As Responsible Dog Ownership Month draws to a close, it provides a timely reminder of the commitment, care and education involved in giving our canine companions the best possible quality of life. And while veterinary care, exercise, training and safety are all important, good nutrition is the foundation of good health and an important part of responsible pet ownership. After all, the old adage “you are what you eat” applies to our pets too.
For Sonja Maricevic, Pack Leader Chief Operations Officer, understanding what goes into a dog’s food is an important part of that responsibility. “Choosing food for your dog is an important decision because what they eat every day contributes to their overall health, wellbeing and quality of life,” says Maricevic. “Pet owners deserve to have a clear understanding of what they are feeding, what the ingredients mean and whether the food provides the nutritional value their dog needs.”
A truly nutritious diet should provide the essential nutrients a dog needs in the right amounts and proportions, while taking into account factors such as age, size, activity level and individual requirements. It should also provide quality ingredients that support a dog’s overall health, wellbeing and condition.
Quality protein is particularly important for maintaining muscle mass and supporting overall condition, while the overall composition of the diet can influence energy, digestion and healthy body weight.
Don’t judge the food by its packaging
Pet food packaging can make it easy to assume that a food contains substantial amounts of the ingredients featured most prominently on the front of the bag. But attractive images and marketing claims do not necessarily tell the full story of what is actually in the food.
This is where understanding the ingredient list and nutritional composition becomes important. Ingredients are generally listed in descending order by weight, so where an ingredient appears on the list can provide useful information about its contribution to the recipe. Pet owners looking for a meat-based diet should pay particular attention to where named animal proteins appear and how substantial their inclusion is.
“There can be a significant nutritional difference between a food containing 4% or 15% chicken and one where animal ingredients make up 40% or even 85% of the recipe,” explains Maricevic. “The percentage matters because it affects the overall protein content, the carbohydrate load and the nutritional contribution of the food. A picture of a chicken on the front of a bag does not tell you how much chicken is actually in the recipe.”
Importantly, price should not be used as a substitute for understanding the ingredients. A higher-priced food is not automatically a higher-meat or higher-quality food. Equally, a lower-priced food may be the right choice for some owners and their pets. What matters is understanding what the food contains, the value it offers and whether you’re getting the best nutrition you can within your budget.
“Pet owners should not assume that a premium price automatically means premium ingredients or a high meat content,” says Maricevic. “The best starting point is to look at the actual composition of the food rather than making assumptions based on price, packaging or marketing.”
Know what you are looking at
Understanding pet food ingredients does not mean that owners need to become nutritionists. However, becoming familiar with the types of ingredients used in pet food can help them make more informed choices.
When assessing a food, owners should look for clearly named, recognisable animal proteins and whole, natural food ingredients, while understanding the role and nutritional contribution of the other ingredients in the recipe.
It is equally important to be cautious of vague or generic ingredient descriptions such as animal derivatives, plant derivatives, unspecified animal fats, mystery meals and by-products. Pet owners should also be mindful of fillers and highly processed ingredients that may add little nutritional value, and look for foods that avoid unnecessary fillers, artificial additives and ingredients their pet does not need.
“Transparency matters,” says Maricevic. “If an owner doesn’t understand an ingredient, they should feel comfortable asking questions and finding out exactly what it is and why it is in their dog’s food. The more informed the decision, the better equipped owners are to choose a diet that aligns with their dog’s needs.”
Nutrition needs change
A dog’s nutritional needs are not necessarily the same throughout its life. Puppies have different nutritional requirements to adult dogs, while older dogs may need particular attention to maintaining healthy muscle mass, mobility and body condition. Active dogs can have different energy requirements to less active dogs, while weight management may become increasingly important for dogs prone to gaining excess weight.
Just as nutritional needs differ from one dog to another, so too can individual responses to certain ingredients. An ingredient that suits one dog may not suit another, particularly in cases of food allergies or intolerances, making it important for owners to understand what is in their dog’s food and to pay attention to any changes in their pet’s health or wellbeing.
Nutrition can also be reflected in things owners notice in everyday life, including stool quality, digestion, energy levels, appetite, skin and coat condition and the ability to maintain a healthy body weight. These signs can have many different causes and should not automatically be attributed to diet, but they can be useful prompts for owners to take a closer look at their dog’s overall nutrition.
“Responsible feeding starts with understanding what you are putting in your dog’s bowl. Pet owners deserve to know what they are paying for, what those ingredients contribute and whether the food is providing the nutrition their dog needs. Our dogs rely on us to make those choices for them, so the more informed we are, the better equipped we are to make choices that support their individual health and wellbeing,” concludes Maricevic.
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