Module 6

Pet Food

Estimated Time: 15 minutes

This module will explore various topics relating to pet food, including those listed below:

• Where to But Pet Food
• Quality of Pet Food
• Pet Food Labels
• Changing Pet Food

6.1 Where to Buy Pet Food

Choosing where you buy your pet food is often about your budget. You may also have a place that provides better quality of service than another, or higher quality products, but may be more pricey.

Pet food is sold in most grocery stores, pet stores, and online.

Grocery store items are often generic, cheap brands that will fit the budget, but may not provide the best ingredients for your pet.

Markets tend to charge a little more than your pet food store or warehouse store.

Warehouse stores provide bulk products at low cost, including the cheapest brands of pet food. Again the ingredients are usually not the best. Most foods are going to be filled with by-products.

A pet store is going to have the most variety in brands and ingredients. Any pet store is set up to service the needs of all pets, meaning the shelves are stocked with just about any choice of pet food there is to be sold in your area. You will find the cheaper versions that are in any store, all the way up to the most expensive brands, and vet recommended options. You can also find the most choices in flavors any brand may make. In a pet store, any need from food to personal pet care can usually be addressed.

There are several different types of pet stores. Some are large scale stores that sell numerous brands. There are also others that may sell only “all-natural” or organic products. Pet stores that sell specialty foods are going to have fewer choices and more expensive prices, but are often going to serve the healthiest brands. These stores may also have their own brand that they make from all natural ingredients.

Vet offices sometimes carry certain brands of pet food. Most of their brands are prescription and only available at the vet location. They may have the non-prescription brands as well, but they are certainly going to have the foods they recommend versus any brand you can find on the shelf. The food can be slightly more expensive than food found in pet stores, and certainly it costs more for prescription brands.

The quality of life you want your pet to have should determine where you buy your food. You may not need the expensive vet recommended brands or prescription food to have a healthy pet. However, you do want to be careful of the quality of food you feed your pet. Less expensive brands tend to have by-products that can cause health problems for your pet.

Also consider the distance to the various stores you have around your home. If you are not near a certain location, you could spend more on petrol than you might save or have the budget for. The main focus should be on your pet’s health, but you may be able to provide health and still shop at a store nearer to your home or work.

Many pet stores and individual manufacturers sell their food options online for you to make an easy, more convenient purchase. You may find an individual is making all natural foods for a lower price than you can find them in a natural pet store. You may also save a little petrol on having the food shipped to you, versus going to a store and purchasing it. You want to be careful of buying food online from small manufacturers, as there could be quality control issues.

Anyone can start an online business and they may not adhere to the proper quality required in making the food. You want to be careful to check the background of any online company, read reviews, assess the brands they sell, and choose the food carefully.

6.2 Quality of Pet Food

Spending a great deal of money on food is not always best for your pet.

For example, a cat that has a very sensitive stomach could not eat the prescription brand urinary tract food recommended by the vet or any of that brand food. However, a less expensive brand with high quality ingredients can correct the kidney crystal issues and provide a better, healthier life for the cat. Sometimes it is not about what is supposed to be the best food on the shelf recommended by all the experts, but what you can find to satisfy the needs of your pet.

The cheaper brands of foods sold for pets are going to be filled with certain ingredients that are not the healthiest for your pets. They can also be high in calories and fillers.

Animal by-product, processed cornmeal, and grains are usually the top three ingredients in the cheaper brands. You may think you know what is going into the food, but when you read the label you find there are a lot of questions and certain chemical words that seem strange. While the food is designed to keep your pet healthy, these products are not always the best and healthiest you could be feeding to your pet.

Even the most expensive foods can be overpriced for what is actually contained within the package. Expensive foods can still cut corners and be marked up for the store selling them for their profit margin. You will no longer see animal by-products, a high amount of grains, and processed cornmeal in most of these expensive brands; however, it does not always mean the food is worth the asking price. It is far better for you to read the label, consider whether you can purchase these same brands elsewhere for less, and then make an informed purchase.

Dry pet foods contain only 50% meat because more than that gums up the manufacturer’s machinery.

Source: pethealth101.com

Vet Approved Foods

Vet approved foods are going to get a check mark in a lot of columns for health.

