Pet owners want their pets to lead healthy lives, but it’s difficult to obtain information about the nutritional value of different pet foods or on the environmental and social reputations of different pet food brands.



Avoid the Hype

Many marketing claims about pet food have little to do with nutritional quality. For example, there is no scientific basis to differentiate between “synthetic” vs. “natural” preservatives for health reasons. Similarly, while “organic” conveys something useful about how some ingredients in a product were grow grown, it is not a certification that was intended to apply to pet foods, and need not mean that all components of a product were produced according to organic standards.

Remember that pet food advertising is designed to attract human purchasers. Just because an ingredient seems less appetizing to a person doesn’t mean that it doesn’t provide valuable nutrients for a pet – in a way that can be both bioavailable and tasty. The pet food industry often relies on by-products and wastes generated from making human food.

The words “complete and balanced” or “100% nutritious” indicate only that the product can be used as the sole source of nutrition. Products that don’t use this language should be used only as supplements, such as treats.
 

Our Recommendations



Look for the package phrase “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (product name) provides complete and balanced nutrition for (gestation, lactation & growth or maintenance).”



In general, pet food products all meet the basic nutritional standard as established by AAFCO and are safe for your pet. Just like people, pets can be perfectly healthy from a variety of diets — there isn’t one correct diet or formulation, let alone fad diets. Your pet’s health and happiness is the best indication of a healthy diet.



Since many health based claims are simply cleverly worded marketing or based on unpublished internal research, foods used to minimize specific health conditions or allergies for your pet should be recommended by a veterinary professional.



If you’re concerned about getting the right amount of nutrition for a given condition or preventative maintenance, the Guaranteed Analysis should not be used to inform any decisions. Only a full nutrient profile can provide a detailed and meaningful assessment of what the food contains.