Pet Nutrition: Tips For Choosing Foods For Your Pet

Any pet owner will naturally want to make sure that their pet eats the best possible food. To borrow a common phrase from the human world, food can be viewed as a medicine, and therefore has a crucial role to play in your pet’s health and well-being.

However, there is a potential snag that all pet owners face when trying to choose the food for their beloved companion: the sheer volume of products that are currently available. The pet food market is incredibly large, and there are now more varieties and options to choose from than ever before. As a result, narrowing down your selection can feel like an impossible task – but it is possible, and the four tips below can be particularly beneficial…

#1 – Check with your vet 

Some pets will have specific nutritional requirements that are related to their ongoing health; for example, if your cat has chronic renal failure, then they will need a diet that is low in phosphorus. It’s therefore always worth asking your vet if they have any specific recommendations for the type of diet you should be feeding based on your pet’s health, so you can take these into account when making your selection.

#2 – Look for foods, plural 

Finally, it’s important to note that choosing a pet food does not mean choosing a single brand and sticking with that brand consistently. Often, a little mixing and matching can work very well – not least because it allows your pet to enjoy something different every once in awhile. Provided you stay within foods that are suitable for your pet’s health, there’s no need to choose a specific food – though it’s advisable to keep track of how your pet does when they try a different food, just in case they have an adverse reaction and you need to identify the culprit.

#3 – Dedicate time to research

Animal nutrition is a complex world, so spending a little time learning about how your specific species of pet should be fed will always be time well spent. Read up online, ask other owners for their experiences, and read through Freshpet reviews before you actually make a purchase. All of this information will stand you in good stead when it comes to choosing the foods you wish to feed.

#4 – Keep your options open

There are countless pet food products that are dedicated to certain health conditions, or even certain breeds. While these foods can be worth checking out, you don’t have to choose a food that is specifically marketed to those needs if there are preferable options (that don’t have a species-, breed- or health-specific dedication) available. Put your research to use, keep in mind any health-related necessities your vet has advised you to consider, and evaluate foods based on their own nutritional merits each time; there’s no need to feel constrained to buying within a very specific niche.

In conclusion 

The tips above should help to simplify the process of finding the foods your pet needs to meet their nutritional requirements – and thus enjoy the best possible health and happiness in the future.