Whom Do You Trust in Pet Foods?

Every day clients bring their pets to veterinarians and when the interview gets to discussing nutrition, I must admit I’m sometimes at a loss. New pet foods are being released almost on a daily basis and, quite frankly, it’s impossible for any one person to be able to evaluate all these new foods. The pet food industry is very savvy. They know the “Hot Button” words to push: natural, organic, no preservatives, gluten free, and many more to numerous to mention. Unfortunately, having these catch words on pet food packaging does not guarantee that you are getting what you expect and want for your pets. This past week, The Baltimore Sun reported last week a Pet Food Recall by one of these trendy pet food companies, Blue Buffalo. Now, several years ago there was an industry wide pet food recall involving virtually every pet food company. However, the industry has been careful since then to maintain strict quality control measures. Many smaller, newer companies may actually be “farming out” their manufacturing in order to keep costs down and consequently, control over quality may fall through the cracks. Careful reading of the package label may raise a red flag. Phrases such as “Distributed by….” or “Manufactured For….” may be an indication of such practices.
So, to answer my title question, “Whom do you trust in pet foods?”, we trust the tried and true companies that have proven track records over decades and whose products, research and development have resulted in healthy pets and longevity. This is where your veterinarian comes in. We have brands that we have used and recommended for many years because they produce results. Hills Science Diet, Eukanuba and Iams, and Royal Canin products are among the products we have found to be reliable in their results over the years. There are many other companies that produce high quality pet foods as well. Again trust your veterinarian’s experience to guide you. Hopefully, you will look beyond the “Buzz Words” and look more at the quality control and digestibility studies pet food companies should be providing to you. In the end, it’s quality and results that count.