The old saying ‘you are what you eat’ is just as relevant for your pets as it is for human beings. There is a wide range of both wet and dry foods on the market, some of which are a lot better than others. It is important that you give your pet the kind of foods that will sustain health and ensure that they have a good coat. It’s also important that they don’t contain any harmful additives and are made from quality ingredients.
The Four Worst Foods for Your Pet
Top of the bad four foods list for pets is to give them exactly the same foods that you eat yourself. While cat and dog foods do need to be fit for human consumption that is not the same thing as saying that’s what we should be eating – the same goes for your pet. Good pet food contains the types of vitamins and minerals that your pet needs for optimum health, and that is not the same as human requirements. Additionally, many foods that are fine for humans to eat such as onions, grapes and chocolate, can be poisonous to your pet.
1. Pouches of Semi Moist Food
Pouches of semi moist meat or fish do not make a wholesome diet for your pet. The problem with semi moist foods is that they tend to have an awful lot of preservatives, some of which can have a positively harmful effect on the health of your pet.
2. Dry Food
Dry food is fine, but on its own it does not provide all the nutrients needed in a balanced diet. Your pet needs a good mix of both dry and wet food, add some extras to your cat or dog’s diet and you will be doing your best for them.
3. Unbranded or Own Brand Dry Food
Unbranded dry food may have less of the essential vitamins than a branded one will have. You should not feed your pet dry food only – see above.
4. Unbranded or Own Brand Canned Food
Unbranded pet food may not contain the same vitamins as its branded counterpart. Canned food alone is not enough; your pet needs some dry food to provide essential roughage. The quality of the ingredients used are also not as good as branded pet foods.
The Best Foods for Your Pet
The best food for your pet may depend on a pet’s individual needs, for example if they need a low fat or low protein diet recommended by your vet. In general the very best pet food consists of a combination of raw vegetables, grain and meat that you put together at home. With today’s busy lifestyle, it’s not always possible to prepare a home-made meal for your pet! Below are some tips for the best foods you can buy.
1. Premium Canned Food
If you don’t have the time to give your pet a home made diet, premium canned food for cats or dogs may be expensive but it will contain all the nutrients and vitamins your pet needs.
2. Premium Dry Food
On its own, premium dry food will not provide the best diet for your dog, mix it with some wet food if you want to provide a more balanced diet.
3. Food Recommended by Your Vet
Your vet may recommend their own canned or dry food; just remember that the dry food on its own is not really sufficient for your pet’s needs.
Research
There are a lot of great brands of pet food available that are made by companies that have your pets’ well being in their priorities. Some of the brands are less well-known and smaller companies. Do your research before choosing a pet food; there are thousands of reviews online where you can also find nutritional information as well.
Philippa is the owner of three beautiful puppies and believes that ensuring that pets have a healthy, balanced and nutritional diet is essential to the health of all pets. She has written this article for House of Paws, retailers of high quality pet products.
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