According to Matt Davies Harmony Communities, everyone loves their pets. Whether it’s a cat, a dog, a pig, or a rabbit, you love your hooved or pawed friend dearly. That’s why you’re extra careful with the nutrition of your pets. Let’s check out how you can select a healthy pet diet.
The Advice
- Choose a “complete” feed – Make sure the pet food you buy has the word “complete” mentioned on the packaging. The word “complete” is strictly regulated by the FDA when used for pet food. It indicates that the food has been designed and tested to meet the nutritional requirements of the indicated species. On the other hand, if you see “supplemental” written on the packaging, it refers to treats. They are to accompany high-quality and nutritious “complete” pet food.
- Understand the ingredients – Before you buy pet food, it’s important to take a moment to read and understand the ingredients list at the back. For canines and felines, pet food should contain one or two protein sources. If it’s a high-quality food mix, it should contain a meal(beef, fish, or chicken) listed on the first or second spot. When it comes to pet food, “meal” refers to a protein that has been processed and dehydrated.
On the other hand, if it isn’t dehydrated protein, you should see protein sources like deboned chicken in the first or second spot. On the other hand, for herbivore pets like rabbits, the “complete” pet food should have alfalfa or another hay with high fiber content as the first listed ingredient. Most herbivore diets are made up of healthy fibers.
- Don’t compare package weight – With shopping on the weekend or once a month, most people have developed the habit of buying the largest pack of everything since that’s usually the best deal. However, the same isn’t true for pet food. Instead, you need to compare the serving size of different pet foods. A lower serving size indicates that the food is dense with healthy calories and nutritious. That means a small package with a lower serving size may last longer than a large pack with a bigger serving size.
- Feed according to your pet’s energy and age – Most foods are designed for the different life stages of your pets. While the ingredients may not change, the nutritional balance is adjusted to help your pet live healthily during that stage of life. For instance, puppy formulas would have a high amount of protein for quick growth while senior dog food would have glucosamine for joint health.
Apart from your pet’s age, you also need to pick pet food according to its energy level. Dogs that are highly active require pet food with higher protein content. When you change the pet’s food, keep a close eye on your pet to make sure the transition is smooth.
Conclusion
Matt Davies Harmony Communities suggests that you use the tips mentioned above and choose the best pet food for your cute four-legged friend. It doesn’t need to be a complicated task. You can also get help from the food and nutrition specialists or your veterinarian.
