FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Kittens and puppies have different nutritional needs than those of adult cats and dogs. For example, young pets should eat more energy-dense food that’s higher in calories to support their growth, as well as consume more of certain essential nutrients that support proper development.
When selecting a pet food, it’s important to determine if your pet is finished growing. Then, look at the pet food label for the intended life stage of the cat or dog food, which typically indicates the food is for growing puppies and kittens, adult pets, or pets of all life stages.
Typically, cats are fully grown by 10-12 months of age, but, for dogs, it varies by size. It’s best to consult your veterinarian to determine if your pet is fully grown and can be switched to adult pet food.
With so many options available, it’s helpful to know some key facts about different types of pet food.
Wet, Dry and Fresh
Wet, dry or fresh pet foods can all be safe, nutritionally balanced options for a cat or dog. The primary differences between wet and dry pet food are the cooking processes and the moisture content. Dry pet food typically has a 10-12 percent moisture content, while wet pet food contains 75-78 percent moisture. If you feel that your pet doesn’t drink enough water, wet pet food may support his or her hydration needs. It’s also more suitable for pets with dental issues.
If considering fresh food, know that it must be kept in the refrigerator to preserve freshness and quality. No matter the type of diet, PFI member companies follow practices and procedures to ensure this food is safe and provides complete nutrition.
Pet food makers consider a diverse mix of ingredients when developing a cat or dog food recipe to ensure that each serving is complete and balanced, meaning that it meets a pet’s total nutritional needs and provides essential nutrients at the proper levels. Are you curious about chemical-sounding names on the ingredient list? These are often the vitamins and minerals included in pet food, which must be listed by their technical names, as opposed to their more common names.
The ingredients used in a recipe will vary based on nutritional content, function, consumer demand and price points, but pet food ingredients are regulated at state or federal levels. Diagnosed food allergies are relatively uncommon in cats and dogs and are best identified through a careful elimination diet conducted with a veterinarian.
Don’t forget that pet food storage is important to food safety. Proper tips for storing pet food include checking the packaging for damages before bringing it home, keeping bags and cans of pet food in a dry, cool location off the ground, always sealing the bag, and keeping it out of reach of curious children and pets.
No. Dogs do like to chew, but aside from the risk of bacterial contamination on raw bones, hard
bones can fracture teeth and if ingested whole or in shards can cause obstructions and
perforations anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, while teeth may appear
cleaner and have less tartar build-up when pets are fed bones or collagen chews, there is no
the difference in the presence of gum disease between dogs fed raw meat and bones and those fed
more conventional dry and canned diets
Almost all pet diets in the market provide protein levels well above the minimal requirements
and any complete and balanced diet will provide enough protein to your pet. Providing very high
protein diets to dogs and cats does not have any health benefits and it is not an environmentally
sustainable strategy, since protein is a valuable and limited resource on the planet.