How to Buy Pet Food
Fluffy is a beloved member of your family. As his caretaker, you have the job of feeding him quality food that promotes good health and helps prevent disease due to nutritional deficiencies. But not all pet foods are equal; read the small print before you buy. In the United States, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulates the wording used on pet food labels.Read the descriptive name of the food and know what it means. Chicken cat food means the food in the can must be at least 95 percent chicken. Chicken dinner/feast/mix/formula means that 25 percent of the ingredients are chicken. Cat food with chicken means that 3 percent of the ingredients are chicken. With chicken flavor means only that your pet may detect the flavor of chicken; no chicken need be in the food at all.
Read the actual ingredients on the can or package. Manufacturers must list ingredients by weight, with the first ingredient being the predominant one.
Choose food that has named meats (chicken, beef, lamb, salmon) instead of the generic term meat. Avoid foods that have only meat byproducts (organs, bones, tendons and other parts left over from slaughterhouses).
Reject foods that are made up solely of "byproduct meal" or meat- and bonemeal. Meal is what's left after a product is cooked at extremely high temperatures, a procedure called rendering. Rendered products are cheap and highly processed.
Look for a label that says "animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures" have been conducted on the food, not merely tests for the presence of nutrients.
Read the nutritional analysis of protein, fat, fiber and other items with the understanding that these recommended percentages represent minimum amounts.
Select food that fits the nutritional needs of your pet. There are foods specially formulated for puppies, kittens, pregnant, lactating, mature or diabetic pets, or cats with hair balls.
Check the expiration date. An impending expiration date suggests that the food has been sitting on the shelf for a long time.
Make changes to a pet's food gradually by mixing a bit of the new food in with the old over the course of three to five days.
Observe your pet after you introduce new foods. A change in coat, scratching, appetite, weight, mood, stools or other areas could suggest a problem. Consult your veterinarian for dietary recommendations.
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