironically, may make it fall to second or third on the list, usually behind a carbohydrate source (grain product). The words “by product” indicate something produced while making something else (a secondary product) and doesn’t necessarily indicate poor quality ingredients. The word “meal”, as in “chicken by product meal” indicates that bone is ground with the meat by products which provides calcium and phosphorus. I do suggest you read these lists when choosing a diet but use other factors as well when choosing a diet.

Next month I will try to give you some ideas on what other factors you may want to consider when choosing a diet for your four legged family members.