Our pets are unlike us in that they eat the same thing day in and day out. When you examine this fact, it’s quite obvious that the cat food or dog food we’re feeding out pets is either helping them live a long, healthy life or contributing to their demise.
Like many pet owners, we thought that feeding our cats a certain premium brand of food was providing them with the healthiest choice. After all, it was one of the highest priced pet foods on the market so it had to be good, right?
Wrong!
The truth is, price is only one small indication of quality. In fact, some of the healthiest pet food is extremely moderately priced. To figure out if the food that you are feeding your pets is really good for them, you have to understand which ingredients are nutritious and which ingredients are just ‘fillers’, or, as I like to call them – junk!
So go and get a bag of the pet food you are presently feeding your pet and compare it to this list of what’s good and what’s not:
- Protein: the main source should come from quality animal protein, not a vegetable or grain. Are there animal by-products used in the formula? If so, they might be inferior sources of protein which makes it difficult to digest.
- Grains: grains such as soy, corn, corn gluten and wheat gluten may be difficult to digest and can also be allergenic. Rice has the tendency to be the most digestible, least allergy-inducing grain.
- Fats: Animal, not vegetable, fats tend to be the simplest for your pets to metabolize and absorb.
- Health-promoting ingredients: Vegetables, fiber, probiotics and minerals are all important ingredients that help keep your pet healthy and strong. Does your current brand of pet food contain any of them?
If your pet is experiencing any health problems – from loss of energy and vitality, to respiratory issues, to joint aches and pains or any other symptoms – DO NOT discount the possibility that it may be caused by his food. Just like a modification to your diet can improve your health, so can a modification to your pet’s food! But please don’t take my word for it…do your own research, educate yourself and try out different brands (we use Life’s Abundance which has really helped our pets look and feel great).
The bottom line is, your pet can’t go to the supermarket or pet store to purchase his own food…he counts on you! Help your pet live his or her best life by choosing the right food and you will both be so much richer for it!