By Lauren Malmberg, Peoria County Animal Protection Services
Choosing the right food for your pet can be confusing and frustrating. Hundreds of choices of commercial pet food exist; pet owners can be inundated with recommendations for raw diets, grain-free diets, high protein diets, vegetarian diets, and more. What are you supposed to do?
Commercial pet food hasn’t always been available to pet owners. Before the Roaring 20s and the Great Depression, people primarily fed their pets raw meat and table scraps to supplement what the animals hunted or foraged on their own. After WWII, commercial pet food companies began mass marketing dry kibble using the vast quantities of agricultural scraps from slaughterhouses, grain mills, and processing plants. Today, hundreds of brands of dry and canned foods create confusion for the pet owner looking to provide the best nutrition.
The first step in determining an appropriate diet for your dog or cat is to check with your veterinarian. Most vets can offer recommendations and suggestions based upon your pet’s particular needs.
Age
Obviously puppies and kittens need a different diet than mature animals. Young animals need large amounts of energy — two to three times that of an adult. Kitties and pups need 30 percent of their total energy from protein, so be sure you feed a food specifically intended for their age. They should eat the special formula food until they reach one year.
Adult dogs and cats need sufficient nutrients to meet energy needs and to maintain and repair body tissues. The amount you feed should be based on their size and energy output. One of the most common pitfalls for owners is to overfeed their pet. Showering our dogs and cats with big meals and extra treats may seem loving but can lead to a multitude of health problems. Older pets should be fed with the objective of maintaining health and optimum body weight, slowing or preventing chronic disease, and minimizing or improving clinical signs of diseases already present.
Activity Level
House pets vary widely in their activity levels. A dog or cat with a “normal” activity level should receive “maintenance” energy. A dog or cat who lazes about the house may require 10 percent below maintenance; a pet who plays and runs all day could require 20–40 percent more. Working dogs — such as police dogs, guide dogs, and cattle dogs — may need an extra 50–70 percent of energy. Show dogs can have additional nutritional requirements as well to maintain a high quality coat and appearance.
Health
Sick pets often have an increased need for nutrition. Animals recovering from surgery or an illness need additional requirements to repair, heal, and fight infection. Check with your veterinarian for any specific nutritional needs your pet may have when they’re injured or ill.
Schedule
Most pets do best when fed twice daily. Commonly recommended, portion-control feeding means that the pet owner portions out the feed in one or more feedings ensuring that their animal does not overeat but still gets the amount of food necessary for their nutritional needs. Free choice feeding, where owners make food available at all times and the pet eats as much as he wants, whenever he wants, is generally only recommended for nursing pets. Free-choice feeding can easily lead to overweight or obese animals when they overeat.
Alternative Diets
Different types of diets have been developed for dogs and cats that are less traditional. Many owners select grain-free diets — particularly if their pet suffers from allergies or exhibits gastro-intestinal problems. Some pet food manufacturers offer grain-free dry dog food.
Some people have moved to the raw diet to mimic the dog’s ancestral diet where the entire animal was consumed by the
predator. The ancestral diet was 56 percent protein, 25–30 percent fat, and 14 percent carbohydrates. In contrast, today’s dry dog food contains 18–32 percent protein, 8–22 percent fat, and 46–74 percent carbohydrates. Proponents of the raw diet claim pets benefit with firmer stools, improved digestion, healthier skin and coat, reduced allergy symptoms, and better weight management. A raw diet can be crafted at home or purchased commercially.
Your pet depends on you to make the best choices for him nutritionally. A good rule of thumb is to feed the best quality food you can afford — in most cases, you feed less, your pet gains more nutritional benefits, and you have fewer stools to pick up! Check with your veterinarian to be sure your pet gets the essential nutrition, vitamins, and minerals necessary for a long, healthy life.
Looking for a new pet to join your family? Consider adoption. We have many terrific domestic pets looking for forever homes. Come visit us today! Call Peoria County Animal Protection Services at 309-672-2440. Visit us at peoriacounty.org/pcaps or email: PCAPS@peoriacounty.org.
This article is sponsored by Waggin’ Tails Doggy Daycare and Resort, Goodfield, IL. Email waggintailsresort@gmail.com or call 309-642-9299 for your dog’s boarding, doggy daycare, and grooming needs.
Photo credit: Viktor Lugovskoy/Thinkstock