Choosing the best pet food from the hundreds of available options is one of the most important decisions a pet owner has to make as a healthy and balanced diet is vital to helping pets live long and healthy lives. There’s a lot more involved in choosing the best pet food than humans may realize — from considering individual needs to finding the right ingredients.
Talking to your veterinarian to help you find the best nutritional approach is the perfect place to start, and to help sort it all out, I turned to the expertise of Dr. Evan Antin, a veterinarian at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital and People Magazine’s “Sexiest Beast Charmer” alive.
Thank you to Purina for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine.
Choosing the Best Pet Food for Cats and Dogs
Do your research on ingredients
When choosing the best pet food, the most important consideration is whether it provides complete and balanced nutrition for pets. Take some time to understand the ingredients – such as grains and by-products – and the benefits they bring.
Proteins – Dr. Antin recommends that the first ingredient listed on the back of the package be a protein product. (Poultry is the #1 food allergen for dogs, so if you suspect your dog has a sensitivity he recommends products with venison, duck or fish as the primary ingredient.)
Grains – While cats are carnivores and require some meat in their diets, dogs are actually omnivores so they need a vegetable-based or lower-protein diet as part of their complete nutrition. Most of them tolerate grains well, and they’re a great source of complex carbohydrates which offer additional nutrients over simple carbs.
By-products – Often a scary word to humans, the truth is that cats and dogs in the wild typically eat the organs first because they’re highly palatable and nutrition-dense. Therefore many pet food manufacturers use high-quality by-products – such as beef, chicken or pork that may include hearts, livers, kidneys, lungs and spleens. By-products aren’t inherently a bad thing and quite honestly, using the whole animal is responsible, not wasteful.
Raw – In theory, a raw diet alleges to mimick what might be eaten if pets were in the wild. In reality, raw pet food may not provide all the necessary nutrients and could contain dangerous bacteria when food safety regulations aren’t met.
Natural and organic/holistic – The use of these terms is widespread but the labels can be misleading as they’re not necessarily healthier than conventional foods. Buyer beware.
Check the quality and safety of pet food
Pet owners should research the quality and safety of their pet food to ensure it’s meeting or exceeding FDA and AAFCO standards, and they can talk to their vet with questions or contact the pet food manufacturer directly through the website. The quality and safety standards are of key importance, but it also speaks volumes for the pet food manufacturer when they are doing continual diet and food research and have nutritional experts and a veterinarian on staff.
Avoid giving out table scraps
Admittedly, it can be difficult to resist those big sad eyes begging for human food, and I admit I’ve fallen into the trap myself at times. But the oils and fats in our food, especially around the holidays can lead to health problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and pancreatitis. Additionally, some food is highly toxic to dogs like onions, garlic, and chocolate.
Consider timed feeding instead of free feeding
Labrador retrievers don’t have the “I’m full” hormone and it’s very common for cats to overeat when food is left out all day, so a better plan may be to have specific time blocks for feeding after which food is put away until the next feeding session. This can be helpful when a pet is overweight or when multiple pets in a household have different metabolisms or caloric needs.
To learn more about pet nutrition, ingredients and quality and safety of pet food, please visit www.purina.com/nutrition
Mertie says
I’ve always checked labels for all my dog’s (all rescue babies!) foods and I always buy the best in terms of nutrition. My husband and I have been adopting rescue dogs for over 39 years and I started much younger so I have a total of 42 years. Often the rescue society will give me a horrible generic brand, to use as a starter food, that I know I will not use and they still insist I take it. I hate to toss it but it is not healthy for any animal as it is only a belly filler. Our adult daughter, IMHO, killed several cats and a pedigree Alaskan Husky by feeding them “Dollar Store” food despite our warnings. I do have to confess, that we do feed our current dog (and past ones) some selective human food, like ground beef or chicken. Thar is not their main source of nutrition as we use it sprinkled on their dry food or as an after dinner treat!
