Natural and organic pet-food picks @
deliciousliving.com/jul12
Grain-free, vegetable-based carbohydrates are an excellent option for sensitive pets.
Read labels for problem ingredients “Get the product with the simplest ingredient deck possible, especially if your animal has problems with allergies,” says Susan Lauten, PhD, a pet nutritionist based near Knoxville, Tennessee. Allergies can manifest as itchy skin, ear infections, even chronic diarrhea. With a short-and-sweet list, it’s easier to know what your pet is eating and to eliminate problem ingredients for sensitive pets. Tough certain grains, especially rice, can be a great source of nutrition, grain-free
products that supply carbohydrates from vegetable sources are often an excellent option for sensitive pets. “Look for food that does not contain commonly identified allergens such as wheat or wheat gluten,” says Edward Moser, DVM, a consultant for Wellness Pet Food. Some pets also develop allergies to common protein sources, especially chicken and
beef. (Soy can also be allergenic, so is best avoided, says Moser.) Many companies now use more unusual animal proteins, including lamb, ostrich, venison, and bison, which may be easier to tolerate. It can take a week or more on a new diet to notice changes.
Should your pet eat organic? If you buy organically raised foods for yourself—for taste, to avoid pesticide exposure, for lower eco-impacts, or all these reasons—you’d probably prefer to go organic for your pet, if you can afford the premium you may pay. But buyer beware: Te USDA hasn’t yet established rules for labeling organic pet foods, so unless the product carries the USDA’s green and white seal, organic may function more as a marketing term.“[My coauthor and I] found one brand with ‘organic’ in the name that contained no organic ingredients at all,” Nestle says. “Make sure the company is really committed to organic ingredients.” Better companies go the extra mile to have USDA-accredited certifiers verify their products. Other common pet-food-label terms with no regulatory definition: holistic, which
generally refers to a lack of colorants, fillers, byproducts, and unnecessary chemicals; and natural, which usually indicates no artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial preservatives. Te FDA does, however, define “human-grade” ingredients: Pet foods using this term will never have byproducts and in some cases, as with Te Honest Kitchen’s offerings, may even be produced in a human-food facility, rather than a pet-food factory.
Special diets Some pet diets reflect owners’ values as much as or more than animals’ needs, Nestle says. Take vegetarian diets, for example. “Tese products are absolutely for the owners,” she says. Te good news is that you can find nutritionally complete vegetarian options, with protein derived from peas, potatoes, and the like. Another special-diet trend: raw. “Vets who advocate raw diets believe it emulates what
dogs and cats would eat in the wild,” says Parthasarathy. Although raw is a more expensive choice, proponents swear by anecdotal health benefits, such as shinier coats and higher energy levels. Most raw diets include bones and some fruits and vegetables; commercial foods are largely animal protein—for instance, Instinct by Nature’s Variety is 95 percent meat, organ, and bone, and completely grain free. Ultimately, a common-sense approach is the best way to choose the right food for your
pet. First, says Nestle, decide what you can spend; then select a food in that price range that meets your values. “If your pet is thriving, great,” she says. “If not, try another.”
VITAMINS FOR FIDO
It’s an open question whether it’s worth investing in pet foods that offer added nutrients such as antioxidants, probiotics, essential fatty acids (EFAs), and glucosamine. “Studies show the benefits of antioxidants and probiotics on pet health,” says Mukund Parthasarathy, PhD, “but is the quantity included in pet foods enough to make a difference?” If in doubt, add supplements separately. For example, omega-3 EFAs may help clear up skin issues, but the required dose is often higher than what can be added to kibble. Because there are no major food sources of glucosamine, pet nutritionist Susan Lauten, PhD, recommends separate supplements for older pets with joint issues.
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