All Pet Foods Are Not the Same

For pet parents around the world, we only want the best for our pets. We buy fancy new toys and luxurious pet beds, but sometimes, we don’t stop to think about how the choice of dog or cat food can affect our pet’s health. Choosing the right pet food could mean your cat or dog lives a long, healthy, and happy life.

The Truth about Inexpensive Foods

For some pet parents, the choice in food really comes down to the price. The truth is cheaper dog or cat foods use lower-quality ingredients. While these pet foods use animal proteins or animal protein by-products, such as chicken meal, which is made from ground up parts like beaks and bones, these foods often include filler ingredients such as corn, wheat, and soy.

Corn, wheat, and soy are not necessarily bad, but they offer limited nutrition to your pet’s diet. They are called filler ingredients because they make the food more substantial than it is. However, feeding your pet these foods can lead to them feeling hungry and eating more than they should, so they can easily gain weight.

Soy, wheat, corn, and many other grains are also highly inflammatory, which means pets who eat these foods are more prone to allergic reactions and other conditions that may require veterinary care.

The Benefits of Premium Pet Foods

While high-quality dog and cat foods tend to have a higher price, there is good reason for it. High-protein foods often are more expensive because the companies focus on getting ingredients from reputable sources. Many times, for companies like Ziwi Peak and Naturea, they prioritize  getting sustainably and ethically sourced proteins that are high-quality.

Feeding your pet these foods not only gives them proper nutrition without chemicals, but it can also reduce or prevent allergic reactions often caused by grains. In general, pets that eat high-quality foods live longer, have less chance of becoming obese, and have less medical issues, which means fewer trips to the veterinary clinic. 

Final Thoughts

Giving your pet less expensive foods could reduce their lifespan and end up costing you more on veterinary expenses in the long run. While high quality foods are generally more expensive, they provide your pet with nutrition that can extend their lifespan, reduce allergic reactions and obesity, and allow them to be happier and healthier. However, a high price doesn’t always mean quality. Be sure that the food you choose is developed around high-quality animal protein and other quality ingredients.

Citations:

https://www.ibpsa.com/blog/2010/08/25/the-importance-of-pet-nutrition/#:~:text=Feeding%20a%20higher%20quality%20food,a%20result%20of%20improper%20nutrition.