Top 10 Myths About Pet Food

Top 10 Myths About Pet Food<---Great Newsletter Article by Only Natural Pet Store



I am certainly not a vet, but I do, however, read lots & lots about holistic pet care for pets. In my mind, and in the minds of many other holistic health enthusiasts, nutrition is one of the cornerstones for optimum health. As Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM, puts it: "You are what you eat, and so is your pet. Feeding the proper diet is the foundation upon which any integrative pet care program begins."

The linked 10 Myths About Pet Food Newsletter above touches on a few key misconceptions many pet owners have about pet food. For starters: Hill's Science Diet is probably not the best food you could be feeding your pet. Just read the ingredient label: ground corn, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, ground whole wheat. Given that corn, wheat and soy are three of the top food allergens in dogs, this food could very well be less than ideal for that reason alone.

If you're interested in further researching pet food ingredients, Natura has a great pet food comparison tool on their website. Keep in mind, of course, that this tool will likely be at least a tiny bit skewed so that the ingredients found in Natura foods come out looking better than those found in other brands. A useful tool, nonetheless.

The Top 10 Myths About Pet Food Newsletter also touches on two other items I hear a good bit about: 1)Does that dry food really clean your pet's teeth? and 2)Is feeding table scraps really so bad?
My 2 cents: Nope, dry food does not make that much of a difference (I believe it is Dr. Pitcairn who compares kibble for cleaning your pet's teeth to eating a bunch of crackers every day to clean your own teeth).
As for table scraps: Sure, there are a few foods you should not feed your pet: grapes, raisins, onions, to name a few. However, my major concern with feeding table scraps is portion control. According to the Pet Obesity Prevention Foundation,over 50% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese. This is a surefire recipe for health problems (diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, to name a few) in pets as with people, and as your pet's guardian you bear the responsibility for for keeping your pet at a healthy weight. If you are going to feed your pet table scraps, leftovers or dog treats, you need to adjust his dog food regimen accordingly.

Finally, the folks over at Only Natural Pet Store address the recent trend of "life stage" pet foods: kitten, indoor cat, senior, etc. and concerns about Salmonella in raw food.

Got a question about pet food or anything I mentioned in this post? Send an email or leave a comment. There is not much I love more than discussing pet nutrition!