If you’re thinking about upgrading your dog’s food, or that of your cat, you’ll be overwhelmed by the number of choices available. Kibble, canned, semi-moist, homemade, and the list of options goes on and on. You’ll want to find something that provides much-needed nutrients for healthy living. You could spend weeks looking over all the various food formulas and brands. If you have a hard time figuring out what really makes pet food nutritious and balanced, don’t worry because you’re not the only one. Choosing pet food is so confusing these days. Regrettably, time doesn’t allow you to make personalized product comparisons.
The ingredients found in your best friend’s food are paramount to their health and wellness. That’s why you need to shop responsibly. You can’t feed your dog or cat just about anything. Buy a product that respects high safety standards. If you don’t mind, you should pay a little bit extra for quality pet food. These are the major pet food ingredients to be aware of. Know exactly what you’re feeding your animals. If you have a question about the product, make sure to contact the manufacturer. All the information you need to contact them should be on the label.
Protein
Protein allows your furry friend’s body to function properly. It plays a key role in the formation and maintenance of cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Eating plenty of protein has benefits for healthy hair and skin, muscle development, and tissue repair, just to name a few. The pet food industry strives to create kibble which is high in quality protein. In case you didn’t know, cats need more protein than dogs, who are omnivores. Felines need the amino acid taurine for good health. It’s essential for normal vision, heart muscle function, and digestion. Also, taurine helps cats maintain a healthy immune system.
Meats are good sources of protein. To create a meat meal, fresh meat undergoes a cooking process. The result is a fine, light brown coloured powder with a characteristic aroma. different parts of the animal are used, which might not sound appealing to human consumers. Meat powder is loaded with active nutritious ingredients. Needless to say, this ingredient is subject to strict rules for quality and safety, which is why recipes are carefully formulated. meat powder consists of pure, real meat, so it’s high in protein. Reputable pet food manufacturers don’t hesitate to disclose the origins of the meat meals.
Fat
Ingesting higher levels of fat helps optimize an animal’s metabolism. Fat reduces the rate of stomach emptying, not to mention that it gives your four-legged friend a feeling of fullness after meals. Fat is an essential nutrient in your pet’s diet because it ensures energy, insulation, cushioning, and more. Essential fatty acids help with inflammation at the cellular level. So, your best friend can maintain healthy skin and coat quality. Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to help with blood clotting. Fats in pet food are generally sourced from animal fat and oils from plants.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are found in both dog and cat food. What carbohydrates do is supply energy. Through digestion, your furry friend can easily convert sugar into usable energy. In healthy pets, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled so that glucose is readily available for the body cells. The more active the animal is, the more energy is needed to maintain that activity. Therefore, dogs with high energy needs should be fed a diet with at least 20% carbohydrates. Like dogs, and other animals, get their energy from the nutrients found in food. While they’re not essential nutrients, carbs are highly digestible.
The question now is: Where do the carbs come from? Well, barley, oats, brown rice, whole wheat/corn, potato, and millet. Including carbohydrates in pet food makes it possible to create recipes with different nutrient values. Not only does the product keep the animal from becoming famished, but also carbs prevent tartar build-up. All pet foods contain a balance of ingredients. So, if the amount of carbohydrates is decreased, more fat or protein is added to the mixture. Minimal nutritional information can be found on the pet food label. If you’d like detailed information about the carbohydrate content, please feel free to get in touch with the manufacturer.
Vitamins & Minerals
Dogs and cats should receive a complete and balanced diet. In other words, one that includes vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, D, and E are essential for your pet, but so are zinc, calcium, potassium, biotin, copper, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, iodine, and L-carnitine. They’re responsible for promoting bone growth, preventing blood clotting, energy production, and protection against free radicals. The nutritional needs of your best friend depend on their age. Information about vitamins and minerals already present in your pet’s food can be found on the product label. Pet food ingredients are listed in descending order.
We’re not going to provide an extensive list of unfamiliar terms to confuse you. Instead, we’re going to tell you that vitamins and minerals are vital components for health, well-being, and longevity. If the pet food is made from high-quality ingredients, supplementation isn’t necessary. Supplements can be helpful in some situations, but diet ought to supply what a dog or cat needs to thrive. Companies are making great efforts to refine their products and offer top-notch pet food to the market. New technologies are emerging for the conservation and commercialization of pet food, which is good news.
Final Thoughts
Just because a dog or cat food product is readily available, that doesn’t mean that you should dive it a try. The best pet food contains high-quality ingredients that are appropriate for the digestive system. Renowned products are highly regulated and, most importantly, have undergone rigorous testing. The thing is that pet food manufacturers go to great lengths to make sure that your furry friend’s meals are super nutritious. Yet, not all pet foods are created equal. Make sure your dog or cat is healthy and eating well. There’s nothing more important than that.