Pet ownership statistics from 2023 show that 68% of US households have at least one pet. This means that 85 million families in America own a pet of some kind.
If you own a dog or cat, you are probably on the hunt for the best pet food. This is something that most pet owners are trying to find for their pet’s nutritional needs.
The problem is that there is so much dog food and cat food on the market. This makes it overwhelming to find the best pet food for your furry companion.
Keep reading to find out how to choose the best pet food with these tips.
Look at the Quality
With so much pet food available, you need to be careful about the option that you choose. There are a lot of poor-quality pet foods that are going to do much good for your pet.
You need to study the brand and the type of food to make sure it is good quality. One way to do this is by looking online to see what other customers have said.
You also want to make sure there’s plenty of information available about the food. If it does not list the ingredients, this could be a red flag that it is poor quality.
This is why it is always a good idea to find a good brand and stick with it. This ensures you will always get the best quality without having to change up your pet’s food all the time.
Consider the Protein Content
Whether you have a dog or a cat, their natural diet would be meat. Most pet owners are not able to provide a raw meat diet, but there are other options.
A good pet food should have a high percentage of protein. This ensures that your pet is getting their protein needs met and will stay healthy.
If there isn’t enough protein in the food, this means it is filled with other ingredients. Pet food should be primarily made of meat and fish to imitate a pet’s natural diet.
This is important for healthy pets as it helps with their digestive system and their colon. If they aren’t getting enough fiber from protein, they may not feel as good as they should.
Look at Fillers
It is no secret that some dry pet foods are not extremely healthy. A lot of companies tend to fill these pet foods with filler ingredients that don’t provide much nutritional value.
Some examples of fillers include corn cobs, soy, wheat, and straw. Some fillers are not something that is cause for alarm in most situations.
Fillers can have value if they provide fiber to help break up the food. One example of this is cat food that may have some ground bone added to the mix.
This may not seem like it provides much value at first, but it can be good for your cat. That is why you want to research the fillers in the food to see what is good and what isn’t.
In general, pet foods that are full of gluten fillers are not going to be ideal.
Consider Your Pet's Needs
Even the best pet food is not going to be suitable for every single pet. Because of this, you need to make sure you are buying according to your pet’s needs.
This is an important part of pet care, especially if your pet has specific dietary needs. One example of this is elderly pets, which usually need special types of food.
Elderly pets may struggle to chew their food and digest it. Because of this, you may want to look for foods that are easier to break down and consume.
If you have a puppy, you should find pet food that is designed for puppies. This provides the right nutritional content as well as the right size for easy chewing.
Think About Any Health Issues
When it comes to pet food, you need to consider every aspect of what your pet needs. One example of this is certain health requirements they may have.
Your pet may have some food allergies that restrict the foods they can eat. Or your pet may be missing teeth, making it harder for them to chew large pieces of food.
Consider the Price
Owning pets can be quite expensive for the majority of people. This is the reality since pets require a variety of products and different kinds of care.
This is why it is important to keep the price of the pet food in mind. The best pet food is often going to be a little pricier, so you need to do your research.
Keep in mind that price does not always indicate quality. Food can be very expensive and still not be the best option for your pet.
You also need to consider how sustainable that food option is for your lifestyle. You may want to buy the absolute best brand, but it may not be affordable long-term.
It is better to pick the best pet food you can afford so that your pet can stay on that food.
What to Avoid In Pet Food
Now that you know what to look for in pet food, there are also things you want to be careful of. Just like human food, there is plenty of pet food with ingredients it shouldn’t have.
These ingredients could be harmful to your pet’s health, impacting their digestive system. Some pets may even have a reaction to some of these ingredients if they are sensitive.
Too Many Fillers
Pet food is made of various ingredients to create a balanced diet. The problem with all of these ingredients is some companies try to add too many fillers.
Some fillers can actually be beneficial, but they should be used sparingly. If your animal’s food is full of fillers, there won’t be much room for actual nutritional content.
As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to stay away from foods with very long ingredient lists. This indicates that there are many different ingredients, many of them being fillers.
Dyes
Another ingredient you may not have suspected is the colors that are added to the food. There is no legitimate reason for color to be added to pet food except for visual appeal.
Artificial colors are not good for pets and could even create an allergic response. Because of this, it is best to look for foods that don’t add any artificial colors.
Preservatives
an ingredient in the majority of pet foods is something that helps it to be shelf stable. These are called preservatives that come from artificial and natural sources.
Preservatives are important as it keeps the food fresh for a long period of time. But the preservatives need to be approved and safe for pets.
Because of this, you may want to do a bit of research to figure out what kinds of preservatives are in use.
Too Much Fat
A big part of your pet’s diet is going to be healthy fats. This is important as it keeps them healthy and helps their coat to stay healthy as well.
But too much fat is a bad thing, especially if their food is overly fatty. This means that your pet will be consuming too many calories and too little nutrition.
How to Switch Your Pets Food
Changing your pet’s diet can be quite a challenge for most pet owners. If you are doing theirs, you should begin by mixing their old food with the new.
This helps to disguise the new food and adjust them to the taste of the new food. This also helps you avoid upsetting their stomach from the drastic change.
Experts also recommend that pet owners do this over the course of a week. This gives your animal time to adjust to the new food without forcing it on them.
Best Pet Food: How to Find the Right Option
If you own a dog or cat, you are probably looking for the best pet food available. There are certain things that you need to consider, such as quality and the ingredient list.
It is also a good idea to avoid foods with too many fillers and too little protein content. It’s also important to gradually make the switch when changing your pet’s food.
Are you looking for the best pet food available within your budget? Contact us today at Pet Marvelous for pet food options.
