Pet owners should be concerned about their pet’s nutrition, as a proper diet helps fight disease, wards off infections, and extends life.  Here is some facts worth considering.

Pets are fed dried foods, canned foods, and a combination of the two.  Dried pet foods tend to be less expensive and stay fresh longer.  They also give some crunch to the diet and help keep teeth clean.  Canned foods on the other hand may be a better choice for the fussy eater, as they seem tastier and easier to eat.  They also contain more moisture for pets that cannot or do not drink much water, and as a result may have harder stools.

Some pets are fed raw food.  If this raw food consists of meat or eggs, it is a bad choice, as parasitic infections and food poisoning may result.  Also of concern is the fact that some of the dangerous microorganisms in raw meat can be passed on to humans.

Bones, whether cooked or raw can cause obstructions in the intestinal tract as well as damaging teeth.  Dogs will eat literally anything, but that does not mean it is good for them.  Many dogs eat bones with no ill effect, but it’s not worth the risk.

Nutritional deficiencies are often a result of a raw food diet.  Pet food are formulated with the total health needs of pets in mind, and a raw food diet simply does not meet these needs.

Many people try to eat only organic and natural products, but natural products may not be the best choice for your pets, as they would not contain any of the vitamins and minerals that are added to pet foods for balanced nutrition.  If selecting natural or organic products for you pet, it is wise to investigate thoroughly to make sure they contain all nutrients essential for pet health.

It is not always possible to compare pet foods merely by comparing labels.  Labels only tell what an ingredient is, not what the quality of the ingredient is.  Chicken meal is significantly higher in digestibility and nutrients than poultry meal though both are protein.

Such things as chicken feet and beaks are high in crude protein but of poor nutrient value.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because meat comes first on the percentage list of your pet’s food, that this is a better quality food.  High doses of poor quality protein are of little benefit to your pet.

It pays to discuss your pets nutrition with your veterinarian to make sure you are getting the best quality pet food that you can afford.  A higher quality of food may mean your pet needs a lower quantity of food.  This in itself can help equal out the cost of the higher quality food.