I admit, before I started pet sitting I knew very little about pet nutrition. I bought into the glossy, slick ads I saw on TV and in magazines and thought that 9Lives, Beneful and Meow Mix were packed full of nutrition and my pets would thrive on them. I mean, it shows pretty pictures of whole meat and veggies on TV, right? It HAS to be true, right? The more I’ve learned, the more horrified I am that I actually fed my animals that stuff. Having Celiac Disease myself I know just how detrimental certain things (for me, it’s wheat, barley and rye – ie., gluten) can be when ingested and what the outward physical symptoms can be.
Whenever I meet with a client and they comment on how much their pet sheds or how greasy their coat is I ask what brand of food they are giving them. Nine times out of ten, it’s one of the supermarket brands. I try to educate people but there is a fine line between educating and offending. I encourage you to read your labels. You want to select a food with whole “meat” as the first ingredient – beef, chicken, turkey, fish, etc. Avoid products that list corn as the first ingredient. I liken that to Doritos. Would YOU look good if all you ate were Doritos for every meal? I think not. You’d probably shed a lot too!
Many times it’s a matter of cost. Higher quality food is definitely more expensive but in reality you will end up feeding your pet less because it’s more nutritious for them. Less food in means less food out the other end as well, which is always a bonus in my book!
To assist you in finding a new dog food please visit Dog Food Advisor. Unfortunately, there is no such place to compare cat food. My cats are doing great on Blue Buffalo Wilderness (grain free) food.
I challenge you to change your pets food and see what a difference it can make. Give it four weeks and I think you’ll really be surprised! We want the best for your pet so they can live a long and happy life!
As always, please check with your veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions.
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