Human foods - dangerous for pets?

Proper nutrition for your animals is a very controversial issue. Some dog and cat owners like to cook for their pets, some feed canned food, some dry food, some organic, some chose store brands. Whatever you decide upon make sure to check the labels, as you would do with products you buy for yourself. Many animal food manufacturers are adding less than nutritious ingredients, some of which are even dangerous for your pet. See more information on that topic in previous discussed articles.
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While researching why some animals seem to be extremly overweight and digestive problems are more and more common I found some very interesting comparison charts about dog and cat food.

The pet food business is a very profitable one, hardly anybody has the time anymore to actually cook for their pets. The 5 biggest manufacturer of animal foods are

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Joke by David Letterman:
They have dog food for constipated dogs. If your dog is constipated, why screw up a good thing? Stay indoors and let ‘em bloat!

The American consumer spends over 11 billion-dollar each year on food for their pets. Since this is an enormous market for pet food manufacturers a fierce competition between companies is to be expected. Not only are we all bombarded with TV commercials, print ads, flyers, the pet food manufacturers don’t make our decision what food to choose not easier by constantly adding additional selections, such as low-fat, low-carb, natural, low-activity, high-activity, you get my point.

Some of the label specifications such as “gourmet”, “premium”, “all natural” have no regulatory meaning, they are just added to catch your eye.
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For cats more or less the same guidelines apply as for dogs - with one exception:

Even if you decide upon kibbles, don’t let cat food be available all day long. Remove the food bowls but keep water ready all the time.

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Dogs - Feeding

Numerous brands of dog foods are available in pet stores, vet offices, even in supermarkets. Most brand-name foods provide the nutrients a dog needs. Check the labels, and select a brand that contains proper amount of protein, carbs, fat and vitamins. Most dog foods come as puppy food, adult food, for weight control and less active dogs, etc. Select the food according to your dog’s need. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian for recommendations. Try to avoid generic products since many are full of empty calories. Check and compare labels with brand-name food before you go for the cheaper alternative! Be aware of the fact that Organic Food contains better quality meat and less “fillers”. Especially if your animal has health issures you might want to switch to organic food. See also our article and links at >> Organic or not Organic.
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