Veterinarians are beginning to emphasize to pet owners the importance of proper nutrition for the health of their dogs and cats, which can suffer from the same types of health problems humans do if they do not eat well. How to select food for one's dogs and cats are described.
Full Text:
One calorie, two calories, three...Tired of counting those calories? Or how about fat? Are you watching your fat? And you should really monitor cholesterol. Are you cutting your carbs and boosting those protein levels? And don't forget fiber.
Does it sound like an ad for a healthfood product? In actuality, it could be advice from your veterinarian: Americans continue their obsession with the nutrition craze of the '90s, and. veterinarians are right in step, learning more every day about the effects of proper diet on dogs and cats. While older Americans-and their pets-were raised on rich, high-fat diets, we're only now beginning to understand the direct impact of food on our overall health.
Dogs and cats are no different. Many of us remember the days when Fido ate exactly what the family ate, and Fluffy grabbed whatever was unlucky enough to wander into the barn. So why the need for all these special diets? Because pets, like humans, are evolving. Heart disease, obesity and cancer aren't diseases reserved for humans. Dogs and.' cats are experiencing these afflictions at alarming rates, and we know diet is a key factor. And the further dogs and cats get from their jungle roots, the more their diets need to adapt.
So. how do you know what to look for?
At the forefront of our health obsession is "label reading." We're all familiar with the USDA/FDA-required labels on all food packaging. These labels are designed to offer us a realistic peek at what's inside the box.
So how do we pick food for our pets? The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is the government's long arm-of the law that monitors your pet's food. Their requirements include mandatory label information, just like people food.
Pet food labels contain a myriad of information that is often hard to interpret. Dry foods are difficult to compare to canned foods, and without a few guidelines, it's hard to know what to look for. So when shopping for pet food, the single most important part of the label to look at is the Nutritional Adequacy Statement. This section will tell you what stage or life the Food is designed-For and how the manufacturer substantiates that information, including the way the product is tested. The feed-testing method is the best way of ensuring the quality of your pet's food. That means pet foods are tested on acmai animals in order to ensure that the animals thrive and develop on that food.
Essentially, these labeling requirements give you peace of mind in knowing that the needed nutrients are in the ingredients and that they've been tested to ensure that they're digestible and efficient as well. And do all foods have to meet AAFCO requirements? If the food crosses state lines, it does. Thus, only foods produced at your local feed mill would be exempt from meeting AAFCO's standards.
Oh, how our bodies change!
Just like humans, dogs and cats will pass through a variety of metabolic stages, from development, to their teens, to middle age, to over the hill. As puppies and kittens, they need food to grow and develop. In their teens, they're full of energy, and diets are less likely to be specialized. And as middle age begins to run its course, pets tend to slow a bit, and their proverbial pants may begin to get a little tight.
Life-stage foods are designed specifically for the different nutritional requirements of these various stages. For example, it's essential that puppies eat food with extra protein, calcium and iron for their developing bodies. And kittens, who'll need lots of protein their entire lives, need an extra boost of protein for their growing muscles and bones. So foods especially designed for these young ones will indicate on the label that these requirements have been met. And what about when your dog gets older? Life-stage foods specializing in older animals will adjust the fat, carbohydrates, fiber and protein appropriately so that he won't have a fat tire of his own, but will have the energy to lead a happy life.
Some foods are designed for, and meet, the nutritional requirements of all stages of life, including development, pregnancy and adult maintenance. If they do, it will be indicated on the label.
What about quality?
The primary difference between the various brands of pet foods is the consistency of the ingredients. For example, some super premium foods follow a fixed formulation for their ingredients, and the mix won't change from batch to batch. The less expensive foods you find in the grocery store will vary their ingredients based on market prices. So if corn is expensive one week and wheat prices are low, wheat may be used more in the formulation of that batch. But the fact is, all foods are required to meet the AAFCO standards and the nutritional requirements on the label. Beyond that, the pet food industry is gigantic, and their success depends solely on customer satisfaction. They aren't going to compromise the quality of their product at the risk of losing customers.
So how do you choose?
The ultimate test, however, is your pet. Some pets require more digestible, higher-quality foods, whereas other pets do well with the all-purpose foods. The bottom line-your veterinarian is your best resource for determining what food your pet needs to be healthy.
So next time you're counting those calories, you may want to take a minute and look at your pet's diet as well. Whether you need to take a few inches off Fido's waist or make sure that Fluffy has the energy she needs in her later years, reading those labels may be more important than you think.
Dr. Bartges is a clinical nutritionist and an assistant professor in the Departments of Small Animal Medicine, Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Georgia. He is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
American Humane Association
Since 1877, the American Humane Association has been dedicated to preventing cruelty toward animals. The first national agency devoted to this cause, AHA founded Be Kind to Animals Week [Rights] over 80 years ago. This national celebration reminds us of the joy animals bring to us and our responsibilities to them.
AHA helps homeless pets and animal shelters across the U.S. through programs to curb pet overpopulation, assist animals in natural disasters and strengthen anti-cruelty laws. For a free copy of their magazine, contact AHA at 63 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, C0803.12 (303) 792-9900.
0 nhận xét :
Đăng nhận xét