Pets are Eating Better as Humans Become More Health Conscious

When we eat healthier, pets eat healthier, say those in the pet care industry. Purina Chief Growth Officer Andrea Faccio says that as people have redefined wellness for themselves, they are also doing so for their pets. “We don’t see this as a trend so much as an evolution that can ultimately benefit pets and the bond they share with their owners.”

Thus, she says, more than ever, pet parents are doing their research to help create the best lives for their pets. “This translates to an increased interest in everything from pet foods with functional ingredients like probiotics, to dietary supplements and technology that can help them track pet health, train their pet or spend more quality time together.”

As a result, Purina has experienced record growth across several brands in the past year, including Purina Pro Plan, ProPlan Veterinary Diets prescription products and Purina ONE pet foods. The Purina Pro Plan and Purina ONE pet foods are made in the Flagstaff factory, which has been in operation since 1975.

Veterinarians like Jen Sullivan, DVM, cVMA, at Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff say the first step with good nutrition for a pet is to ask many questions about the age or life stage of the pet, the activity of the pet and the breed of the pet. “Is the pet an ideal weight or is the pet underweight or overweight? These are just a few questions to assess the best brand of food for the particular need of the pet.”

The organization that regulates and standardizes the pet food industry is the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) It provides ingredient definitions, label standards and laboratory guidance for state, federal and international feed regulators.

“Technically, the best brands are those that perform feeding trials,” said Sullivan. “These companies have taken their food through a specific AAFCO protocol and from this they are scientifically reporting the quality of the ingredients in their formula. A feeding trial is also the only way to accurately assess the quality of the protein in a diet, as this is the only valid way to determine the digestibility of a protein, and therefore its quality.”

There are also special health needs to consider for pets, says Prescott Olsen’s Grain Manager Ryan Baynes. “One of those is special circumstances for the pet itself, like allergies or other medical conditions that require avoidance of certain ingredients or lower or higher macro nutrients, like less carbohydrates for dogs with diabetes or less protein as a requirement for dogs with pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.”

“Dogs are omnivores, which means they eat more like humans,” said Sullivan. “There are certain foods that we eat that are toxic to dogs, so when feeding dogs human foods, be certain that you aren’t feeding them those things. The ASPCA has a good list of foods that are toxic to dogs.”

Generally, she says, if it is wholesome for us, it is wholesome for them, like carrots, green beans, apples, bananas, potatoes, hard boiled eggs and lean meats that are boiled.

“Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they do need high protein diets. Cat foods are formulated much differently than dog foods for this reason,” said Sullivan.

Growing puppies and kittens require a higher caloric requirement, and because of growing bones, they also require different calcium-to-phosphorus ratios than adult dogs and cats need.

Baynes says bioavailability is important to consider for dog food. “For example, both vegetable and meat contain protein. But the dog’s digestive system didn’t evolve to break down lots of vegetable matter. In the wild, most of the fruits and vegetables dogs would consume they got from eating the stomachs of prey animals, those animals who have digestive systems geared to breaking down that type of food.”

He advised pet owners to generally look for brands that have higher meat content, but “still contain fruits and vegetables that are more bioavailable to the dog and serve a nutritional purpose in their inclusion.“

Sullivan said pet owners are well advised to avoid ash as a pet food ingredient. “Generally, a diet with a higher ash content is of lower quality.”

She also warns about common myths. “For example, meat byproducts [organ meats] are not bad, they are just a different source of protein than meat from a muscle. Many of these ingredients actually have a higher nutritional value and have a higher digestibility when compared to muscle meat, which means that they provide better nutrient levels.”

And grain-free diets are not recommended for the healthy pet, she says. “Dogs have been eating grains from the beginning of time and the vast majority of dogs do not have a grain allergy. We reserve grain-free foods for those that are suspected to have food allergies that lead to GI upset and/or skin related issues. For diarrhea [in dogs], we generally recommend a bland diet, like boiled chicken and rice – think of chicken noodle soup for humans and probiotic support If vomiting accompanies diarrhea, we often recommend a 12-24 hour fast [for dogs only].”

Constipation is generally a cat problem, she says. “Wet food to keep pets hydrated is helpful, along with fiber [green beans, canned pumpkin for dogs, Metamucil for cats].”

Faccio said it is important to consider every dimension of pet health – physical, emotional and mental. Purina has more than 500 pet behaviorists, nutritionists and vets on staff who are focused on total pet health. “This holistic view of pet wellness is core to who we are and more relevant than ever to the way pet owners are viewing their pets’ health.” QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN