Is Your Pet Eating a Balanced Diet?

With the advent of commercial diets, the ability to offer palatable, well balanced diets to our pets is quite easy. But the plethora of brands, formulations for every life stage, and the endless claims that one company's food is better for your pet than another can make the process of choosing the best one a major undertaking.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on super premium pet foods to insure that your furry member of the family is having it's dietary needs met. However, the adage, "you pay for what you get" does hold true. A food that is a bit more pricey may actually be a better buy. The more expensive foods often have a higher digestibility. This means that your pet could eat less and get the same level of nutrition as eating more of the bargain brand. The higher digestibility also means fewer bowel movements. Catchy packaging and outrageous claims should raise your level of suspicion that the manufacturer may have spent more time and money on advertising than on ingredients. Be sure that the label states that the food meets or exceeds the minimum standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

It's not necessary to constantly vary the diet or the flavor. Then why are all these flavors available? It is for the human that purchases the diet and to garner more shelf space in the stores. Find a diet that your pet likes and does well on, and stick to it. Dry food is typically better for your pet than canned.

Certain medical conditions such as heart, liver and kidney disease require dietary management. Consult with your veterinarian about prescription diets that will allow your pet to better tolerate these debilitating maladies.

Do you need to supplement your pet's diet? In most cases, no. There are indications for extra essential fatty acids, vitamins or trace minerals for specific health disorders. When there is a question regarding how best to feed your pet check with your veterinarian because it is "Your Pet…Health Matters."