Feeding Trixie with high quality food was, I believe, one of the secrets to her long and healthy life. When I had Trooper with me, I usually shopped for inexpensive dog food at the supermarket. He had several medical issues during his life and I’ve suspected some of those may have been due to his diet.
With so many different pet foods being recalled these days, how do you know if you have purchased safe pet food for your furry friend? Following are some tips for making certain that the food you choose for your dog is safe, and won’t cause any of the health related problems that certain recent brands have caused.
Don’t Believe In The Marketing Hype!
Just because a pet food brand labels its product as ‘premium’, does not mean that it is a safe pet food. Basing your purchase of pet food on marketing hype, not only may deprive your pet of much needed nutritional value, but also may put their health at risk as well.
Read Nutritional And Ingredient Labels.
When looking for safe pet food, it is also important that you choose a food that offers all of the nutritional value your furry friend needs. Animals, like humans, require a well balanced diet that includes meat, vegetables, grains, healthy fats, and dairy products.
Look For ‘USDA’ On Pet Food Packaging.
If you want to ensure that you are purchasing safe pet food that contains only human-grade, quality meat, look for the words ‘USDA choice’ on the packaging. Meat cuts not fit for human consumption cannot legally be labeled as ‘USDA choice’. These words on your favorite brand of pet food’s packaging help to ensure that your pet is not getting slaughter house floor ‘leftovers’.
Stay Away From Food Containing ‘Animal By-Products’.
If you truly want to be sure that you are buying safe pet food for your furry friend, stay away from any brand which contains ‘animal by-products’. These ‘by-products’ can be anything from chicken feet, to parts of euthanized animals; and ingestion can cause serious health problems for your pet.
Stay Away From Chemical Preservatives.
The most commonly used chemical preservatives in pet food are BHA and BHT. Both of these chemicals have been shown to cause cancer in animals. Safe pet food will not contain either of these preservatives.
Check The Expiration Date.
This may sound a little mundane and obvious, but you would be amazed at how many people do not realize that pet food even comes with an expiration date. To make certain that you are only feeding your pets safe pet food, make certain that the food has not passed the date marked on the label. Do not purchase pet food that does not come with an expiration date, as these are chemically preserved to maintain freshness, and are not as safe for your pet.
Check For Moisture Content.
Foods that contain higher moisture content are nowhere near as nutritionally complete as those that contain lower moisture. When purchasing safe pet food for your dog or cat, try to choose the food that contains that lowest amount of moisture possible.
Following these simple tips, can help to ensure that the food you buy for your furry friend is safe pet food. After all, our pets are part of our family; and we want them to stay safe and healthy for years to come!
I liked feeding my dog Chicken Soup for the Soul Adult Dry Dog Food that I got discounted from Chewy.com