Nutrition
Notes: They are what they eat, too!
Why the heck should I buy that expensive, fancy-pants pet food instead of the grocery store brands?
Not all pet
foods are created equal and there are big differences in terms of pet food quality on the
shelves out there. We here at Greens Fork
Animal Hospital recommend that pets be fed high-quality diets such as Hills or Iams Pet
Foods which are available at pet shops around town. We
find that these diets deliver consistent quality and nutrition to pets when fed on a daily
basis.
There are a lot
of objections out there to the cost of the pet store or "premium" diets, and I
have to agree that, at face value, these diets do cost more per bag than the grocery store
bags. However, pets actually eat less of the
premium diets then they do of the grocery store brands.
This is because the premium pet store foods are designed to deliver more
available protein and calories per cup than the grocery store brands. This means that the costs of the premium pet foods
becomes comparable to the grocery store brands since you feed less of the former (follow
bag directions). Feeding less foods means
that animals form less stool. Anyone who is
on litter-box patrol or on backyard-cleanup patrol can very quickly appreciate the bonus
of not having as much stool to clean up.
The doctors at
Greens Fork Animal Hospital feel that pets who are on premium diets are more fit, as well. We see less skin problems, less stomach and gut
problems, and better overall body condition, haircoat condition, and energy levels in dogs
and cats fed the premium diets. This is
likely directly related to the better quality of the ingredients which are used in the
premium or pet store diets.
If you decide
to change your pet's diet, do it slowly over the period of about a week. Start mixing your pet’s old diet in with your
pet’s new diet in small amounts then gradually decrease the amount of the old diet
and increase the amount of the new diet as the week progresses. Try to avoid abrupt food changes which can cause
loose stool or diarrhea.
If you are
worried that your pet will not like the new food, pick a premium brand that is guaranteed. Some premium food companies will give your money
back if your animal will not eat the food as it is being slowly introduced to them, We
know that shelling out the money for each bag of premium food is painful, but the benefits
are numerous and long-term. Just as with
humans, healthful food makes for a healthy pet.