Interesting Facts about Pet Food

Here are the interesting facts you need to know about pet food. Some of these little-known facts may surprise you! 

Interesting Facts about Pet Food

  • A lot of pet food manufacturers claim that a raw diet is never good for pet dogs and cats, further saying that nutritional content in a raw diet is hard to assess. However, a recent study in Stockholm, Sweden showed that pets fed with processed pet food appeared healthy at first, but as they grew older they began to suffer degenerative health problems. While pets fed with raw food remained healthy throughout their lives.
  • Iodine is good for the body, but too much of it in commercial pet foods can cause hyperthyroidism in your pets.
  • If you want your pet, especially dog to be full of energy and healthy, include more protein and less of wheat and processed grains. Protein enriched food will also prevent your pet from GI problems.
  • Avoid meals that are labeled as meat meal, why? Because meat meal is another word for rendered meat, which may include animal by-products like blood, feathers, grease and carcasses.
  • If your pet is a cat, you got to treat her differently as compared to other pets. The most important of all is the fact that cats can only digest up to 30% of the table food. If you feed them with cereals, vegetables fish and vitamins, chances of digestion are up to 50%.
  • Unlike other pets, cats don’t need a change in their diet and are happy with monotonous food. Same food everyday helps in easy digestion, however, if you wish to change the diet, it must be done gradually.
  • Pet Food Statistics:

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Over eight million tons of pet food is manufactured each year, and there are also more than 15,000 pet food brands. And if you want to buy high-quality farm animal feed nz online, click the given link. 

Foods to Avoid

Here are some foods that contain harmful ingredients and thus you should not feed to your pets:

  • Those with carcinogens. Do not feed them hot dogs or canned foods. Foods with aflatoxins should be avoided at all costs
  • Those with preservatives like too much salt and sugar
  • Those with protein extenders
  • Those containing heavy metals like mercury and lead
  • Even foods with excessive nutrients may cause certain pet diseases. For example, too much vitamin A may cause allergy, weight loss, poor coat, and lethargy

First Dog Biscuits

The now-popular dog biscuits started in 1860 when an Ohio salesman named James Spratt went to England to market his newly-patented lightning rods. When he saw a group of stray dogs eating a plain biscuit called a “hard tack,” it gave him the idea to come up with the first dog biscuit. His products were successful in England. Spratt sailed back to the United States to introduce them to the wealthy dog owners in 1895. And the rest is history.

The Roaring 20s and the Great Depression

The range of dog foods expanded from just biscuits during this time period. A variety of foods were introduced during this era that included canned dog foods, dehydrated meals, and pellets. Canned dog food captured 91% of the still-emerging pet food market.

Why Do Pets Reject Food?

Pets reject some food because the food doesn’t have sufficient amino acids. How can they tell? It’s in their brains — they have nutrient sensors which send signals whether the food is having enough amino acids or lacking them.

  • You will be surprised to know that cats cannot taste sweets. It’s because cats’ taste receptors do not possess the proteins that create sweet receptors to their tongues.
  • You may have seen an instance when your pet dog raids the food bowl of your cat and gobbles up all the leftovers. One of the reasons is that cat food (especially dried varieties) tends to be more aromatic than dog food. Another reason is that cat food contains more fat and protein, as a general rule. However, your dog’s nutritional needs are different from your cat’s so it’s important to keep your dog from snacking on your cat’s food, as they’re too high in protein and fat and thus might be dangerous for your pooches.
  • You have to be careful about the tag “grain-free.” It doesn’t mean that “grain-free” foods are absolutely free from grains, or are hypo-allergenic. Besides, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) doesn’t have any clear definition of what “grain-free” means. So that term can vary from one pet food manufacturer to another.
  • Storing and preserving pet food is also an important factor in your pet’s health. Be sure to store food in a cool dry place. You can either use plastic zip-lock bags or containers that don’t allow air to pass inside, hence keeping the food dry, crisp and same in taste. You must also ensure that the temperature of the room is stable, both sub-zero and above room temperature will also spoil the food.

Conclusion:

Pet food is one of the most important aspects to consider while keeping a pet. Inappropriate diet can lead to laziness, diseases and reduced life which no pet owner would want to think of but maintaining a balanced diet for your pet isn’t a daunting task. Simply follow these simple guidelines and you will see a remarkable difference in your pet’s health. Also check out goat feed as well.