When it comes to what to feed your pet, it can be very difficult to sort between the science and the hype. This is particularly frustrating because food makes a big impact on our pet’s health, but it is something we can control. We all want to do what is best for our furry friends. We want them to be happy, healthy, and live as long as possible. With that in mind, I want to break down what I look for in pet food, the reasons why veterinarians recommend different foods at different stages of life, and my favorite supplements to add to a diet.
What To Look For In Pet Food
I am often asked “What is the best food to feed my pet”? From puppies and kittens to adults and seniors, I have specific nutritional standards for a healthy pet when recommending pet food. While I am not an advocate for any particular food brand, I do have some ideal recommendations to look for in pet food.
- Look for an AAFCO Feeding Label:
AAFCO is a group that creates science-based nutritional standards that are species specific. That means that they ensure their food has the nutritional requirements to support the life stage it is designed for. There are widely varying nutritional content in food, but as long as the AAFCO label is present, you can feel confident that you are getting the minimum nutrients required for a healthy pet in all stages of their life.
- Check to see if the diet was made by a veterinary nutritionist or PhD:
Just about anybody can try to make pet food because it is not a well-regulated field. When an AAFCO feeding label is present, you will know that a qualified team has formulated the diet, which is key to getting the best quality food for your pet. If you have any questions about the nutritional facts for the food, a quick google search or phone call to the company should assist in clarifying any questions you may have.
- 3. Look for direct contact information for the food company:
Speaking of contacting the company, they should provide their contact information directly on the bag or case of food. Not only is this information important to determine who formulated the diet, but it also shows the confidence in the food that they make. There will be trained staff available to answer any questions you have.
This is not a complete list of every recommendation, but it highlights a good starting point for a balanced and healthy diet. As a last bit of advice, don’t worry too much about the ingredients. In the words of my nutritionist in veterinary school, “Pets need nutrients, not ingredients”. This statement has made a big difference in what to look for on food labels and how I can also make positive impacts on my patient’s lives.
Life Stage Diets
We briefly talked a bit about life-stage specific diets, but didn’t get into why those exist or how important it is to shift diets at the proper time for your pets. Both dogs and cats have different food requirements at different stages of their lives.
Puppies and kittens need specific nutrients that are required to foster growth and development. An example of this is elevated calcium and phosphorous levels for healthy bone growth. For most pets, we are feeding a growth diet for the first 12 months. However, in larger breeds this gets extended out to 18-24 months depending on the specific breed. This is targeted at dogs above 80 pounds.
Once the growth phase is over, a maintenance diet should be fed. These diets typically have less protein, less fat, and less calories. It also includes a balance of vitamins and minerals to maintain weight and prevent disease. These diets will be fed until your pet is considered a “senior” which can vary between breeds/species. Seniors are considered to be the last 25% of their life expectancy.
When your pet becomes a senior, it is important to switch over to a senior diet. These diets typically have more protein and less fat to maintain muscle mass. Senior pets are more likely to gain weight, so they contain less calories to match the lower energy levels of most senior pets. In addition to required nutrients, senior diets may also have non-essential supplements like omega-3 fatty acids to help with brain, skin, and joint health as they get older.
Supplements
Speaking of supplements, I often recommend a few common supplements that can help your pet age gracefully. Similarly to pet foods, there is not a lot of oversight when it comes to supplements. Many have been on the market for years, but do not have a lot of science to back their use. This is just a short-list of supplements that are commonly used, some where use is proven, and others where support is unfounded and still needs more research.
Proven: Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin B complex
Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in fish oils and are my favorite supplement. They come in chews, capsules, and oil that you can pour over the food. They are proven to be effective in slowing cognitive decline, improving skin/hair/coat, and can even help with arthritis at higher dosages. If I could only add one thing to a pet’s diet, this would be it.
Vitamin B complex is a series of vitamins that can aid in digestion and energy levels. They are common and many different multi-vitamins and are very safe. Any additional Vitamin B that they ingest is removed from the body in the urine, so it is safe at higher doses.
Unfounded: Glucosamine Chondroitin.
Although this supplement has been around for years, there is very little data to show it makes a difference for your pet’s mobility. It doesn’t hurt to be added into a supplement, but if you see any improvement, it is probably due to the other ingredients.
Needs more research: MSM, Green lipid extract, Type-II collagen.
There are a lot of promise for these 3 supplements, but ultimately, they need more research done to prove their effectiveness. They are worth trying out to see if they help your pet, especially if they can’t tolerate the oil from the omega-3 fatty acids.
This is by no means a complete guide to pet nutrition, but it is a good starting point. You may have noticed we didn’t even touch on home-made diets. Where these are do-able, they are much more complicated than we could get into here. If you have more specific questions about what to feed your pet, make an appointment with us to discuss the best ways to keep your pet healthy. After all, you are what you eat.