Most VAF foods are recommended by vets who help the manufacturers produce the food.

They examine the ingredients, assess if it helps pets, and then recommend it. This does not mean that all vet approved foods are the best.

The food may work for some of the pets that eat it and not work for others.

At the end of the day, all that matters is whether your pet is healthy, at a good weight, and obtaining the nutrients they need from the food they eat.

Remember the example of a cat that had a sensitive stomach? It applies to this section of the module. You may find that your pet is intolerant to certain ingredients or formulas that vets recommend.

What matters most is that you feed healthy, whole ingredients to your pet and not by-products or foods that are “too rich”, but contain little nutritional benefit.

“Too rich” means the products have ingredients that are not well received by the stomach of your pet. It could be that the ingredients are something your pet is unable to digest or that causes acid reflux. You can liken this situation to eating too many sweets and feeling uncomfortable or like you may have an upset stomach.

Because most vets are licensed in medicine and not nutrition, double check the foods that they are recommending to determine if they are categorized as food or medicine.

6.3 Pet Food Labels

Remember earlier in the modules the mention of ash?

Ash is just what it sounds like: it is the breakdown of organic materials that have been burned and turned into the inorganic material called ash.

For most pets it is not a dangerous ingredient because it is actual mineral content such as phosphorous, calcium, iron, zinc, and other essential minerals your pet needs.

The organizations mentioned in the introduction of this course actually require a certain amount of ash to be in foods because it is a compilation of necessary nutrients for your pet. It was originally thought that ash was responsible for kidney crystals so many pet food companies list the amount of ash they have in their foods.

Many dry food manufacturers will range their ash content from 3-8%, and wet food ash percentages will be between 2-3%.

If it is not mentioned, the percentage is probably lower than 1%. You definitely want ash in your pet’s food, but it is a good idea to look for a lower ash content because these will generally have a low magnesium content as well, which will help to keep kidney crystals from developing.

Now let’s look at the rest of the label.

There are some items the bag or can should have on the label.

Most will tell you on the front what kind of formula you are looking at. For example, a brand will have directly on the label a phrase like “grain free” or will denote which life stage or breed it is intended for. They will also communicate which type of diet that formula was created for.

On the back of the can or side of the bag of food you will see categories:

• Feeding instructions
• Ingredients
• Guaranteed analysis
• Calorie content
• Distributed by
• Production code
• AAFCO statement or other organization

The feeding guide usually starts off with a statement that you should feed your pet according to their age, size, and activity. It also says to feed at room temperature and refrigerate unused portions of canned food. It then breaks down the weight ranges to communicate how much food your should feed your pet based on their weight. 

The ingredients list starts with the top ingredients. The ingredients are listed in the order of volume. The ingredients at the beginning of the list are the ones that make up most of the food at higher amounts versus the foods at the end, which are in lower amounts. Usually nutrients and vitamins are lower on the list of ingredients.

Guaranteed analysis is usually the top: protein, crude fat, crude fiber, moisture, ash, and taurine. Depending on your pet’s health concerns, you may need a food that is higher in fiber than others. If your pet is healthy and does not have toilet issues, you may find you want to supply more protein. High moisture content in wet food is paramount to ensure your pet is getting enough water on a daily basis.

The calorie content tells you the amount of calories found in one can or one complete bag of food. In order to make certain you know where the food is coming from, the production code in the event of a recall, and the standards the food is kept to, the manufacturer has to include a small area of space for that information.

Your pet food label might seem like a mystery now, but after a few comparisons and a discussion on proper pet health based on age, weight, and health, you will be able to pick out the ingredients that are most important. 

Consider a pet with sight issues. The bag that helps with eye health is going to have more ingredients designed to keep your pet’s eye health versus an all-around general pet food that is more about a balanced diet with enough protein, fat, fiber, and moisture to keep your pet healthy. There is still more to learn about choosing the right nutrients for specific animals.

6.4 Changing Pet Food

Any time you change your pet’s food, it is always a good idea to transition them to the new food. Regardless of how healthy the new food is, or the quality of the old food, a change in diet can take some getting used to.

First, if you do need to change the brand or flavor of food choose the correct type for your pet. If it is to lose weight, help with hairballs, reduce kidney crystals, reduce allergic reactions, or get your pet more calories due to a lack of eating, then you need to make a gradual change.

