I was recently teaching a group of veterinary students and we got into a discussion about the costs of various types of pet foods. Pet food costs are particularly relevant right now, when the costs of many consumer goods have increased rapidly in the last year, leaving many of us paying more for our food as well as that for our pets. US pet food and treat sales were around $42B in 2020 and estimated to top $44B when all the 2021 data is finalized. We previously posted on estimating costs of pet foods and it seems like a great time to revisit the topic, this time focusing on the typical costs of feeding various types of pet foods. There are four main types or forms of commercial pet food: dry foods, wet foods (cans, pouches, tubs), fresh food (cooked and purchased fresh or frozen), and raw (frozen or freeze-dried). The costs for each type of food can vary dramatically! How much can one expect to spend on the different types of pet food? To get a better sense of current pet food expenses, I collected some data on the cost to feed certain types of pet foods to a hypothetical pet – a 55lb dog needing a very average 1100 kcal (1 kcal = 1 “human” Calorie) from food each day to maintain weight. I selected at least 3 diets from each category: Dry and canned mass market diets (these are foods available from retailers like Walmart, Target, and grocery stores) Dry and canned “premium” diets (these are foods available at large pet chains and pet boutiques) “Fresh food” diets (these are generally purchased on a subscription basis online directly from the manufacturer) Raw diets (I chose freeze-dried raw because they are shelf stable and sold at similar stores…
Often when pets, especially dogs, have an episode of vomiting or diarrhea, families ask me about feeding their pets some form of “bland” diet until they’re feeling better. However, the nutritional needs of pets with an upset stomach can get complicated and the word “bland” can mean many things.
Growing puppies have very specific nutritional requirements that are different from those of adult dogs. Feeding puppies correctly reduces their risk for obesity and orthopedic diseases, and increases their chances for a healthy life. Puppies are very sensitive to nutritional imbalances which can include too much or too little of a nutrient or even improper balance between different nutrients. Nutritional imbalances that might have minimal negative effects – especially in the short term – in an adult dog can have disastrous results in a growing puppy, such as malformed or fractured bones, anemia, poor growth, skin problems, or even heart disease. One of the reasons puppies have such specialized nutritional requirements is that they have to be able to grow from tiny puppies at birth to full-sized adults within approximately one year and stay healthy. Nowhere are the unique requirements more evident than in large or giant breed puppies. For example, a Great Dane puppy that weighs 1 or 2 pounds at birth grows well over 100 pounds within one year (and even more by the time they’re full-grown at 18 months)! But even small breed puppies need careful nutrition while growing to optimize their health. Too many calories from puppy food, treats, and other foods during growth can cause puppies to become overweight. However, even before those extra calories cause a puppy to become overweight, they cause puppies to grow too quickly which – especially in large breed puppies – can increase their risk for bone and joint problems that can affect them for their entire lives. Keeping your puppy at a perfect body condition score of 4 to 5 (on a 9-point scale) is critical (and it’s better to err on the side of your puppy having a body condition score of 4 or even a little lower,…
Pet owners do not always have an accurate perception of the human risk of foodborne illness from raw meat diets. A recent study highlights the gap between pet owner’s perceptions of their risk and their food safety practices
For dogs and cats, the color of their hair coat is decided mostly by their genetics, however, in some cases, diet can also play a role.
While good nutrition is important for all dogs, it’s especially critical for growing puppies due to their special nutritional needs. Therefore, you’ll want to be sure you’re selecting best food for your new family member.
Follow this step-by-step guide to make sure you’re feeding the best possible food to your puppy.
Follow this step-by-step guide to make sure you’re feeding the best possible food to your puppy.
Minerals in pet food can come from the main ingredients or be added as concentrated inorganic or chelated supplements. We review the differences in these sources so that pet owners can better understand the ingredients in their pet’s food.
We’ve created a list of foods that are healthy and relatively low in calories so you can avoid unbalancing your pet’s diet with too many foods coming from outside their main diet.
The determination of the amount of carbohydrate in pet foods is more complicated than most pet owners realize. We review how carbohydrate is „measured“ in pet food and the limitations of this process.
Pet food-associated illness or „food poisoning“ is rare in pets but can cause serious illness. We review some situations that should raise your suspicion for food-associated illness and the steps you should take to figure out the problem, treat your pet, and help prevent other pets from getting ill.