Safety is the number one priority for all pet owners. The first question anyone should ask when considering a pet food should always be, 'Is it safe?'
Factors that impact food safety:
Is the diet complete and balanced? In other words, does it supply the essential nutrients required for basic nutritional needs of that species of animal
Nutrients vs ingredients:
Dietary approach:
Is the food adapted to the precise needs of this pet? To get food and feeding exactly right, a nutritional assessment will pave the way to a diet best suited to the individual. This means taking consideration of food preferences, recent history, dietary sensitivities, specific requirements and even medical conditions. There are many factors involved in making exactly the right choice.
Ensure you take information about pet nutrition from reputable sources. Things to look for:
The first question you should ask when considering a pet food should be, 'Is it safe?' Regardless of all other qualities, we must be absolutely certain to 'do no harm.'
Remember that an ingredient's nutritional profile (what essential nutrients it contains) and digestibility makes it valuable to your pet, not its name. After all, your cat or dog can't read the ingredients list, and neither can their digestive system. Good nutrition is about providing what the body needs.
Feeding a complete and balanced formula indicates that a pet is receiving all essential nutrients needed to sustain everyday health. Complete and balanced nutrition can be achieved in a variety of ways for cats and dogs, combining any number of ingredients from many potential sources to deliver exactly what they need.
The ingredient mix which is eaten by a pet must be digestible. Without this key feature (digestibility), the essential nutrients needed by the body will not be 'unlocked' and delivered to the pet.
One group of essential nutrients is called amino acids. These amino acids are found in proteins. Proteins are present in many different ingredients and in different proportions. Many people associate meat with protein as there are indeed high levels of protein and amino acids in this ingredient. Let's not forget however, that equally good quality amino acids and often even more highly digestible protein are available in other ingredients, including plantbased materials.
Published guidelines provide the basic nutritional requirements of cats and dogs.
Pet foods which are labeled as complete and balanced fulfil these essential nutrient guidelines, meaning they provide all that is needed for daily life.
We all know nutrition can be provided by multiple means: food can be homemade, raw, natural, ingredient-based, nutrient-based or a combination of these amongst others. What’s critically important is that all nutrients are provided.
Products that are nutrient-based and developed based on science provide not only the essentials for basic daily needs, but tailored nutrients which enable the cat or dog to truly thrive.
‘Incredible’ is in the detail of providing nutrients which are specific to the individual, their particular circumstances and individual sensitivities.
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Complete and balanced
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1 nutrient deficiency
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2 or more nutrient deficiencies
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*Reference: Stockman J, Fascetti AJ, Kass PH, et al. Evaluation of recipes of home-prepared maintenance diets for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2013; 242:1500-150
Raw feeding is becoming popularised, however there are no proven health benefits and many risks associated with feeding cats and dogs raw food.
In an evaluation of 200 home-prepared diets*, only 5% were found to be complete and balanced, while 11% were deficient in one essential nutrient, and 84% were deficient in more than 1 essential nutrient.
In a nutrient-based approach, the nutritional needs of a pet are evaluated, and an optimal diet profile is chosen based on the needs that have been established. Ideally we should refine both our recommendation and the product fed beyond standard species guidelines, and respect the breed, lifestage, lifestyle, individual preferences and health status of the cat or dog. From here, high quality, highly digestible ingredients (raw materials) are sourced which can be combined to match the desired nutritional profile.
This is the most precise way to tailor nutrition to the specific needs of each pet.
A food can be safe and nutritious but still not be the best choice for an animal.
The right food will address the specific needs of the individual. It should respect the sensitivities of the pet, keep him in good, on-going health and condition, fulfil dietary preferences, remain palatable and be interchangeable as the pet's needs change.
A nutritional assessment should be performed by the veterinary practice team before a nutritional recommendation is made.
This includes a complete diet history, full physical exam, and any necessary diagnostics, as per the WSAVA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines.
Pet nutrition is complicated. Be sure to seek knowledge from reliable sources. Here are some indicators of quality information:
