The pet food industry is a multi million dollars business and we all know how many choices are out there of things to feed our furry family members. Lately there have been so many recalls, 3 so far from Proctor & Gamble this year! A recent study showed that children are more likely to pick up Salmonella from touching pet food dishes, then from actually eating contaminated foods.

Working at the Animal Hospital, we get the latest news about these things directly from the FDA and it's terrifying!

So....how do you know whats best for your pet?

 When you walk into the pet store, feed store or grocery store,Ask and someone there will gladly offer you advice on the best product to be feeding your pet. Raw diet, grain free, vegetarian, dry vs. canned etc. but, WAIT a minute....How do these people know whats best for your dog? Do they have a degree in animal nutrition?

How much should you be feeding is another big debate. Most pet foods have a feeding guide listed right on the bag, did you know that many commercial pet foods recommend you OVER feed your pet?!

WHY? - because they sell more food that way!

Did you know that obesity is a form of malnutrition? Yep that's right! Feeding your dog more calories than his/her body can effectively burn is just as or even more unhealthy as under feeding!

(starvation)

As humans, we often think food =love.  So more food =more love. In an era of Super Sizing, we also have lost our ability to practice portion control, for ourselves and our pets. One cup (8oz) of kibble in a bowl certainly doesn't look like very much, so we use a bigger "cup"

The ONLY place you should be looking for feeding advice is at your vet's office. The Veterinarians and Licensed technicians all have a background in animal nutrition-it's required study.

Look around  the office, chances are they only have one or two brands that they carry. They may have even pulled a brand recently- Eukanuba Veterinary ( prescription) diets recently recalled!

Ask them what they feed their pets and why. They can give you the real amount of kcals that your dog needs. They can also tell you what brands to avoid.

So next time your shopping for pet food, think critically, ask questions and don't assume the person at the pet store is an expert.