Lisa Vanhook says
My husband and I are so guilty of spoiling our furbabies. The more reading I do is beginning to change how I look at what we are doing to them…:(
Courtney says
So much to consider when picking a food for your pet!!! Not all foods are the same so it’s good to research
Dogvills says
I am guilty of the table scraps thing. I just can resist their “sad” faces. I know that is not a good practice. Thanks for these tips for choosing the right and the best food for our fur babies.
Chei Pangan says
Just like kids, petting a dog or a cat is important too. We must really choose which is the best food for them.
Cynthia Nicoletti says
It is very important to give your pets healthy food. They are just like us and need it for their health.
Cat says
I think it’s so important that we pay attention to the food we give our pets! After all, a lot of us consider them a part of the family!
Hali says
Important for those looking to own a pet the many parts that go into taking care of one, these are great tips on feeding them!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This is really helpful! We have a new dog and choosing the best food for her is really a challenge. Thanks for sharing these tips.
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
Choosing the right food for pets is very important. It has to be right for them and nutritious.
Kiwi says
Interesting info. I am not a pet owner but I always wondered about giving the table food to them.
Dana Peller says
Choosing the right food for your pet isn’t always easy, but you always want to give them the best. Thanks for sharing these pointers.
Rachel Ferrucci says
We don’t give our animals table food and try to keep their meals at the same time everyday. This is a great article – it’s so important to read the labels.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I have a Lab right now and he would eat all day long if given the opportunity. It is good to know that raw isn’t necessarily better or healthy, you see so many people pushing it.
Crystal says
I’m guilty of table scraps. But I read the people food equivalent for what I was thoughtlessly giving out and it changed my ways!
LaToyia Dennis says
I use to think that dog food was dog food. I now know that it makes a huge difference.
Our Family World says
Thank you for this article. It is very helpful for pet owners to help them choose a feeding plan for their fur babies. I knew feeding them table scraps is not good but I could not resist those sad eyes when they start to beg.
Sarah says
It’s easy to want to buy the cheapest option possible but it’s not always the best. It really does pay to take your time and find a good brand that’s right for your pet.
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
It took us some time before we found the right food for our cat, Oscar. It’s really good to check out the options that you have, that’s going to help you decide better.
Carol Cassara says
It’s important that you pick the right food, especially since our fur babies have different needs and some have diet restrictions. Looking at labels is definitely important.
AnnMarie John says
That’s a very good guide for pet owners especially the new ones who have no idea what food to get their fur babies. There are so many choices out there and it’s good to do your research.
Janella Panchamsingh says
Good pet food is essentials for my cat he gained alot of weight fast when we brought him home because of the pet food
Adelina Priddis says
Just like us, not every animal is the same, and have special dietary needs. Making sure it’s all quality is definitely important.
Sinisa says
This is great to know. Cats and dogs deserve good food
ricci says
I have done my research and my sweet girl loves her food!! These are great tips on picking a good food for your pets!
Scott says
We were bad about free feeding. It was so much easier to leave it out for them. But I know it wasn’t good for them at all.
Myrah Duque says
Super important topic and many don’t even realize it. It’s critical to read labels and to understand and be aware of your pet’s health.
felicia says
I have recently started looking at the ingredients in the dog food. Our dog is elderly and it seems to make all the difference to have the right blends.
reesa says
It took me many years to figure out the best food for my dog! Thanks for the tips!
Amy Desrosiers says
Before I got my dog I had no idea how important quality dog food was. Now, I am careful to make sure I buy her foods that do not have corn as the first ingredient.
Natalie says
It’s so important to make sure you are buying food with quality ingredients for your cats and dogs. Reading labels is key to finding the best option!
Claudia Krusch says
It is so important to do some research when you are choosing food for your pets. My dogs have allergies and I have to be picky when I buy them food and treats.
