Pet Nutrition
- posted: Dec. 08, 2017
Lately we have had some questions about what food your pets should eat! Recently Dr Wendi Goetsch did a community talk on this subject as there is so much confusion with pet food, nutritional needs, and how pet food is marketed. She wanted to share the highlights of that talk with everyone!
Dr Goetsch called/emailed a lot of companies to see who formulates the food and controls the feeding trials (WSAVA recommendations). The responses are below:
++Companies that answered yes: Royal Canin, Hills/Science Diet, Iams, Eukanuba, Purina, Wellness, Acana, Origen (any of these would be good pending your pet's health)
++Companies that answered but did not have full qualifications: (Dr Goetsch does not recommend )
-Blue (They do employ a PhD human nutritionist- with a degree in Animal Science, a Master of Science degree in Non-Ruminant Nutrition, and a Ph.D. degree in Nutritional Biochemistry. A Dr. that also has a degree in Animal Nutrition Science (ACANS))
-Rachel Ray (Ainsworth pet food) - Have Phds in human nutrition, No board certified vet nutritionists
-Pedigree- Mars Petcare US employs Associates with expertise in many different fields.
-Blue (They do employ a PhD human nutritionist- with a degree in Animal Science, a Master of Science degree in Non-Ruminant Nutrition, and a Ph.D. degree in Nutritional Biochemistry. A Dr. that also has a degree in Animal Nutrition Science (ACANS))
-Rachel Ray (Ainsworth pet food) - Have Phds in human nutrition, No board certified vet nutritionists
-Pedigree- Mars Petcare US employs Associates with expertise in many different fields.
++Companies that did not respond: Nutro, Friskies, Diamond, Ol Roy, Sam’s Club/Costco
Other good websites to research more about food. Any website with a .com is selling you something in one way or another - so read with caution. There are many websites with anecdotal research, but the sites below are going to give information based on scientific evidence.
——-Myths and Facts
Misconception #1: The higher the cost of the food, the better it is. Cost has some bearing on quality, in that, a very cheap food will have poorer quality ingredients. However, some foods are higher priced due to the cost of marketing that is used to sell them versus actual research into the formulation/health of the food. Good quality foods have veterinary nutritionists on staff to help ensure that nutritional standards are shaped and maintained. High quality foods will have an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement on the bag/can.
Misconception #2: By-products are bad. This claim was started by certain companies so they could sell more food. It is a marketing dream because there are many things that can be qualified as by-products per the FDA. Low quality foods have been known to use low quality by-products such as feathers, beaks, etc. High quality foods use by-products such as spleen, liver, and kidney meat. These high quality organ meats are an excellent source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals for pets. Many of these byproducts are considered human grade domestically and internationally, but many of us choose not to eat them.
Misconception #3: Raw food diets are good. Dogs are not wolves. Chicken coming from a major grocery store is not the same as a squirrel or rabbit. Raw food diets have been linked to many bacterial problems (Salmonella, E. coli) in pets and their owners that handle the food. If you desire to cook for your pet, please contact your veterinarian for a home-made pet food recipe that will ensure proper nutrient intake. Or at the very least, cook the ingredients prior to feeding them to your pet.
Misconception #4: “This brand of food” will cure all your pet’s ailments. No one brand of food is good for all pets. Some issues can be helped with a change in food or elimination of certain ingredients. Please talk to your vet about how to perform a true food trial.
Misconception #5: Grain free/corn free/organic is the best. There is no celiac disease in pets. This is a new marketing strategy in the pet food industry, since it’s new found profit sales in human diets. Most food allergies in pets are from the protein source - not the grain. A food trial is the only way to tell if your pet is truly allergic to a specific ingredient. A food trial involves feeding only one thing (one type of food) and then slowly adding in one ingredient at a time and watching for signs consistent with an allergy. There are many ways to perform a food trial, and we can help you with this procedure.
Misconception #6 - “Corn is a filler, is poorly digested and causes allergies. Fact: Fillers are ingredients that serve no nutritional purpose, and corn does not fit that description. Corn is a nutritionally superior grain compared with others used in pet foods because it contains a balance of nutrients not found in other grains. Corn provides a highly available source of complex carbohydrates and substantial quantities of linoleum acid, an essential fatty acid important for healthy skin. Corn also provides essential amino acids and fiber. “ - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 4th Edition
Misconception #7 - “Corn is highly allergenic. Fact: There have been only 6 confirmed cases of allergy to corn in dogs reported in the veterinary literature out of 253 total cases. This equates to a 2.4%incidence rate. Foods most often cited as causing canine food allergy are beef, dairy products and wheat.” - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 4th Edition
If you have questions about your pet's specific nutritional needs, our Doctors are more than happy to help you find the best food for your individual pet!
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