Don't let the internet fool you!

by Alicia
(Northridge, Ca)

Since pet food consumers have realized what power the internet holds they have used it to influence and switch consumers to what they "feel" is a better diet.

I have been in the pet industry for almost 10 years. I have more pet nutrition classes and trainings than any vet. I know what every ingredient on the panels does and why it is there.

With that being said I know what is considered a "super premium" or "grocery" food.

There are two dog food companies that have an extensive amount of research on the food to make sure that every ingredient that goes in there is being used by the animal. The Iams company and Royal Canin have spent endless funds to make sure that your pet is getting everything they need and in Royal Canin's case, to study how a dog or cat picks up kibble. They shape the kibble to make it effective for that breed.

I am getting extremely frustrated by the ignorance most pet stores employees have now a days. They do not bother to learn about pet nutrition but will push a brand that a Represenative of the company tells them to sell. They see a word like "Holistic", "Natural" or "complete and balanced" and because these are the hot buzz words, its "better food".

Just a little fact any food on the market is complete and balanced. It legally has to be by AFFCO standards. Holistic is a great term being thrown around as well. It means helping the body in a whole. Most foods are made to suit the needs of the whole body. And the term "Natural" is not even recognized by AFFCO, but it means using ingredients to their natural state.

Also every dog has different needs. I will not put down any fad diet on the market. There are dogs that do well on grain-free, raw or home-made. What I can say is that these are very new to the market and have not had a long amount of research to show long term effect, good or bad. Most dry foods have, and they can use research done with our foods to know how they will work for the dog.

Do your own research, not off what bloggers are telling, but on the ingredients and nutritional panels.

(Side note: A lot of companies pay people to sit at a computer all day to talk about their dog food.)

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