Proper nutrition is critical to keep animals as healthy as possible, as well as to support them if they do have illnesses. When it comes to nutrition, there is a lot of information out there making it difficult to know what food is best for your pet. The following are some common myths circulating about pet food. At the end of this post, there are some sources to help you choose the most optimal diet for your pet!
Myth: Corn is a filler and does not provide any nutritional value.
Truth: A filler is an ingredient that serves no nutritional purpose. Corn, on the other hand, is a well-rounded nutritional package for pets! It is a source of:
– Lutein and zeaxanthin → antioxidants
– Protein and essential amino acids → muscle & heart health, energy
– Fiber → gastrointestinal health
– Vitamins & minerals → optimal organ health
– Fatty acids → skin & coat
There are different ways that corn can be added to pet food:
Corn, or corn meal: This is the whole kernel ground & and excellent source of the nutrients listed above.
Corn gluten meal: This is the protein rich part of corn; the term “gluten” means that the starch, fiber and oils have been removed, leaving a purified, highly digestible source of protein – so corn gluten meal is like protein powder for animals!
Corn starch: This is the carbohydrate component of corn. Starches are a quick source of energy, as well as provide support to kibble structure and enhance flavour.
Myth: Commercial diets are over processed and basically junk food; homemade diets are a lot healthier and easy to make.
Truth: Phew, there’s a lot to unpack in this one! Let’s tackle the misconception that commercial diets are junk food first. It is true that not all diets are equal; there are diets that are more digestible and provide more available nutrition compared to others, but all processed diets are not bad, in fact many of them are great! When we hear “processed foods” we often relate this to human food and think of snacks and convenience food like chips, hot dogs, candy, etc. A key difference between these human foods and pet foods, is that pet foods are designed to be nutritionally balanced and complete. Human “junk food” is designed to appeal to consumers and get them to buy it, whereas the focus of commercial pet diets is how the diet is made and the nutrients in it.
The second part of the myth is that homemade diets are healthier. Homemade diets can be very nutritious and a great way to bond with your pet. However, they should only be made after consulting with your veterinarian. There are lots of recipes out there, but the majority of them are inadequate and unbalanced; only 5% of homemade diets are nutritionally balanced (without consulting a veterinary nutritionist).
Myth: I need to add a calcium supplement in my puppies’ diet because they are growing fast.
Truth: Giving a puppy too much calcium can be harmful and detrimental to their growth and development, especially for large and giant breeds. Growing animals need a certain amount of calcium and phosphorus; this calcium to phosphorus ratio is what is very important. An imbalance of the ratio (i.e. too much calcium or too much phosphorus) can lead to developmental abnormalities, such as angular limb deformities. Veterinary diets for growth have the appropriate calcium and phosphorus levels for healthy development; supplementing a balanced diet with calcium predisposes a large or giant breed puppy to developmental bone disease. A balanced diet has everything they need!
Myth: The ingredient list tells us a lot about the diet and how they are listed is important.
Truth: Animals don’t have requirements for ingredients, they have a requirement for nutrients. Nutrients are the functional part of the diet (e.i. provide energy, support growth, etc.); ingredients are just what carry nutrients into the body. On pet food bags, ingredients are listed by weight, with the heaviest being at the top of the list; it does not tell us the amount of the ingredient or the quality of the ingredient. This can be manipulated to put the more marketable ingredients higher up on the list. For example, when “real meat” is listed high on an ingredient list, it doesn’t mean that there is a lot of it in the food. Fresh meat contains a lot of water, making it heavier. 1kg of real/fresh chicken is actually 850g of water and only 150g of actual chicken. The order of ingredients tells you very little about the nutritional value of the diet, and can be confusing and misleading.
Myth: By-products are dangerous and should not be included in pet food.
Truth: A by-product is anything produced that is not the primary/principal product. In pet food, by-products DO NOT include hair, horns, teeth, hooves, feces/intestinal contents, condemned carcasses, or roadkill. What they can include are the clean parts of the carcass such as organs (liver, lung, etc.), blood, bone and fatty tissue. So, treats like dehydrated beef liver, lung or tripe would all be considered by-products, even though they are not marketed as such! In a balanced diet, by-products are excellent sources of protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
Resources:
The following are excellent resources for pet owners to look into for nutritional information.
Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University has an excellent nutrition program and a lot of information for pet owners. https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has a nutrition branch and guidelines. They have handouts to help guide pet owners when selecting a diet and what questions to ask. https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/
The American College of Veterinary Nutrition is a source for nutritionists, veterinarians, students, and animal owners. This is where you can find board certified veterinary nutritionists. https://acvn.org/