Just as with many topics within the scientific disciplines that have been discussed and debated for many years, the subject of nutrition seems to have always stayed in a state of flux. Many old wives tales, such as garlic or gun powder in the diet, have been accepted for periods of time, then ultimately rejected by pet nutritionists.
With the evolution of a large pet-owning society and its interest in health care for their pets, the pet food mega-industry has been born. As a consequence of this industry's growth, privately funded research and development has occurred that has advanced pet nutrition to levels never before considered practical. The feeding of one's pet has been greatly improved and simplified over the past two decades.
While many discoveries about specific diets have been made as a result of the "pet care revolution," the basic tenets are still used as benchmarks for application of the newer discoveries. For example, growing puppies require 40 calories per pound of body weight per day. Adult dogs require half this caloric load. Thus, puppy rations have to be twice the caloric density as adult rations, in order to feed reasonable and convenient amounts.
Similarly, adult cats require 40 calories per pound per day, while growing kittens have twice the requirement. Therefore, feline rations must have twice the caloric density than the respective dog or puppy ration. It has long been established that carbohydrate and protein provide 4 calories per gram and fat provides 9 calories per gram. Present day pet food companies have been able to refine and improve their products to a level where a wise and informed consumer has no trouble finding excellent nutrition for their family pet.
In general, there are three basic types of pet foods. The generic brands have long been a staple of discount retail stores and many grocery outlets. Most are manufactured in the same geographic area as their sale and many often enjoy sales based on economics or provincialism. Many will make claims of high protein contents in an attempt to outdo the larger companies' rations. Unfortunately, however, many times the protein included in these rations is of such a poor quality that it is indigestible by the pet, and therefore excreted. Many pets, especially those with digestive problems, may in fact lose weight and do poorly when fed such rations. Rarely are these rations recommended by veterinarians or nutritionists.
Brand name food such as Purina, Friskies, Waynes, etc. are all recognized by the consumer. All of these rations are products of large corporate entities that expend significant amounts of funds on research and development, and for the most part have enjoyed a good reputation in the marketplace for many years. These types of rations still hold the preeminent position in the pet food sales in the country. Generally, these brand name foods are of good quality and provide a very acceptable level of nutrition for most pets. Almost all have excellent palatability, uniformity, and quality. Their digestibility is acceptable, certainly better than the generic brands, and usually when comparison shopping, the consumer will find competitive pricing.
Over the last few years a newer species of pet food has found its way into the marketplace. Most of these brands claim to be of higher quality and digestibility, than the brand names. Names such as Science Diet, Iams, etc. are probably the most recognizable of this type of ration. For the most part, these brands do provide better digestibility thus requiring smaller servings per meal. Likewise, less bowel movement will be produced when feeding these foods.
Prices of these foods are generally higher than the supermarket brands, but the difference may be negated by getting more meals per pound from these "designer brands." Typically, these rations are of excellent quality and certainly have to be considered when deciding upon what type of food to feed the family pet. Perhaps the present day attitudes toward exclusivity and "designer" brands are also an attraction to this type of pet food.
Dietary vitamin supplementation is still a debatable point. Brand name rations and the designer brands adequately provide all vitamin and mineral supplement for good health. As with many things, however, research is ongoing into the proper use of such substances, and occasionally dramatic changes in amounts and types are recommended. An example of this can be seen in recent discoveries as to the importance of taurine in cat food, and its importance in prevention of serious cardiac problems in cats. Likewise, recent research in the use of dietary choline supplementation in older dogs has shown some promise with old age musculoskeletal problems.
For the most part, oversupplementation of vitamins and minerals, is more of a medical problem than vitamin deficiency. Typically, overenthusiastic pet owners are more likely to give too much vitamin and/or mineral supplement than none at all. However, with supplementation, as with many things associated with nutrition, one cannot make the assumption that if a little is needed, more is better. Serious medical conditions have been discovered in growing dogs as a direct result of overuse of vitamins and minerals. Generally speaking, if a pet owner uses a balanced, pet multivitamin, at the prescribed dose, and nothing else in the form of supplement, and feed a good quality ration, they would be providing an adequate level of nutrition for their pet.
Special need situations, such as old age or medical conditions, can now be addressed very effectively through diet. Prescription Diets by Hills Inc. has a variety of rations for various pathological conditions for both dogs and cats. Most are formulated specifically for prescribed conditions, and are very palatable. Cost, as with many prescription items, is higher with these foods. These rations are not available for sale at the usual retail outlets, but rather are sold at veterinary hospitals by professional prescription only.
In summary, pet nutrition has undergone many changes in the past few years. Public and private research has allowed newer, more improved rations to be developed that provide excellent levels of nutrition for most pets. Vitamin and mineral supplementation of diets is probably not as critical as once thought, given the quality of brand name and "designer" brands of pet foods. Furthermore, special need situations can now be addressed through the use of Prescription Diet formulations.
In general, with the information now available, the level of research being conducted, and the stability and responsiveness of pet food manufacturers, feeding the family pet, when done correctly, has never been safer or easier.
Contributor:
John S. Williams, DVM
Horton Animal Hospital - Central
Columbia, MO
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