Pet Food Myths
There are a lot of myths floating around about how and what you should feed your pet. Here are some common "facts" that simply just aren't true.
1. Dry food is good for your dog's teeth and canned food promotes tooth decay.
Saying that your dog or cat is going to get clean teeth from eating kibble is like humans eating crackers for dental health. It is a senseless myth generated by dog food companies. Neither does the moisture content in canned food promote tooth decay. Far more damaging to your pet's teeth are the sugars and syrups that are present on many low-quality foods, be they dry or wet. A high quality canned died is far better for your dog than dry, and raw diets outstrip even that. For dental health, make sure your pet has access to raw frozen bones to gnaw on, or you can purchase a product called Petzlife, a natural cleaning agent for your pet's teeth.
2. You should feed your pet the same thing every day of its life. Once you find a food your dog likes, you shouldn't change it.
How would you like to eat the same thing for every meal every day of your life? Dog food companies would like you to believe you are locked into the same food forever, but this can eventually lead to allergies or disinterest in the food, as well as deficiencies or excesses of nutrients. Switching brands, protein sources and such every few bags is not only OK, it is a good idea. Dogs appreciate variety as much as humans.
3. People food is "bad". Table scraps will cause pancreatitis and begging behavior.
"People food" is food, and it is what dogs have been eating since the beginning of time. Just like highly processed, sugar/sodium heavy foods aren't good for humans, they aren't good for our canine counterparts. But fresh meats, grains and veggies are just fine for them. And while cooked bones (especially chicken) pose a danger to pets digestive systems, raw bones are perfectly safe. Finally, the mere presence of table scraps does not teach a dog to beg - rewarding begging behavior by sharing your dinner does. "Begging" is a behavior issue, not a diet one.
4. If my dog tries one of your "healthy foods" and it makes him sick to his stomach, it is because it's too rich and I should go back to my old diet.
The most common cause of digestional upset in pets when changing food is that the pets eat too much of the new food. Excitement over a new flavor can cause pets to gorge themselves. And in our pleasure that our pets are excited and love the new food, we will feed them more and more. When changing to a new food do so slowly, cutting back meals 1/4 or more and adding the new food in slowly. Supplement the food with a spoonful of pure canned pumpkin (not pie filling) or plain yogurt.
5. All bones are dangerous for dogs.
Cooked bones are very dangerous to dogs. Cooking them makes them brittle and prone to splintering. Raw meaty bones are perfectly safe and great for pets' dental health.
6. It's better to free-feed dogs and cats, to make sure they get just enough of what they need.
Undomesticated dogs and cats do not have free access to food - they must hunt for it. Not only does free-feeding contribute to pet obesity, it can also be a source for behavior problems with dogs. Resource guarding and difficulty housetraining can be linked to free feeding.
7. I'm saving money by feeding a cheap food.
While the price on the bag may seem like a good deal, you have to take into account the nutritional requirement of each food. If you have to feed 4 cups of an "economy food" as opposed to 2 cups of a good food, you really aren't saving that much money, if any. And while foods with subpar ingredients might seem OK for you pet right now, you may face health issues and a lot of vet bills down the line. For more information and a side-by-side analysis on feeding costs of "cheap" food versus "good" food, download the pdf below.
Side By Side: Beneful, Science Diet & Innova
8. I get my food from my vet, so it must be the best.
Prescription diets (such as Science Diet, Iams, Purina & Royal Canin) may be helpful for dealing with acute problems, but they aren't meant for the long run. Pet foods made by these big companies are often made with substandard ingredients that aren't suitable for long-term nutrition. A food's presence in your vet's clinic does not guarantee quality. Vets are experts in medicine and are not taught nutrition classes, save for those taught by the pet food companies. Not exactly unbiased education, is it?