The market is saturated with countless pet foods today. Regardless of the age and breed of your pet, as well as your budget, there’ll always be several options that fit the bill. However, having too many options to choose from can result in stress, especially if you don’t have any idea what to consider in choosing the best pet food.
Making sure that your pet is well-fed is one of the most important responsibilities you have as a pet owner. The quality of your pet’s life depends on the type and amount of food you regularly feed them. It’ll be challenging for your pet to remain playful and live longer if their diet lacks important vitamins and minerals. Feeding your pet with the inappropriate types or insufficient amounts of food will only make them susceptible to illnesses and diseases.
To ensure that you’ll end up buying the best pet food and milk replacer, consider these tips when choosing:
Consult A Vet
For you to easily narrow down your options when looking for pet food Canada or other local brands that sell these products in your area, consult a vet. These professionals have the necessary training and experience to determine which types of food perfectly fit your pet’s health requirements, weight, size, and age.
Moreover, it’s highly important to consult a vet if you’re looking after a sick, young, or senior pet. These types of pets require very specific diets, and a vet can help you come up with one. Working with a vet will give you peace of mind, knowing that what you’re feeding your pet is nothing short of nutritious.
Never Choose Pet Food Based On Online Rating Systems
The Internet works as a goldmine of information. Regardless of the questions you have in mind, you can easily type them in your search engine and, then, wait until the Internet provides you with thousands and even millions of answers.
Although beneficial, you should never solely depend on the Internet when choosing the best pet food. You can gain reviews and insights from online rating systems, but the information presented in these platforms are not always accurate, and shouldn’t influence you in coming up with a decision.
Most pet owners will score certain pet foods through these online rating systems. While some of them would rate based on how the products are marketed, others would rate depending on the probiotic, meat, or grain content of these pet foods. Online rating systems don’t have any clear guidelines, which means that users can rate certain pet foods solely for the sake of rating.
However, remember that your pet will have different needs compared to other pets. And, opting for a particular pet food just because ten other pet owners vouched for its effectiveness doesn’t immediately mean that your pet can also experience the same benefits. This is one of the reasons why it’s always best to consult a vet rather than rely too much on the Internet when choosing food for your pet.
Carefully Read The Packaging And Ingredients List
Just because pet foods are displayed in several pet stores today doesn’t mean all of these are healthy. Most commercially-produced pet foods are actually made using artificial flavoring and coloring, which can have adverse effects on your pet’s health.
If you don’t want to give anything harmful to your pet, always take the time to read the packaging and ingredients list of the pet food you’re eyeing to buy. The information you can get from the product’s packaging can help you learn more about the pet food and easily determine if the ingredients used are harmful or beneficial to your pet.
When choosing the best dog food Canada and anywhere else in the world, look for these ingredients on the packaging of the product:
- Only give your pet foods that contain whole meats and fish, such as chicken, lamb, duck, turkey, beef, or salmon. These ingredients are packed with protein that can increase your pet’s energy levels, build and repair their muscles, and generate enzymes and hormones in their bodies.
Ideally, the pet food you consume should contain at least 50% whole meats and fish. - Buying pet foods that contain animal organs, like chicken liver and turkey heart, are also necessary as these ingredients contain important nutrients that support the bodily functions of your pet.
- Pet foods that have fish and vegetable oil are also ideal because these contain fats that work by improving your pet’s skin and coat.
- Look for pet foods that contain barley and rice as these are great sources of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can provide energy to your pet so they can last the entire day. If you’re taking care of young pets, such as puppies and kittens, the carbohydrate content of the foods they eat should be an important consideration as they’re naturally energetic.
- The pet food you choose should also contain whole fruits and vitamins.
For you to end up buying the best pet food, it’s not enough that you only know what ingredients to look for. You should also know what ingredients to avoid. When you see any of the ingredients listed below in a product’s label or ingredients list, it’s best if you start looking for healthier and safer options:
- Pet foods that contain soy and corn should be avoided at all times because these ingredients do not provide any nutritional benefits to pets. Soy and corn are used as fillers in pet foods and can even cause allergies in dogs and cats. Many manufacturers use soy and corn in their products because these are cheaper ingredients that are known to provide protein to pets.
- Pet foods that have any kind of artificial coloring and flavoring should be crossed off from your list as these contain hundreds of harmful chemicals. When consumed regularly or in excessive amounts, these chemicals can weaken your pet’s organs and increase their risk of developing health problems.
- In addition, make sure to avoid pet foods that contain any type of preservatives and fillers. Seeing peanut shells in the product’s label might seem harmless, but these actually don’t have any nutritional value to your pet’s meal. Buying pet foods that contain any type or amount of preservatives and fillers will only put your money down the drain and harm your pet’s health.
- Ingredients tagged as byproducts should be avoided as well. Byproducts are a very vague and broad term that usually has beaks, feet, feathers, hooves, and tumors from other animals.
Thoroughly Research On The Brand You Plan To Patronize
Choosing food for your pet is like deciding what a newborn should eat. Pets are living creatures, and anything that you feed them can affect their development and overall wellness.
Aside from knowing what ingredients are present in the pet foods you buy, it’s also important to thoroughly research on the brands that manufacture them. The information you can gain from your research will help you determine whether a specific brand is trustworthy or not.
When researching the pet food brand, make sure to look for answers to the following questions:
- How long has the brand been operating in the market?
- Who are the people formulating the recipe? Are they credible and experienced enough for the job?
- Does the company produce its own ingredients, or do they get them from other suppliers? If it’s the latter, are the suppliers credible names in the industry?
- What kind of quality control does the brand implement?
- Was the brand involved in any lawsuit in the past?
- Does it conduct research or testing before offering their products to the market?
Doing a little background search on the brand you’re planning to patronize is important, especially if you’re unfamiliar with its track record or buying from them for the first time. The more you know about the brand or manufacturer, the easier it’ll be for you to determine if their products are suitable for your pet’s dietary requirements.
Consider The Accessibility Of The Pet Food
For you to see any changes in your pet’s health, it’s important to regularly feed them with the same food or diet. Regardless of how expensive or healthy the pet food is, if the product will only be fed to your pet for a week, don’t expect to see any drastic changes in your pet’s health.
When choosing the best pet food, don’t forget to consider the accessibility of the product. Ideally, you should choose a pet food that’s easily available in your area or can be purchased online. The accessibility of the product will encourage you to continually feed your pet with the right types and amounts of pet food!
Your Effort Counts
Choosing the best pet food isn’t a walk in the park, but this decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. As a pet owner, you shouldn’t settle for a pet food just because it’s conveniently available, cheap, or popular today. If you truly want what’s best for your pet, you should exert time and effort in choosing the best food for them.