How to select a suitable pet food? How credible is the brand of pet food?
There are just 3 easy measures in selecting a suitable brand for your pet. First, understand the demands of your pet by distinguishing his/her lifestage. Second, find if the packaging carries AFFCO nutrition adequateness statement. Third, check if the packaging has out AFFCO feeding trials.
STEP 1 First see the demands of your pet:
a) Breed – Small breeds compared to larger breeds expect higher protein levels to maintain their higher vitality demands b) Size – Lower calories for overweight dogs/cats and more calories for thin dogs/cats (See body condition system chart to attain perfect body condition) c) Energy Levels – Active (Exercises a lot) dogs/cats need higher protein levels to maintain their higher energy needs as compared to less active dogs/cats. d) Age-Puppies/kittens need higher protein levels as they are still growing as compared to big dogs e) Special needs: Allergies and health troubles Learn the component list to ward off formulas that carries components your pet is vulnerable to. Pick Out a eligible formula that can assist your pet if it has any health problems. Example: PRO PLAN cat urinary tract formula is formulated with lower PH and magnesium levels to assist in promoting urinary tract health
After understanding the demands of your pet by answering the questions above, you will then need to determine which brand is best suited for your pet, assuming many different brands appear to suit your pets needs. As you likely know it is very tough to decide which pet food is the best considering the number of brands that are flooding the market. There are so many impressive claims that different brands are making but which brands really can be believed?
STEP 2 One simple way is to check on the packaging of the pet food if it carries the AAFCO nutrition adequacy statement . AAFCO stands for Association of American Feed Control Officials. It is the single pet food regulatory body in the world at this point in time.
a) Specifies that the pet food has complete and well-balanced nutrition b) Specifies which life stage it is suitable for Growth (puppy) Gestation (pregnant) Sustenance (adult) all life stages c) It offers a written nutrient road maps (minimum/maximum) based on present knowledge. d) A written profile doesn’t guarantee an animal will receive sufficient amounts of nutrients due to certain variables
Factors not accounted for by AAFCO nutrient profiles
a) Possible for lower digestibility b) Potential losses during processing and storage c) Possible for changing ingredient effects d) Deficiency of nutrients not recognized as essential.
STEP 3 The next step to take is to determine if the packaging suggests that it carries out AAFCO feeding tests. Only a few brands in Malaysia and PRO PLAN is one of them that actually carry feeding trials. AAFCO feeding tests are carried by testing the pet food by feeding them to actual pets while AAFCO nutritional profiles are achieved by simply implementing a lab test. Feeding trials are a much more trusty way to determine the nutritional completeness of a pet food and demonstrate the calls it makes.
Benefits of AAFCO animal feeding tests Better at measuring palatability/acceptablity by dogs Better able to measure digestibility of nutrients Able to measure performance of food
Short-change of AAFCO animal feeding tests Some judgements are subjective and trial length is short relative to life span; detrimental signs of deficiency could be overlooked. (PRO PLAN is the single brand that has done a 14 year life span study on Labradors that proves that PRO PLAN can carry adequate nutrition for life)
Advantages of having AAFCO authorized nutrient profiles Sample lab analysis easily sustains compliance Deficiencies or extra nutrients versus profile easily known and corrected
Cons of AAFCO approved nutrient profiles Inadequacies or excess vs real animal demands not easily recognized and corrected Can’t answer for for digestibility or other elements
So remember when selecting a trustworthy brand that demands are established, look out for the words “Animal Feeding Tests” on the packaging. PRO PLAN is one brand that has this and is the only brand that has done a 14 year life span study on Labradors that proves that PRO PLAN can deliver sufficient nutrition for life!
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