Why What You Feed Your Pet Matters

Posted on 4 March 2014
By Dr. Jill Tack
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We've all heard the saying "You are what you eat." And for our pets, this is especially true. When you feed your pet a healthy diet, you will see that they live a happier, healthier and longer life. Specifically, a biologically appropriate diet for your pet will improve your pet's health in the following ways:

1. Less stool issues.

Alternative pet foods are made to accommodate a pet’s natural diet and digestive system. So, they’re much easier to digest and thus, your pet will have healthier stools. Also, since serving sizes for alternative foods are generally smaller than those for commercial foods, your pet will also have smaller, more compact and less frequent stools.

2. Improved skin & coat and less allergies.

Many pets are allergic to grain and gluten, common ingredients in many commercially made foods. When you eliminate these ingredients by feeding a more biologically appropriate diet, your pet will no longer suffer from symptoms of food allergies like dry, itchy skin, licking and chewing on their paws, skin infections and rashes, and unusual hair loss.

3. More satisfying.

In order to get the same nutritional value from a commercial food as an all-natural food, pets have to eat more of it because commercial pet foods are made with artificial vitamins, minerals and other unnatural ingredients/fillers that are not as easy for pets to digest. On the other hand, alternative pet foods are made to accommodate a pet’s natural diet and digestive system. So they’re much easier to digest and thus, pets get all of the nutrients they need from a smaller serving.

4. Improved disposition and reduced hyperactvity & sugar spikes.

Eliminating carbohydrates and grains from our pet's diets is essential to improving their disposition. Unlike humans, carbohydrates are not a source of energy for pets (except in excessive sprint activities like greyhound racing). In addition, grains break down into sugars in the body and sugars feed unhealthy conditions like hyperactivity, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and some skin problems. Dogs and cats derive their energy from fats and protein, like those found in alternative foods.

5. Healthy teeth.

Raw meaty bones, grinds and all natural chews offer pets vitamins and minerals that will improve their dental health. Developing healthy chewing habits is also esssential to keeping your pet's teeth clean and strong.

6. Less body odor.

Alternative pet foods will help your pet have healthier teeth, which means they will have less smelly breath. An improved diet also helps eliminate body odors.

7. Limited Ingredients.

In the age of highly processed foods, less is generally more (in terms of ingredients). Alternative pet foods are made without the fillers, artificial additives and unnatural preservatives that are common in many other pet foods. So, you can be assured that your pet food only contains the ingredients that will improve your pet's well being.