Your animals deserve to eat well too

By Kayden Singpiel

If you were offered a choice between a nice juicy steak with a baked potato and corn or a can of beef stew that is microwaved which would you choose? 

Sure, the can of beef stew is cheap, fast, and tastes decent but when it comes to nutrient value it doesn’t quite match the steak, corn and baked potato. 

When we are looking for food, we look for things that are nutritional and filling for us. Why shouldn’t it be the same for our animals? 

Getting better food like the steak is more expensive but it is better for us in the long run and the same goes for dog and cat food. We are often fooled and persuaded by pretty packaging and we don’t quite look at everything that is in our animal’s food. 

Brands like Blue Buffalo, Wildology, Call of the Wild, and Blue Wilderness have nice packaging that draws our attention with pretty words on the front. 

These foods have all been linked to several health issues in animals, a few being kidney disease, urinary tract issues, gastrointestinal issues, skin, and allergy issues that can cost pet owners a lot of money in vet bills down the road. 

In the year and a half that I have worked for a vet, I have seen firsthand what these foods can do to our animals. And it can be devastating to animals and the owners. 

We immediately bring the possible health issues that can happen due to the food to the owner’s attention and give them tips or recommendations on food. 

These health issues can easily be avoided by researching foods that you are thinking of purchasing or asking your veterinarian. 

Your veterinarian will probably recommend Science Diet, Royal Canin, or Purina Pro Plan. Now these are all more expensive foods so you may think your vet is just trying to get more money out of you, but I assure you that is not the case. 

These foods are nutrient rich and more filling for your animal, so you won’t have to feed as much as another brand such as Beneful. My seventy-pound dog gets Royal Canin, and he only gets about two and a half cups a day and keeps a healthy weight. 

One thirty-pound bag of food lasts me about a month and a half, which is pretty good in my book. 

Another way to weed out the bad food is buying a food that is all one color. Pet foods that are multiple colors like Pedigree and Beneful have many additives that our pets don’t need and can cause issues within your pet. 

I am not saying you need to go out and buy the most expensive dog food because I know that all dog food is increasing in price. But there are many foods in Walmart and Bomgaars that would be good for your pet without breaking the bank.