Top 10 Rules for Choosing Safest and Best Pet Foods
Top Ten Rules for Choosing the Safest and Best Pet Foods
by Scared Poopless author Jan Rasmussen and Holistic Vet Dr. Jean Hofve
1. Read the label! Call the manufacturer’s toll-free number if you have any questions.
2. Canned foods are still better for your pet than dry kibble.
3. Expect the first ingredient to be one or more named meats (like lamb or chicken).
4. Accept no by-products (including meat-and-bone-meal and beef-and-bone-meal).
5. Accept no “animal” products, such as “animal digest.”
6. Reject all corn products and gluten meals.
7. Reject chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, propylene glycol).
8. Select “natural” or “human grade” foods. While these terms have no legal definition, they are generally seen on better-quality foods.
9. Avoid “light” or “senior” or “special needs” or “breed-specific” foods. These variations on regular pet food are mostly marketing gimmicks, with little or no real benefit to your pet.
10. Feed several brands and flavors with different protein sources your dog or cat tolerates well, and rotate frequently.
So if corn is bad for some dogs..which I think mine have problems with it..what ae the best brands to buy..and still be able to pay my bills, if you know what I mean.
Hi, Terri,
That’s a great question and lots of people ask it, if not on this blog, then in my real life.
If you are already a Science Diet or Iams person, there are many holistic, non-corn pet foods that are about the same price.
If you are buying pet food at Costco or Walmart or the Grocery store, then yes, it’s going to cost you a little bit more.
Think of the offset in the savings on the vet bills.
By the way, I just received a letter from someone about a dog with a possible allergy to corn or wheat… have to tell it to you here…
The “LA” in here is a reference to Life’s Abundance Health Food for Pets and the person who sent this to me is a rep… I am a rep, too, but since this is just a general holistic pet food advice site I don’t promote my own website, here. This gal’s website is:
http://www.holisticpetmenu.com
“I stopped by the feed store that was so eager on signing up with LA. I sold a small bag of dog food to the gal. Their Corgi has allergies, biting his feet, scratching, loosing hair. I told her it was more than likely a food allergy to wheat or corn. Sure enough it was. Alita said her husband’s Corgi is doing so well that the vet even wanted to know what they did for him… I have a letter, info and a video going out to Alita’s vet about the LA.”
Terri, on that website is a comparison tool with about 12 or more top brands on it. You might want to look at it to get a feel for ingredients and pricing on some of the traditional brands as well as the holistic brands.
Bless you!
Teresa
Wait a minute…I thought canned food wasn’t as good for animals as dry food??? It supposedly doesn’t have as much vitamins and nutrients as dry food. I’ve always been told by my vets, and have also read, that you should only use canned food as a “treat”, every once in a while, maybe 2 - 3 times per week with their regular dry food, and only a small amount at a time.
Hmmmm? Could you please explain why you believe the opposite and where you received your findings?
Thank you