Rosemary Palmer says
We’ve had to change our dog along the way as he got older. There’s so many out there that’s like a lot of food. Junk.
Pam says
Making sure your pets are eating the best diet for them is so important. These are all good things to keep in mind.
Jen Temcio says
With a past dog I made the mistake of giving her table scraps but with our chihuahua now, he rarely gets scraps and mainly gets dog foods. The tips you gave are right on.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
Our dog does not like dry dog food. I always have chicken stock (which I make myself) and use it to soak his food first before I put it in his bowl. He also cannot tolerate grains of any kind. I make sure I also always read the label before I pick up a bag so I know that he is eating only the best.
Meagan says
We just got a new dog and I’ve found myself constantly checking labels to makes he’s getting the best food. Real ingredients make all the difference.
Heather Johnson says
As with my own food, I prefer pet foods with limited ingredients. My dogs like a limited ingredients. My cat, on the other hand, refuses to eat anything but the cheapest cat food brand. Go figure!
Hey Sharonoox says
I don’t have pets but my daughter has a bunny. I know that she feeds it with good branded rabbit food. I think feeding pets with best pet food is important for their fur and digestions.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I have always owned “Big Breed” Dogs and I swear NONE of them seem to have the ‘I’m Full’ hormone! They were always insatiable! I have never owned cats but I hear they are the same way.
And it’s also super hard for me to resist caving in on the occasional table scraps, I need to get better at that!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
There are so many pet foods on the markets claiming to be the latest, greatest, and best thing for your pet. You have to read labels, and most importantly figure out what works for your pet. What works for one, may not work for the other.
Neely Moldovan says
This is super helpful! We dont have any pets but my dad has a cat and my brother and sister in law have two dogs!
Kita Bryant says
I have thought about a raw diet a few times. It can be risky if someone doesn’t know what they’re doing. You’re very right that vital nutrients can be missed.
Connie says
We love our dog. It’s really important to read the labels.
Makeba Giles says
Choosing the right food for our pets is extremely important! We sometimes just buy food that we can afford for them.
Karen Dawkins says
We learned the expensive — and scary — way that poultry is not always good for dogs. We now read ingredients carefully and follow the timed feeding rule.
Danielle says
Feeding our pets quality food is so important. They are family, and they deserve healthy food to be their best.
Tomi C says
We want to make sure our doggy is around for a long time so it’s important to feed him nutritious food and watch his diet just as we do for our family. Great tips and reminders for pet lovers.
Jeanette says
We didn’t let her research on what food we wanted to give her dog. The last time we had with some allergic to stuff we had no choice. This time around we have given her a very healthy food and she loves it.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
It’s surprising what a difference a different brand of dog food can make! Its so important to focus on high quality ingredients. These are smart tips.
GiGi Eats says
My family never fed their dogs grains, ever. And I think it’s a good point because dogs essentially evolved from wolves, and wolves didn’t really go around eating bread – LMFAO!
Amber Myers says
Yes, this is so important! I admit I was feeding my cats crap food and didn’t even realize it. I felt so horrible! But now they eat quality food and you can tell the difference.
Bill Sweeney says
Great tips. You have to be super careful with pet food. So many companies will try to cut costs by adding fillers like corn and wheat. They’re not good for our pets.
candy says
We always read the ingredients when we had dog or cat. Wanted them to get the best food they could. This has really come to the fore front in the last few years.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
LOVE this! I learned early on that it’s important to read the ingredient label. My dogs were having digestive issues, and it turned out to be the food we were feeding them. Not all foods are created equal!
Alli Smith says
I’m super picky when it comes to feeding my dog, Max. I try to read the labels and make sure I’m choosing the right food for him. These tips are really helpful. I knew chocolate was toxic but I didn’t know about the onions and garlic.
Robin rue says
It is so important to actually read the ingredients. There are a lot of not-so-great pet foods out there and when it comes to my animals, I want them to eat as well as us humans eat.