If you're trying to cut down the distance travelled from the farm to your plate, it makes sense to do the same for your pet. If we all shifted our bias towards sustainable pet food, we would be helping more than just our faithful friends.Sheherazade Goldsmith
According to American Pet Products Association (APPA) it has been estimated that by the end of the year 2015 $ 60.59 billion alone will be spent on pets in USA, out of which $ 23.04 billion will be spent on pet food. While in the year 2014, a total of $ 58.04 billion was spent on pets in USA out of which $ 22.26 billion was spent on pet food. This goes to show that pet food sales have increased in recent times. It also throws light on the fact that there is a lot of competition in the field of pet food in USA. Hence, it becomes very difficult for pet owners to decide on the best pet food for their beloved furry friends.
The most important thing that needs to be kept in mind while taking the decision is to ensure that the health of the pets remains well after the consumption of the diet. There are other factors that go hand-in-hand while selecting the right fit for your pet. Some of them are:
- The breed and age of your pet
- Health issues in your pet
- Your budget
- Your personal preferences
The type of pet food is also contingent on the activity level of your pet. If your pet has food allergies, then veterinary prescription diet should be given to the pet. If your pet was diagnosed with diabetes, then specialized diabetic diet need to be given to them. It is always useful to take the opinion of the veterinarian before getting prescription diets for your pets.
Let us now look at some of the questions that will help you in selecting the right pet food:
Should I purchase wet food or dry food?
Wet food is generally found to be more expensive than dry food. Moreover, it needs to be observed that dry food does not spoil easily while it is the other way round with wet food. Dry food comes with quick calorie consumption while that is not the case with wet food. Wet food consists of 75% of moisture while dry food consists of 10% of moisture. Wet food is high in protein and fat while dry food is less in protein with more carbohydrates. It has been observed that dry food has an edge over wet food when it comes to prevention of dental disease in pets. So the most important question is which one of the food is best for your pet? The answer is it depends on the needs of your pet.
Should I opt for a home-prepared diet for my pet?
It has been found that home-prepared diets are costly, prolonged and needless unless a vet recommends you to go for it to combat a prevailing health problem in your pets. You should rather go for commercial pet foods that are prepared specifically by scientists and veterinarians to sustain the nutritional standards of AAFCO.
What is my overall budget for purchasing the pet food?
When it comes to pet food you need to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. It has been observed that the more expensive the pet diet is the better the quality of food. But that is not always true. Hence, you need to feed your pet with the best possible quality and well-balanced diet that is within your budget constraint.
Am I imposing my own dietary preferences on my pet?
You might like grain-free, gluten-free, vegetarian diet, but that does not mean that it is best for your pet. In this case you need to take guidance from your veterinarian and ask them to recommend the right diet for your pet. For example; if your pet has food allergies, they should not be given certain grains or proteins. If you impose vegan diet to your pets who are natural meat eaters, it can damage their health. This is especially true in case of cats that have very sensitive dietary requirements. They require specific amino acids that cannot be obtained from a vegan diet.
After answering these questions honestly, you will be in the best position to select the right pet food. However, if there is still any confusion, it is better to take advice from your veterinarian. He/she would be the best person to guide you in the right direction.
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