How To Select The Perfect Pet Food | Pets and Animals
By SusanThixton
Total views: 67
Word Count: 1121
I can't even count the time I've been asked 'What is the perfect pet food?' Every pet owner wants to know which brand is safe and healthy. All pets and their needs are different, however I can give you some great advice on what to look for to find your pet's Perfect Food.
The front of a dog food or cat food bag can sometimes be very misleading. If you are searching for that perfect pet food, you will probably need to ignore the front of the bag and the advertising. To explain this further, I have two pretend pet foods listed below. Image that you are considering these foods for your own pet.
OK, I know it's obvious which one you would consider for your pet. That's done for a reason. The scary 'truth' is that these two pet foods contain the EXACT same ingredients.
The pet food label that is being completely honest is Kirby's Plain Pet Food. I can guarantee you however - you will never see a dog food or cat food label being this honest. The manufacturer will not provide you with the information they use chicken feet (yes, some use chicken feet) or share with you they import cheap and possibly dangerous ingredients.
What you are going to find in the pet stores will look like the Kirby's Super Supper - even though it contains the very same ingredients as Kirby's Plain pet food.
Here's a list of what to watch out for on a dog food or cat food label...
1. What is not seen on these pretend pet food labels are the pictures of cute pets and wholesome looking ingredients. Don't fall for it! Cute or appealing pictures are placed on a pet food or pet treat label to attract you! Ignore them! Pay no attention to the pictures on a pet food or pet treat label.
2. Super Supper. Who doesn't want to feed their pet a 'super supper'? And - 'supper' implies people food too - another marketing technique - connection to human food. The only way to know if Kirby's Kibble is actually 'super' is to look at the ingredients. Pay no attention to the name of a pet food - it might not reflect the quality of the ingredients of the food.
3. Premium Pet Food for Premium Pets. And yes, we all want to give our pet a premium food instead of just a 'plain food'. We all feel our pets are special and deserve premium treatment! But again, to know for sure if this pet food is premium, you must look at the ingredients.
4. strong>Made with REAL USDA Protein. Guess where chicken feet come from? Yes - a USDA meat processing facility. This is a true statement that seems to imply something completely different than chicken feet.
5. strong>Guaranteed Fresh. Dog food and cat food labels only provide pet owners with a 'Best by' date. Guaranteed Fresh could be a pet food that is two years old that contains potentially dangerous chemicals to extend the shelf life.
6. 100% Complete Nutrition. Any pet food that uses acceptable ingredients listed in the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) manual - yes...chicken feet and peanut hulls are approved ingredients...they are allowed to make the claim 100% Complete Nutrition.
Both Kirby's Kibble varieties have the same Guaranteed Analysis...Crude Protein: 23% Crude Fat: 14% Crude Fiber: 4% Moisture: 10%
Brief ingredient listing for both foods... Corn, Chicken by-Product Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with BHA/BHT), Corn Gluten Meal, Peanut Hulls (source of fiber), Minerals and Vitamins.
The Kirby's Kibble statement of 'REAL USDA Proteins' - even though the protein is chicken feet - is a truthful statement. Real chicken feet come from real USDA meat processing plants. Pet food manufacturers are allowed to use chicken feet in their foods (and treats) - but on the label you will see by-products listed instead.
How comfortable does it make you to know that Kirby's Kibble purchase ingredients worldwide? Did they purchase corn gluten from China? Did they test the imported ingredients for safety? Testing of pet food ingredients is only recommended by AAFCO - it is not required.
Now - and I'm being perfectly serious with the following - I could receive AAFCO approval for a pet food using chicken feet and peanut hulls as long as I added the rest of the minimum nutritional requirements. As is - using chicken feet and corn gluten to boost my protein percentage - I could get AAFCO approval of this food. But - here is what's even more interesting - I would be allowed to use the label of Kirby's Super Supper - but I would NOT be able to use the label of Kirby's Plain Pet Food. Yes, you read that correctly - I would NOT be able to tell the truth about my pet food - that I use chicken feet! Interesting huh?
As long as a pet food manufacturer uses AAFCO approved ingredients - and as long as the food provides the required protein, fat, minerals and other nutrients - they are provided with the 100% complete nutrition claim. It does seem impossible that chicken feet and peanut hulls could be 'complete nutrition' - but that is the rules. I'm not kidding.
To wrap this up, even though it's a tough pill to swallow, you need to realize that the pet food industry is set up with very long, broad list of approved ingredients and labeling regulations - but...they all fit nicely into a few methods to present them to petsumers. Quality minded pet food producers as well as profit minded pet food producers all have to follow the same rules. You don't need to read the AAFCO publication or go back to school and study nutrition to pick out a quality pet food. Just learn a few ingredients - and be aware of marketing techniques that are commonly used to sell pet food. It's not difficult - it's basically just changing how you think about pet food. We want to trust what the label says, but unfortunately they are not all telling you the truth. Some that want to tell you the truth legally can't. Take off the rose colored glasses when you are deciding on your perfect pet food.
About the Author
To read more about pet food visit http://www.TruthAboutPetFood.com. Sign up for the free newsletter and read from a library of articles in Paws Club.
Rating: Not yet rated
CommentsNo comments posted.Add Your CommentTo leave a comment, please log in first. |
|
You are here Articles > Pets and Animals