FAQs About Feeding Your Pets

Do your pets get excited at supper time? We’re guessing that the answer is yes. While our patients’ perspectives on most topics vary greatly, the majority of them agree on one thing: they all like eating and snacking. Filling Fluffy and Fido’s bowls is pretty straightforward, but deciding what to put in them can be a bit more difficult. This article features pet feeding advice from a Lexington, VA veterinarian.

Making Sense Of Pet Food Labels

One of the most important things you can do is to get into the habit of reading food labels. This is when things become a little complicated. Many companies utilize exaggerated marketing techniques to make their items appear better than they actually are.

Stick to AFFCO-accredited items. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AFFCO) is a non-profit organization that controls pet food ingredients, production techniques, and quality standards. They work to ensure that pet food meets the quality standards necessary to keep your pet healthy, and also confirm that nutrients are in the right amounts. A mark of approval from them shows that the brand has undergone a rigorous evaluation.

AAFCO-approved foods must include a few critical pieces of information on their labels.

That includes the following:

• The name of the animal for which the food is intended (dog, cat, etc).
• Quality statement
• Ingredients
• Feeding instructions
• Analysis. This is significant since it shows the percentages of the various nutrients. While some elements can be given with maximum percentages and others with minimums, the list must be provided in a specific order and in measured quantities.
• A listing of available nutrients “indicates that the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage, such as growth, reproduction, adult maintenance or a combination of these, or intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.”
• Name and location of the manufacturer or distributor

Always look for that seal of approval!

Reading The Ingredients

The ingredient list may be difficult to navigate due to labeling rules. For example, if an ingredient appears in a product’s name, it must account for at least 95% of the entire quantity of the food. Businesses can get around this with a few tricks, though. Something called ‘flavor’ only needs to include roughly 3% of that ingredient.

As with human foods, pet food ingredients must be listed in order of proportion, with the first item listed taking up the highest percentage, and so on. Things that are mentioned first and most frequently are going to be the bulk of the food. This should be meat, fish, or poultry.

Which Pet Food Ingredients Should I Avoid?

Many human and pet foods nowadays are highly processed, and they may contain fillers, preservatives, and other unwanted ingredients. Some of these may be simply mediocre: others may actually be unhealthy.

Here are some things to avoid in your pet’s food:

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol, which is commonly found in dog and cat treats, aids in food stability. It has also been declared illegal in Europe, which is cause for alarm by itself.

Thickening Agent 

While thickening agents are unlikely to be among the most hazardous compounds, they do pose some dangers. Carrageenan, guar, xanthan, and cassia gum are among the most popular. They also offer qualities such as stability and texture. However, certain studies suggest that they could be carcinogenic.

Corn Syrup 

Corn syrup is now found in nearly everything. It has been connected to various human health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. If it’s bad for us, it’s probably bad for Fido and Fluffy, too.

Artificial Preservatives 

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin are among the most commonly used. These can be found in a variety of foods, both wet and dry, including treats.

Artificial Food Coloring 

Dyes will not be beneficial to your pet’s health. They are widely used to make the finished product more appealing and uniform for humans. Of course, pets are unconcerned about the appearance of their food. Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 all contain benzidine, which is a carcinogen.

Rendered Fat 

Rendered fat may sound plausible. However, it is frequently made by combining and boiling the residual portions of animals that have been processed for meat. Unfortunately, some of the animals might have been unwell or polluted.

How Do I Select the Right Food?

We recommend that you first visit your veterinarian. While we may go over some essentials here, it is vital to remember that every pet is different. Several criteria are considered when making this decision, including your pet’s age, health, breed, and lifestyle, as well as any medical difficulties they may have. An underweight Yorkie will have quite different dietary requirements than a plump Lab, and a young Boxer will require different food than an elderly Chihuahua.

That said, we again have to refer to the AAFCO. They divide pet food ingredients and nutrients into six categories.

Water: Naturally, your pet should have regular access to clean water. Water is also present—and necessary—in pet food. The moisture content of your pet’s food may influence how well it absorbs nutrients. Kitties are a perfect example of this. Mice and birds are common prey for cats. Fluffy also eats her prey raw, when the moisture level is the highest. Her optimal diet involves plenty of water.

Carbohydrates (including fiber): Carbohydrates supply dogs with energy in the form of glucose, which is essential for keeping those cute tails wagging. Fluffy will acquire trace amounts of carbs and fiber from her prey in nature, but she is a carnivore and doesn’t need carbs. 

Vitamins: Vitamins help many of your pet’s organs and systems function properly. Different vitamins perform certain functions. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, iron, zinc, and calcium are all vital nutrients for pets. We won’t go into detail about them, except to point out that they must be added in the proper proportions. Too much or too little are both bad.

Minerals: Minerals are required for the proper functioning of its internal systems. Iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium are essential minerals for dogs and cats.

Fat: Fido’s coat and skin are protected by fat, which also provides energy and decreases inflammation. It also offers insulation and some cushioning. Linoleic acid, flaxseed, and fish oils are examples of fats found in pet food. Fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 are great for many of our furry pals!

Protein: Protein is crucial for your pet’s cartilage, tendons, ligaments, skin, fur, claws, muscles, and even blood cells. It degrades, producing important amino acids that are necessary for your pet’s health and survival. Animal proteins commonly used in pet food include chicken, lamb, fish meal, cow, and eggs. Some plant-based proteins include soybean meal, corn gluten meal, and beans.

Please ask your veterinarian for specific nutritional advice, including tips on food portions and feeding times. (And, of course, treats.)  We are always happy to answer questions. 

Schedule An Appointment At Our Lexington, VA Veterinary Clinic.

Do you have any questions or worries concerning your pet’s nutrition? Are you curious about what to feed your pet? Please contact us here at your Lexington, VA, animal hospital at any time.