Debunking Pet Food Myths
Nov 2006
By Don Hanson
Good nutrition, based on fresh, wholesome food, is the foundation of good health. This basic principle applies whether we are a human being or an animal. While we worry about what we eat, many of us often incorrectly assume that all pet food is equal. Based on the aggressive and confusing marketing practices of pet food companies, we may think that we are feeding our pet quality food at a reasonable price when, in fact, we may be unknowingly doing the exact opposite.
When it comes to pet food, the consumer’s motto should be “buyer beware.” The pet food industry has done a great job of creating several myths about their products, which many of us accept as fact. I encourage you to take the time to learn about these myths so that you can make an informed decision when choosing food for your furry friends.
Myth 1—Pet Food is 100% Complete Nutrition
Many pet foods are labeled with statements such as “100 percent complete and balanced nutrition” or “100 percent complete nutrition.” If those statements were true, it would imply we know everything possible there is to know about nutrition. Knowledge about nutrition is dependent on our knowledge of genetics, physics, chemistry and biology. Since our learning of those sciences is not complete, we can’t lay claim to having a full knowledge of the nutritional requirements of any species.
Have you ever noticed that several times per year we learn about some new vitamin or micronutrient and its role in nutrition? Why do scientists keep making these discoveries if we already have 100 percent knowledge of nutrition? Common sense shows us that the claim of “100 percent complete and balanced nutrition” cannot be true, and to put it on a label is misleading at best.
A famous breakfast cereal was advertised as being 100 percent complete balanced nutrition. If that claim were truthful, we could assume that if you ate only that cereal, and never anything else, you would be healthy. Does that make sense to you?
Myth 2—Each Meal Must Be Balanced 100%
Along with the idea of complete knowledge of nutrition goes the myth that each of our pet’s meals must be balanced 100 percent. This is often the argument used to support the myth that pets should never have “people” food. Common sense should also make short work of refuting this myth. When was the last time you made sure each of your meals throughout the day was 100 percent balanced? While balance is important over time, animals in the wild do not eat a balanced meal every time they eat.
Myth 3—Never Feed "People" Food to Pets
Notice I have the word people in quotes. Who decided that fresh, whole food was “people” food and that our pets should only be fed highly processed, fragmented, non-fresh food? Feeding our pet fresh, whole foods is probably one of the best things we can do for them. It will not upset the “delicate” balance of their diet as long as we take the time to learn about which fresh foods are appropriate for our pet and which may be dangerous. Nor will it cause them to steal food or beg at the table, because it is the way in which the food is delivered that causes this behavior.
Myth 4—Raw Meat and Bones are Bad for Pets
More and more of us are looking at the natural diet of felines and canines and, as a result, many of us are feeding our pets raw meat and bones. In response, many of the pet food companies are actively warning us about the dangers of a raw diet. Again, if we let common sense prevail, this myth just does not hold up.
Have you ever seen a cat eat a mouse? Who do you suppose cooks food for feral dogs, wolves and foxes? Canines and felines, when left to their own devices, would eat a diet of fresh, whole food, including raw meat and bones. They have survived for millions of years doing exactly that.
There are risks in feeding a raw diet, but if we take the necessary precautions and ensure our animal receives the appropriate nutrients, it can be quite safe and very nutritious for them. If you do decide to explore this option, take the time to educate yourself and read many of the excellent books on the subject, such as “Ultimate Diet: Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats” by Kymythy Schultze. You might also consider feeding one of the commercially prepared raw diets available in the freezer section at your favorite pet store.
Myth 5—Never Change Formulas or Brands of Pet Food
How many times have we heard that we should never change the food we are feeding our pet because it will cause them digestive upset and other problems? Now think about how much sense it would make if we were to eat the exact same thing at every meal, every day, for the rest of our life. Do you think that would be a prescription for optimal health, or more like a path to poor health and a guarantee to maintaining market share for the manufacturer of that food?
It is true that we cannot change the diets of some pets, because they do have overly sensitive digestive systems. Unfortunately, that is not a sign of health, but a sign of disease. Dr. Wysong, founder of the pet food company Wysong, actually believes a major reason for the food allergies and intolerances seen in pets is the fact that they are fed the same thing day after day. Fortunately, we can change the foods of most pets and when we do so, we are helping them achieve optimal health.
We change protein sources—chicken, lamb, turkey, fish, etc.—and brands, every time we get a new bag of food for our pets, and we recommend our clients do the same.
Myth 6—Always Feed the Appropriate Age-Based Formula
Formulas such as puppy, adult, senior and “lite” are largely a marketing device designed to take up shelf space that could be used by other brands of food. While there are some occasions when one of these special formulas might make sense, for most pets the different foods are unnecessary.
Again, think about cats and dogs in the wild. They do not have a different diet dependent upon their age or physique. In fact, the fine print on a bag of pet food usually includes a statement indicating that the food is adequate for all life stages. We have fed puppy food to older dogs when they need to put on some extra weight and have fed “senior” foods to young dogs that have a lower need for calories, all without ill effect.
Myth 7—The Best Value Is the Food that Costs the Least Per Pound
All of us want to get good value for our hard earned money; unfortunately, many of us fall into the trap of incorrectly believing that the pet food with the lowest cost per pound is the cheapest or best value. Some stores even support this myth by putting labels on the shelf that clearly state the cost per pound. The fact is pet food is more complex than just price per pound.
Pet food manufacturers use different ingredients in different amounts to formulate their products. Some use high quality ingredients that are also more expensive. Because these high quality ingredients contain more nutrition per pound, you can feed your pet less. For example, a well known low end dog food claims that a 50-pound dog will require 4.33 cups of their food per day to get the minimum required level of nutrition. That same 50-pound dog could get the same amount of nutrition from only 2 cups of a well known high quality dog food. Even if the cost per pound of the high quality food is double that of the low-end product, the quality food is still a better value.
To determine the true cost of a pet food, we need to know two things: the amount of food needed to feed the pet in volumetric ounces or cups, and the food density of the food, or how much one volumetric cup of the food weighs. This information can be used to determine the number of days a bag of food will last, which allows us to determine the daily feeding cost.
While regulations require pet food manufacturers to provide information on how much to feed our pet, they are not required to indicate the food density of their food. As a result, most companies do not put this valuable piece of information on the label, and some will not even release it if a customer requests it, making it impossible to determine the true cost of their product. In my estimation, their failure to disclose that information is enough to discourage me from feeding or recommending their food.
Don Hanson and his wife, Paula, own and operate the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, where he is the director of behavior services and training. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner animal specialist, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Pet Dog Trainer. Hanson hosts the “Woof-Meow Show,” which airs at 8:30 p.m., Sunday, on WVOM, 103.9FM.
