For many dog and cat owners, their pets are part of the family, or for some, are their children, and will do what is humanly possible to keep their pet happy and well. It is important for people to eat healthy, it is also important for our pets to eat a nutritional, well-balanced diet. The old adage, "you are what you eat" also applies to dogs and cats. If your pet does not eat a proper diet it will affect the animal’s weight, coat, digestive system, joints, etc. Frankly, while this is exactly the same case in people, cats and dogs get no say in what foods they consume. Hence, pet owners must practice good nutrition for them. Feeding the family cat or dog a healthy, wholesome, "natural" diet with the selection of a quality pet food product will help you to maintain the pet’s overall good health and may reduce the risk of many diseases, creating an outer glow that comes from inner good health.
Talking with a pet food manufacturer who operates in the top-end, super-premium market segment, often find themselves dealing with the most discriminating of consumers. It is not unusual for them to receive at least one telephone call per day from a consumer who asks if his or her cat, who has just used its litter box, is healthy based upon the ph of the cat’s urine (yes, that means that they measure the actual urine with a ph paper/strip). The cat owner would do this as cats often develop what is termed struvite crystals, in their urinary tract, if the ph or magnesium level of the food is not to their liking (or to what is agreed to as an industry standard). Frankly, this sensitive, discriminating consumer is just the type of customer that the manufacturer is looking for, as it means that they are very concerned as to the health and well being of their animal.
To illustrate why pet food is such a significant factor affecting an animal’s health, I’ll explain several aspects of pet food manufacturing. Focusing on the dry cat and dog food categories will help to understand some of the basics. Dry food can be broken into two distinct types – baked and extruded. Baked food is comprised of grains, meats/protein, and wet ingredients (oils, water, molasses, etc.) which are combined in a mixer, are then cut by a very large rotating coolie cutting device, and then go through a large, in-line oven. After baking they are then processed through a drier, wherein excess water is removed. Finally, they are cooled and packaged. In contrast, extruded foods are mixed, and cooked as a large "slurry" (a batch of ingredients that is essentially steamed) and then are shaped and dried. This steaming process, while often giving a very consistent texture and form, takes a great deal of the nutritional value out of the food.
In terms of product formulas, it is typical to want to feed your pet a balanced diet. Most all pet foods accomplish this by balancing grains, meats of some sort, as well as liquid ingredients. Typically, a dry food will have a great deal of wheat gluten or flour in it. It will also have other grains which bring with them certain nutrients. One important distinction that has to be made is whether the grains are "raw" or "processed". Raw grains are from nature, and may contain more nutrients, as well as fewer additives. They may however, be tougher to digest, and may result in larger, and more frequent stools, from the pet. To the converse, processed grains may often contain artificial processing aids, some of which you would be very surprised to learn exist in the food.
Additionally, there will also be some source of protein which usually takes the form of a beef or poultry meal. In short, a meal is what is left after humans take what they desire from an animal. There is often trimmings, organs, bones, bone marrow, etc. which are then ground up and turned into a slurry or meal. The grains – often called a pre-mix, are then mixed with the meat meal, and then have an oil/water or other wet ingredients added.
It is important to note that one other set of ingredients is typically added to the above list just prior to mixing. This group is called, by the pet food industry, micro ingredients, and may include natural substances, fruits and vegetables, digestive aids, flavorings, vitamins, etc. The selection of these micro ingredients often determines whether the food is referred to as a natural diet or an engineered diet. An engineered diet is a food that is "managed" such that it imparts certain medicinal-related qualities. On the other side of the fence are natural foods which use items found in nature to help deliver certain characteristics. Frankly, both solutions to the problem are functional. Which type of diet you select for your pet often mirrors what you select for your family and yourself.
A natural diet will use fruits like blueberries or rosemary to provide antioxidants to the pet. An engineered diet will use a chemically derived substance such as Naturox ™, or other tocopherols, to supply the same effect. In short, both antioxidants deliver the anti-aging qualities we seek to deliver, but both do through in separate ways – via engineering or via nature.
In addition, it is common to find people who feed their pet’s raw meat or table scraps. While not a wholly terrible choice – especially based upon the breed of the animal (some dogs for instance need a diet very heavy in protein) – it does not deliver the balanced nutritional needs that the vast majority of pets require.
In order to find what is truly in your pet food it is recommended that you do two things. First, you need to read the ingredients panel on the package. Much like human foods, the FDA and USDA - APHIS branch, mandates that all pet food manufacturers list all ingredients used in the order of most used to least used (called the order of predominance). By reviewing the ingredients panel it is easy to tell what the quality of your food is. Typically, foods with lots of meals are of lesser quality.
Second, there is tremendous information to be derived by reviewing the analytical/nutritional panel of the food. This is also very similar to human foods, in that the amount of protein, fat, and other nutrients are listed. In short, the two key variables in regards to this panel are the amount of protein and the amount of fat. It is important to have a solid amount of protein (15%) and a limited amount of fat (4%). From a cost perspective, the higher the protein, the higher the cost. From a taste (referred to in pet food as palatability) standpoint, the higher the fat, the more the animal will like the taste. However, also very similar to human foods, the higher the fat, the more unhealthy the diet (within reason).
Other issues that are important to the food refer to moistures – the amount of water in the food (typically, more moisture means more water and less solids and "real" ingredients – similar to when you buy chicken in the supermarket and you find the "diaper pad" under the poultry which allows the company to charge you extra for water which they injected into the flesh prior to shipping). Palatability – even though your dog may like a food better than another, you have to gauge whether or not it is delivering the nutrition you desire and that the pet needs (Heaven knows that many of us prefer a piece of chocolate cake to a plate full of spinach – pets are no different).
The market is glutted with selections. Not only various brands, but also various flavors and diet-type selections. Diet-types would include specially formulated diets for puppies or older (senior) puppies. Primary flavors include chicken, lamb, fish, beef, etc. –- but there have also been many unique line extensions to include duck, venison, etc.
Frankly, other than the various sources of protein, and flavor differences between the unique flavors (duck versus lamb), the nutritional value of the foods is very similar. What one will find is that the puppy formula is generally higher in fat and protein which promotes growth. Conversely, the senior diets are lower in both fat and protein, but higher than other diets in calcium and some of the other heavy metal nutrients.
Various brands are also a preference that is driven by availability, price, nutritional needs, and the pet’s nutritional profiles. In terms of generalities regarding the brands, one finds that the Alpo/Purina brands are generally the lowest cost and correspondingly the lowest quality. Additionally, the lowest cost brands tend to be the most generally available. Other, more high end brands, include Iams and Eukaneuba. In the super premium category we generally see brands like Wellness (manufactured by the Old Mother Hubbard Company), Solid Gold, etc.
In conclusion, the pet food industry is constantly changing with new products. There is a great deal to be garnered by close review of the package of pet food that you select. The more that people care for their pets, the more that the offerings will develop along the lines of human pets.
Important: Please consult your own vet or pet professional before using any advice. Most of the information was acquired through a personal interview with a Vice President of Operations for a major pet food company. Individual and company names are withheld due to privacy and not wanting to focus attention on the well-known brand name.
By: Laurencia J. Bourget
