Animal food: how to choose
Of course, no one argues that the best food for pets is a natural product. But not every owner knows how to choose the right diet for their furry pet, and it takes a lot of time. That's why store-bought products come to the rescue. Today we’ll talk about how to choose them correctly.
Types of cat food
Manufacturers now offer three different types of food for indoor cats.
The best, but at the same time the most expensive, is canned. All the cats are crazy about him. There are no strange things here - this food contains all the substances necessary for a cat and vitamins, it has a consistency that is pleasant for the pet and provides the necessary amount of moisture. In addition, such food is made from good, high-quality raw materials. But the high price for most people does not allow using such food for the daily diet of a pet.
Wet food looks attractive, but in terms of health and taste it is significantly inferior to canned food. It is mainly produced from soy protein and various chemical additives. All this indicates the complete uselessness of pet food, even though it has a low cost.
Most of all, cat owners love to buy dry food. They are reasonably priced and very convenient to use. Cats also love dry food. High-quality dry food contains everything necessary for the proper functioning of the cat’s body. These foods are good for your cat's teeth and can be used as a daily cat diet.
How to choose cat food
If you do not have special knowledge, then, naturally, it is difficult to understand all the variety of food that is currently on sale. But listen to our recommendations and pay attention to the following details:
- Don't be fooled by bright and sonorous names. All sorts of “super-premium” and “recommended by veterinarians” are most often written only to attract buyers.
- Study the composition carefully. Remember that feed ingredients are listed in descending order of their percentage in the feed.
- The name of the ingredient must be clear and understandable. If it is meat, then it should be written what kind of meat it is. If cereals, then also what exactly is meant.
- Do not buy food that contains strange and vague terms such as fish or chicken meal, or where “meat and offal” is written instead of “meat.” Most often, such names hide various waste products from slaughterhouses.
Types of dog food
Dog food is usually divided into classes. The cheapest food belongs to the economy class. This type of food has nothing beneficial for the dog. On the contrary, it brings health problems because its composition is not of high quality. You won’t find real meat in this food, only low-quality offal. The main share in this food is made up of soy, corn and other food fillers that are harmful to carnivorous dogs.
Next comes premium food. They already contain a small proportion of meat. Usually it does not exceed 30%. The main components include rice. This food is already suitable for adult dogs, although it is not ideal.
Super premium food is ranked higher in the ranking. This food already contains a large proportion of real meat and only healthy by-products. These foods do not have any flavor enhancers or artificial flavors. These foods are suitable for puppies and will not harm their health. Naturally, its price is higher than that of other feeds.
The best foods you can buy are holistic. This food contains a lot of meat, vegetables, berries and fruits. This food will provide your dog with complete nutrition. But such food is very expensive, and not everyone can afford it.
How to choose dog food
Recommendations for choosing food for dogs practically no different from choosing cat food. You must carefully read the ingredients of the products. It is also worth considering the dog’s age, size and activity. For example, puppies require foods rich in glucose and fat, while older dogs need fiber, complex carbohydrates and protein more. For large dogs, the size of the food pellets should be large. But small breeds of dogs simply cannot cope with such food.
