Pet Food Myths and Misconceptions

Most people dearly love their pets and do everything they can to make sure they're in good health. Feeding them a high quality pet food is an important part of that equation, because just like humans, what dogs and cats eat profoundly affects their well being. Unfortunately, many myths and misconceptions about pet food exist, and it can be hard to know what's good for your pet, and what isn't. The more you educate yourself about pet food, the more confident you can be that you're making the right choices.

Pet Food Myth #1: Kibble cleans their teeth

I've put this pet myth first because it's the most prevalent one, and many people consider it to be true. There is, however, only a smidgen of validity to it. Eating dry food may clean the tips of your pet's teeth, but that's all. There are two reasons why kibble does not clean their teeth. The first is that most dogs and cats swallow the kibble whole, and it doesn't even touch their teeth. Secondly, if they do happen to bite down on a piece, their pointed teeth will shatter the kibble rather than scraping the lower part of the teeth or gums, which is where most dental problems begin. In addition to kibble not cleaning a pet's teeth, it may even promote bacterial growth in their mouth. Dry food contains carbohydrates that break down into sugars, which dental bacteria feed on when small pieces of kibble lodge between their teeth.

Pet Food Myth #2: It's fine for pets to eat dry food exclusively

Chalk it up to marketing geniuses and convenience, but many people believe it's okay for their dog or cat to eat nothing but kibble day in and day out. The reality is that these highly-processed and preserved, carbohydrate-laden pellets are far from being a biologically appropriate food for pets, for a number of reasons. Commercial kibble has an extremely low moisture content, which places unnatural stress on the pet's organs during the processes of digestion, metabolism and elimination. Because of the low moisture content, dry food has been implicated as a risk factor for feline lower urinary tract disease. Evidence is also mounting that eating a dry-food-only diet may contribute to numerous other diseases in pets, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity, diabetes and kidney failure. Additionally, cheap kibble contains a high proportion of fillers that not only provide little nutritional value, they can sometimes cause allergies, gastritis, digestion problems and other health issues.

Pet Food Myth #3: Feeding raw food is dangerous

Dogs and cats have digestive tracts that are much shorter and more acidic than human beings. Consequently, raw food moves so quickly through their system that it's highly unlikely microbes would have time to incubate and enter the pet's bloodstream. The high acidity level also kills most bacteria that would sicken us, such as salmonella and e. coli. Of course, you must use common sense and take care to follow the precautions developed for safe handling of raw meat, just like you would do when preparing it for yourself. When you do that, the risks of feeding your pet a raw food diet are minimal, but the health benefits can be great.

The easiest, and probably the safest, way to incorporate raw food into your pet's diet is with commercially prepared raw frozen patties, available at many independent pet stores. I have been using Nature's Variety raw frozen pet food for several years, and my normally docile cats turn into ravenous wild beasts at mealtime. I also feed them raw chicken necks once a week. Gnawing on the meat and hard bones massages their gums and scrapes away tartar, which keeps their teeth so clean that my cats don't need to have expensive dental cleanings at the vets.

Pet Food Myth #4: Vets sell only premium-quality pet food

Many people mistakenly believe that if the vet recommends a food, it must be good. The reality is that most veterinary schools spend very little time on the subject of pet nutrition. Sometimes, even the modest time that's devoted to pet nutrition is sponsored by a big-name pet food company. It's easy to see why this might not provide the most impartial information. Add to that, many veterinarians are given a financial incentive to recommend certain so-called "premium" pet foods - even those with by-products, fillers, chemical preservatives and other unsavory things that common sense should tell you are bad for your pet. This is not to say, however, that there aren't vets who are well-informed on the subject of pet nutrition. There are, but it's up to you to educate yourself on what constitutes good pet food, so you will know whether the food they recommend is really "premium," or not.

Pet Food Myth #5: Homemade pet food is better than store-bought

In light of pet food recalls these past few years, many pet owners have taken to making food for their dog or cat. Homemade pet food most certainly can provide great nutritional benefits and good health for your pet. But (and this is a very big but) it has to be done correctly or not at all. You can't just throw down some ground turkey in your pet's food bowl and call it a day. If you want to try the homemade pet food route, do lots and lots of research, to ensure that what you're feeding them will meet their nutritional needs. If you can't or won't do that, then you are much better off buying a high quality canned pet food. There are companies that make exceptional pet food, and some that make not-so-great food. How can you tell which is which? Educate yourself on the ingredients they use, and read the labels.

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