We recommend the following transitional period:

Day 1- 20% new food : 80% old food

Day 2- 30% new food : 70% old food

Day 3- 40% new food : 60% old food

Day 4- 50% new food : 50% old food

Day 5- 75% new food : 25% old food

Day 6- 100% new food : 0% old food

If you pet stops eating or develops vomiting or diarrhea, take the transition even slower. If it continues, discontinue the new food and consult your veterinarian.

The only time your should not transition two different food manufacturers is when you are switching between (to or from) raw food and all other foods including dry kibble and can food. In that case, you would change over immediately.

If you do not need to change the brand of food, but need to feed your cat or dog less to account for weight issues, then make certain to follow the label or your vet’s suggestions. You need to gradually reduce the amount of food you are giving to your pet that overeats. As you lower the amount of food available, your pet will start to lose weight, but you may also need to pick up on the amount of exercise your pet is getting. You can play more with your dog or cat to get them moving and expending some of the energy and fat they have. You always want to be slow about changes, as well as increase exercise opportunities.

Changing Feeding Routines

Changing your pet’s food will require a specific method that is designed to make your pet the most comfortable during the change.

You should never put down a new food and expect your pet to tolerate it. Any animal’s system is sensitive and requires a slow period of change.

You also need to watch how your pet responds to the new food.

Many times an animal will get used to certain consistencies or tastes and be unwilling to try something new, especially if there were addictive ingredients like sugars or chemicals, fillers, or preservatives in the previous food. It may take some time to get used to a new formula, or a consistency that does not contain binders or fillers.

You will be able to tell within a couple of days if your pet is eating the new food. Cats are especially picky. You may see your cat eat around the new food to get at the old food. If you see the new food left in the bowl, you should not increase the amount of food you give them. Instead, see if they will eat the new food first, without the old food present. If they eat that quarter cup because there is nothing else, then you can slowly work on changing their food.

If your pet refuses to eat the new food at all throughout the day when it is the only food there, you will need to try a different food. You may need to try several new foods before you find one your pet will eat. Most manufacturers have a money back guarantee allowing you to change food if you find your pet is unwilling to eat the brand. This also helps you save money when you need to find a better quality food or change your pet’s diet to fit their health needs.

Changing the food you feed is challenging and so is changing the feeding routine your pet has.

Pets get into routines and it takes time for them to adapt to any change. If there are already behavioral issues your pet has, then changing the feeding routine can become a large issue for your pet. Do your best to reassure your pet and make certain that your pet is still getting the amount of food required for a healthy life.

Taking away an overweight cat’s food, especially when it has always had an eat-at-any-time routine, can cause behavioral issues.

Cats that starved as kittens or had to fight for their food and are timid can start to get sick if their food bowl is ever empty. If this is a concern, one thing to do is get a small food bowl. You are serving less food to your pet, so by providing a smaller bowl, your cat will not want to overeat because the bowl is getting empty. The perception your pet has of their food bowl and the amount left in it can stop your pet from overeating.

If you need to change the timing the food is served, then you should do so gradually if possible.

Sometimes work schedules change and there is nothing you can do. The best option in this situation is to feed your pet before you leave, immediately when you return, and a third time, such as before you go to sleep. By ensuring your pet is getting food before you leave and immediately upon your return, there will be less of an issue or worry for your pet. Your pet will also not feel upset or starving as much as if you ignore them when you leave or return home.

Changing the routine, such as what you give and when needs to be gradual. For example, if you are going to feed more wet food, then you may want to provide it throughout the day with more frequent intervals versus when you set out a bowl of dry food. This is due to wet food requiring refrigeration.

Module 6 Summary

Your pet looks to you to provide the healthiest food available to them.

Where you buy your food should not only be about location and budget, but also carry an emphasis on the quality of the food.

Ensuring your pet is healthy is more important than saving money. You still need to pay attention to the pet food labels and ignore cheap versus expensive. Instead, look at the products, how well your pet eats the food you purchase, and overall pet health.

Vet approved foods do not work for all pets, but may be a good place to start for proper ingredients and nutrients.

Be careful when changing pet foods and routines, as this can cause behavioral or medical problems in your pet.