Are you treating your furry best friend to the best pet food or are you settling for just any brand at the store? Proper nourishment with quality food is vital for your pet’s health, well-being, and happiness.
With so many pet food brands on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for your beloved pet. From puppyhood to senior years, your fur baby needs the best nutrition possible at every stage of life.
So, let’s explore the best pet food options and how you can provide your furry friend with the nourishment they deserve.
Foods That Your Pet Will Like
Pet food is a specialized diet for domesticated animals to meet their nutritional requirements. Common ingredients in pet food include meat, meat byproducts, cereals, grains, vitamins, and minerals.
More than 300 manufacturers in the U.S. make over 7 million tons of pet food per year, which makes it one of the major packaged food categories. Pet owners can select from over 3,000 pet food options, including dry, canned, and semi-moist varieties, as well as snacks like biscuits, kibbles, and treats.
There are certain ways for you to determine if a particular pet food meets your pet’s nutritional needs. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Association says that to be called “complete and balanced” the pet food must meet the food nutrient profiles and go through a feeding trial based on AAFCO procedures. Given below is a list of foods that can be included in a pet’s diet:
1. Kibble/Dry
Dry pet food is one of several healthy, nutritious pet food options. As opposed to wet pet food, dry & semi-moist food can be cooked and molded using an extrusion method, which is also used to make cereal and pasta.
Dry food can help maintain the pup’s teeth health as chewing crunchy dry food helps lower tartar buildup.
The Pet Food Institute is a pet food community that provides comprehensive information on a pet’s diet and nutritional needs, including ingredients, blended potion, and cooking temperatures.
2. Semi-Moist
Semi-moist foods are commercial pet foods made like pork chops, burgers, or other meaty delicacies. These foods are the least nutritious of all pet foods and contain a lot of artificial flavors and colors. They can be given to the pet as a treat on occasion, but they should not be counted as a diet because they do not supply sufficient nourishment for the pet.
3. Canned
Most pets enjoy canned or wet food. It has a long shelf life and is easy to purchase in any store, but it can be costly. Some owners believe it is worth the investment, but not every brand of commercial canned food contains the amount of protein that your pet requires. Most canned foods have about 3/4th water content, which compromises the nutrient content, so a pet must drink more food to achieve the nutritious value his body requires. If you opt for canned food, choose one that says “100% nutritionally complete”.
4. Home Cooked
Some pet owners prefer having complete control over their pet’s nutrition. Home-cooked food allows the pet parent to tailor the nutritional profile as per the pet’s requirements. Feeding your pet home-cooked food takes time and money, but many owners believe the extra effort is worth the peace of mind.
5. Raw
A raw diet mainly consists of raw meat with some bones (only uncooked) and organs. Bones are an excellent source of calcium & phosphorus. Many pets benefit from this diet because they have strong stomach acids and short intestinal tracts, both of which make it easier for them to eat and digest raw food. Before changing your pet to raw food, consult with a veterinarian about the benefits and risks.
Top 5 Pet Food Companies to Trust for Your Pet’s Health
Following is a list of the leading pet food manufacturers in the world:
1. Mars Petcare, Inc.
One of the leading pet food companies in the world, Mars Petcare, Inc. is an American pet food company with more than 50 manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Its products are sold in more than 70 countries globally.
The company’s product offerings include Pedigree, Whiskas, and Nutro brands of dog food; Sheba, Cesar, and Royal Canin brands of cat food; and a variety of treats, dry, canned, semi-moist, and other foods.
2. General Mills
Global food giant General Mills seeks to make its products safe and nutritious while lowering its environmental effects through sustainable practices.
General Mills is one of the world’s largest pet food producers. It owns several brands, including Purina, Alpo, and ProPlan.
3. Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare is a Nestlé subsidiary and a Swiss-owned American pet food company. It was founded in 1894 as the Ralston Purina Company by William H. Danforth and is located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It manufactures animal health items such as prescription diets and over-the-counter drugs for pets in addition to pet meals.
Purina manufactures both dry and wet pet food, with names such as Dog Chow, Cat Chow, Friskies, and Fancy Feast. The Milk Bone brand also provides pet snacks. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company operates over 1,000 sites in 60 countries worldwide.
4. The J.M. Smucker Company
The J.M. Smucker Company is a pet food company based in Orrville, Ohio, United States. It owns two brands Meow Mix and Kibbles ‘N Bits.
It was initially founded as a fruit processing company before it branched into peanut butter production. It offers a variety of pet foods, from snacks and treats and dry to canned ones.
5. Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Hill’s Pet Nutrition is a Colgate-Palmolive company, one of the world’s biggest consumer goods manufacturers. It is now one of the world’s largest pet food manufacturers. The company sells over 300 goods through merchants worldwide. It manufactures and distributes products under the Hill’s Science Diet and Prescription Diet brands.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition offers a large variety of dog food, cat food, dog meat, puppy food, and kitten food. The company also makes prescription meals for dogs and cats who have allergies, kidney problems, or diabetes mellitus.
Balancing the Nutrition
Choosing the right pet food is crucial to your pet’s overall health and quality of life. Whether you have a puppy, an adult, or a senior pet, providing them with the proper nutrition is essential to their happiness and well-being.
By opting for and investing in high-quality pet food, you can provide your beloved companion with optimal nutrition. So, choosing the food that offers the right balance of ingredients and nutrients for your pet’s specific needs is essential. With healthy food, plenty of exercise, and a good dose of love, you can ensure your furry friend has a happy, healthy, and long life.
