What should I feed my pet?
There are many pet food choices on the market today. Pet food is sold everywhere from grocery stores to pet and specialty stores. You can even purchase pet food online and have it shipped to your house on a regular schedule. With so many options available, picking a quality pet food for your best friend can be overwhelming.
What should I look for?
Large, brand name pet food companies, like Hills's, Purina, Royal Canin or Eukanuba, have not only been in the business for many years but they also have veterinarians on staff and clinical trials to support their food. These companies also have foods for every life stage and sometimes even for different breeds!
The Association of American Feed Control Officials or AAFCO is the organization that standardizes pet food requirements in the United States. AAFCO certified foods are complete and balanced for a particular life stage. There is an AAFCO statement on the bag of certified foods. You can easily look for an AAFCO statement on pet food bags in the store or online.
How long should my puppy eat puppy food?
Puppy and kitten foods are formulated for the growing needs of your young pet. Unfortunately, it is impossible to generally state how long a puppy should be because it can vary greatly by breed. As such, be sure to talk with your veterinarian about the best fit for your pet.
What about Grain-free foods?
There are many pet food ads promoting grain- free diets. These foods replace grain ingredients with pea, lentil or potato. These ads claim that foods without grain are good for dogs with allergies or intestinal issues. If your pet has a true food allergy, they are allergic to the protein source in the food; not the grain. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating grain- free foods as a cause of heart disease in some dogs.