There are many options for pet owners when it comes to choosing the best food for their cat or dog. We will explain some of these options.
By-products
Cats and dogs can get great nutrition from the by-products or co-products of food processing. Although Americans may not prefer to eat by-products, especially animal byproducts (the high-nutrient parts of chickens and cows, pigs, or fish) they are often considered delicious by other people around the globe.
These ingredients can also be used to support sustainability goals. They prevent food loss, help avoid the waste of nutritious, safe material, and ensure that pet food ingredients don’t compete with human food ingredients, or cause additional land to be put under agricultural production.
CBD
Both humans and animals are now interested in cannabis-derived and cannabis-containing products like CBD oil. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, has not approved these products to be included in human or pet food and prohibited the addition of CBD into prepared foods. FDA will make a new ruling regarding ingredients such as CBD. However, regulatory bodies, academia, and pet food manufacturers are conducting research to confirm the safety and benefits of CBD for pets.
Preservatives, colors, flavors
A variety of colors, flavors, and preservatives can be used in pet food recipes for various reasons. These ingredients are strictly regulated at both the state and federal levels for safety. They will be listed on the petfood label.
Colors
Pet owners may prefer certain colors in their cat or dog’s food. A recipe may contain small amounts of safe food coloring from both natural and artificial sources. There have been no reports of pets suffering from health problems as a result.
Flavors
To ensure pets enjoy the finished pet food, additional flavors can be added. You can add flavor to pet food by adding nutrient-dense rendered meals that your pets love or adding animal fats and oils to the final product. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), states that artificial flavors are not permitted in pet food. These additives, like colors, are strictly controlled and have been approved as safe.
Preservatives
Preservatives are important in keeping pet feed fresh and prevents spoilage. You can use preservatives from natural or artificial sources, such as vitamins C and vitamin E (in the form of ascorbic and tocopherols), but they must be approved and proven safe.
Semi-Moist, Dry, Canned, and Wet
Dry
Dry pet food is one option for healthy and nutritious pet food. Dry and semi-moist pet food is more versatile than wet food. It can be prepared and shaped using a process called extrusion. This same process is used to make many other human foods, such as pasta and cereal.
Canned and wet
Wet food is not extruded but instead is poured into cans and then vacuum sealed. After sterilization in a heat-and-steam chamber (a “retort”), labeling can be done. The main difference between dry and moist pet food is its moisture content. Wet food has between 70-80% moisture.
Semi-Moist
Semi-moist pet food can be extruded at lower temperatures and pressures and then cooled to preserve more moisture. Semi-moist pet food has 15-30% moisture.
Homemade pet food
Pet owners should consult a veterinarian nutritionist before making homemade pet food.
A team of researchers from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine conducted a 2013 study that found that many homemade recipes lack nutrition. The researchers analyzed 200 recipes for homemade dog food using recipes from various websites, veterinary books, and pet care books. The results revealed that 95 percent of recipes had at least one missing nutrient, while 84 percent had multiple deficiencies.
A poor diet can quickly impact your pet’s health, especially if it is deficient in certain B vitamins or other water-soluble vitamins. These vitamins are not stored in the body. Your pet may not notice any health issues for several weeks, if it is fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin D. The consequences of nutrient deficiencies can be worse depending on the age of the animal. This is especially true for puppies and pregnant dogs.
The most common nutritional deficiencies found in homemade diets were skin problems (zinc), bone, joint and liver problems (calcium), weight loss (choline) and fat accumulation in your liver (fat accumulation). Some homemade dog food recipes did not contain enough nutrients to provide the recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals. Concerning these nutrients, 95% of homemade dog foods provided less vitamin D than the recommended intake, 55% provided less zinc than the required amount, 43.4% provided less choline than the recommended daily intake, and 39% provided less vitamin E than the required vitamin E.
Limited Ingredient Pet Food
It is not possible to define “limited ingredient” in pet food. This can be used in cat and dog food. Pet food recipes that only use one nutrient source (e.g. turkey as the sole protein source) or that utilize multiple ingredients as nutrient sources are common in today’s market. A veterinarian can diagnose food allergies and sensitivity in pets.
Nature
The Association of American Feed Control Officials defines natural as “a feed or ingredient that is solely derived from plant, animal, or mined resources, but not having undergone or subjected to a chemically synthesized process” and pet food manufacturers must follow these guidelines in order to use the term on a label.
Organic
Pet food and pet treat manufacturers create organic products following the same U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), rules that human food producers follow. The USDA’s National Organic Program is responsible for the development of regulations and guidelines on organic standards and managing the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. These regulations are based upon the recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board, which is comprised of members from the organic food community.
Raw Pet Food
PFI urges pet owners to look at the data available on nutrition and safety of raw diets for their pets. Raw pet food includes meat, bones, organs, and eggs that have not undergone any cooking or treatment. There are two options for treatment: freeze drying and high-pressure processing (HPP).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) conducted a two-year investigation that tested over 1,000 pet food samples for food-borne diseases. Raw pet food was found to be significantly more likely than other forms of pet food to contain Salmonella or Listeria. These bacteria can be transmitted to humans through many different sources, including:
Handling raw pet food
A pet that licks a human’s cheek;
The feces of a pet. Pathologic organisms are found in pet’s waste.
FDA warns people not to eat raw foods if they are concerned about possible food-borne disease.
Raw pet food is not shown to be any more nutritious than other pet foods. This is based on peer-reviewed evidence. The National Academy of Sciences identified over 40 essential nutrients for cats and dogs. A diet based solely on raw pet food might not provide all the nutrition required. A pet owner who wants to give their pet a raw diet should ensure that the food is complete and balanced. PFI recommends that you consult your veterinarian before giving your pet a raw diet.
Vegan and vegetarian pet food
Pets are part of the family. While providing one source of nutrition to many pets across America, PFI members pledge to support the health and well-being of all dogs and cats. There are many options available to pet owners when it comes to choosing the right food for their pets. Vegan and vegetarian dog food recipes can provide balanced nutrition for adult dogs, often called “adult maintenance”.
Some dogs and cats may have different nutritional needs due to their life stages (e.g., gestating or lactating adults, growing puppies or kittens). Some animals might be malnourished, undernourished, or may have a nutrition-related illness or disease. These animals require pet food that is specifically formulated for them. Without animal-derived ingredients, a recipe may not contain enough critical nutrients to support the pet’s health. Before buying pet food, shoppers should consult the Nutritional Adequacy statement and appropriate life stage. They can also work with their veterinarians to make sure that their pet is healthy and gets the right nutrition.
Cats are obligate carnivores and require the amino acids, vitamins, and long-chain fat acids found in animal-derived products, such as muscles, organ meat, and fat. A complete and balanced vegan cat food recipe will be supplemented with synthetically-produced essential nutrients.
