06/02/2024
Diet is a big part of your pet’s health and happiness. It’s also one of the main ways to help with a healthy coat as well! So we want to take a minute, and talk about diets. More so, with the popularity of “fade diets” for people and pets. Please note that we, ourselves, feed a mix diet and treats for our pets, and so to make sure to always talk with your veterinary team and/or certified nutritionist for your pets before changing any diet.
What food do we recommend feeding?
Unlike felines, dogs are not true carnivores, and require a variety in their diet to meet their nutritional needs, which includes meat, grains, vegetables, and fruits. You should always read the label on your pet food and opt for food that is not grain free, and with a label that reads “complete and balanced”. Now I Stay recommends for both dogs and cats, Hilll’s Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina ProPlan, Purina One, and Iams, along with Eukanuba for dogs. These brands meet or exceed the Association of America Feed Control Officials (AAFCO - https://www.aafco.org/) minimum nutritional standards, and are backed by feed trials, quality control, and guaranteed nutritional analysis. We also recommend for puppies and kittens under a year old, to be on a puppy or kitten diet, and large breed puppy for your large breed puppy.
What’s the deal with grain free and why not feed?
We do not recommend feeding your dog any brands that are grain free diets or boutique brands, as these diets have been found to be linked to cases of canine heart failure (dilated cardiomyopathy) by the FDA. These brands include, but are not limited to Acana, Earthborn Holistic, Blue Buffalo, California Natural, NutriSource, Nutro, and Racheal Ray Nutrish. In addition, we do not recommend feeding your dog a diet with any of the following main ingredients, as they have been linked to cardiac issues in dogs as well (these ingredients may b in the diet, and can be beneficial, but should not be the main ingredient): lentils, legumes, potatoes, and/or sweet potatoes.
Facts vs Fiction about grains in pet food!
Don’t grains cause food allergies?
True food allergies are rare, however, in these uncommon cases, animal-based protein sources are more common causes of allergies than grains.
Don’t grains cause obesity and cause diabetes?
Diets containing grains do not inherently lead to obesity. Any diet (especially those high in calorie density) can contribute to obesity if it is overfed. Also note, many popular grain free diets tend to be higher in calories than diets that contain grain. Diet composition does not contribute to the development of diabetes in dogs and plays a smaller role in treatment compared to diet consistency. In cats, obesity is the major nutritional factor that can increase the risk of diabetes, but this is due to excessive calorie intake, not the inclusion of grains (or carbohydrates in general). Note that dogs and cats can digest and utilize grains as well as other courses of carbohydrates.
Isn’t grain free better nutrition for your pet?
While some grain free diets can provide excellent nutrition, they have no inherent nutritional advantages over diets that contain grains.
So, then my cat needs to eat grain free?
Absolutely not. While there have been no health risk links, as of now, seen in grain free cat food, grains are still beneficial. Although wild cats do not typically ingest starches, dietary studies show that domestic cats can nonetheless digest more than 95% of starches. Grains are added to pet food not as fillers, but as a cost-effective and easily digestible source of vitamins and energy. When grains are added to cat food, there are no discernible ill effects and no reduction in a cat’s quality or length of life.
For more information about your pet and their specific diet requirements, please consult your veterinarian and their staff.
AAFCO is an org that guides state, federal & international feed regulators with ingredient definitions, label standards & lab standards.
