Choosing a Pet Food

There are hundreds of pet food options on the market. Store brands, canned food, kibble, grain-free, raw; you name it, it's available. How do you choose the right one? Let's look at a few different options and you can dig deeper to choose the best option for you and your pet.

Let's start with cats. Cats are obligate (strict) carnivores and are very different from dogs in their nutritional needs. What does it mean to be an ‘obligate carnivore’? It means that your cat was built by Mother Nature to get her nutritional needs met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-based proteins (meat/organs) and derives much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables). It means that cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins. That being said, cats can survive on kibble that is formulated with grain, vegetables, and plant-based protein. That type of diet is not the best for your cat. If you are not able to feed your cat a complete and balanced raw diet made with meat, ground bones, and organs, the next best thing would be a grain-free canned food formulated with the above knowledge of cats' nutritional and evolutionary needs. A few brands I like are: Felidae Pure line, Wellness grain-free, and Blue Buffalo.

When I switched my cats from kibble to a canned, animal protein-based, grain-free diet, I noticed less digestive intolerance (vomit, hairballs) and less frequent visits to the cat box. Also, their cat box was much less stinky. If this is something that interests you, I recommend a switch!

Dogs are provided with more options. Dogs need protein, carbohydrates, fats and other nutrients found in some plants. For dogs, if not able to feed a complete, balanced, and supplemented raw diet, I recommend a corn and wheat-free kibble that is high in protein and of a premium quality. Animal protein should be the very first ingredient. A few brands I like are: Orijen, Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Avoderm, and Taste of the Wild.

As with all pet food changes, you need to switch gradually to a better food. Start with 75% original with 25% of the new food in week one. Increase the new food by 25% each week until you're feeding only their new diet.

Always follow the feeding guidelines (by weight) on packaged pet foods. If your pet is not currently at an ideal weight, you need to feed the amount that is listed for the ideal weight. For example, if your Australian Shepherd is stalky at 60 pounds, you would feed the amount listed for a 40 pound dog and adjust for exercise and as your pet slims down.

Please see your vet if you notice any allergy symptoms at any time with experimenting with different foods. Signs of allergies include vomiting, diarrhea, itchy and irritated skin, and refusal of food. Always provide clean, fresh water. Now go shopping!