Are Specialist Pet Foods Really Worth The Extra Cost?

If you look on the supermarket or pet shop shelves you will find foods for retrievers, boxers, terriers, cooker spaniels, old dogs, young dogs, indoor cats, outdoor cats... the list is endless and I feel sorry for the small retailer who must despair at just what they should be stocking (or delisting to make room for all these supposed essential foods.)

But let me put forward a suggestion - that we're in danger of believing the marketing men rather than our common sense. Consider this; as a dog owner I buy what is called a 'complete pet food' by which I am given to understand that this balanced food contains all the necessary ingredients and nutrients to keep my pet in the finest of health. Let me emphasize that fact - it contains ALL the necessary nutrients required, as defined by best current scientific knowledge.

And what do I do? I give her the recommended quantity per day... PLUS some treats, bits of raw vegetables and maybe scraps off our plates. Am I any different to any other pet owner? I would hazard a guess that I am not, but what I have done is take a complete balanced food and made my pet's diet unbalanced (at least by the information given me by the pet food companies) because I've given high protein hide chews, or increased the fat and protein content by feeding a small quantity of chicken casserole.

Is my dog unhealthy? No, she is not! Is my dog overweight? No, she is not!

Now if I am fairly typical as a pet owner, and I think I am, what should I do when I faced with marketing men who tell me that I should be switching to a food which has been designed specifically for a retriever? I pass by and make a more informed choice based upon my relationship with my pet.

The problem is, of course that we do have a lot of overweight pets around, which no doubt is a consequence of giving too much food in total.

Balanced pet foods are good, but they vary in protein and fat content even for a basic adult food (for example between 18 - 26% in protein for dogs.) AAFCO minimum recommendations are 18% protein and 5% fat for an adult dog maintenance food. Most commercial pet foods contain more than this which might explain the overweight dogs around. A lean pet is a healthy pet - Purina have done trials to prove this scientifically - and a light diet should help here if you are feeding extras.

Now if most pet owners supplement their feeding with treats and extras it makes little sense to buy special foods. Better, perhaps to buy a food that is closer to the AAFCO recommendations in protein and fat content, knowing that with the extras you feed you are less likely to be overfeeding.

Marketing men survive by inventing new products for customers to buy - added this, added that, increased this, increased that. Consumers need to be informed, and that's difficult when faced with advertising budgets of £ millions!

Obviously there are some pets that have health problems that demand that they have a special diet (and I include allergies and intolerences here) and the advice of a veterinary surgeon should be taken - that's a given fact.

The author, who originally trained as a food technologist has, in his time owned dogs, cats, hamsters and birds, sold pet food and spent the past decade marketing it. Now down to one cat, one dog and running Pet Food Choice, a website full of information on pet food choices, money-saving ideas and much more - http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk

Luxury Pet Supplies That Are and Are Not Worth the Price

From a one hundred and forty dollar wedding dress for dogs that is sold online to a ten thousand pound deluxe rabbit hutch that one Norfolk based owner made for his pets, the lengths that some people go to, to keep their beloved pets happy is starting to entering the realms of the ridiculous. But whilst forking out for your dog to tie the knot with the puppy next door is really not going to improve the life of your pet in any way, there are some luxury pet supplies that do have benefits for their health, happiness and wellbeing.

Every pet owner wants the best for their pet, be it a dog, a cat or something more exotic. Many people come to see their pets as family members and will buy them the best possible goods that they can afford. However when it comes to pet supplies, simply buying the most expensive option every time can lead to a lot of money wasted, which is money that could otherwise be spent on the little luxuries that actually do make a difference to the life of your pet.

Feeding time is a prime example. Your cat or dog really does not care if it is eating from a bowl made out of plastic or hand crafted from diamond encrusted gold. In fact, your pet probably has not even noticed the difference. They just want the food that is inside so do not splash out on a luxury bowl if it means you can only afford to fill it with cut price food.

Pet food is one area where your pet will really reap the benefits of you spending a little bit extra. Just as with humans, pets need to eat a balanced and healthy diet that includes a variety of vitamins and minerals to ensure long term health. Penny pinching on cat and dog food now can lead to very serious illnesses such as arthritis in the future that, if diagnosed too late, no amount of money will be able to cure. Opt for high quality, brands that offer natural ingredients and use dry foods only as treats or a side dish, never as the main diet.

Recently, the popularity of dog coats and other pet clothing has skyrocketed but whilst you may think Felix looks great in his new tweed jacket the truth is that it probably does not provide any more warmth than a cheaper coat and your pet certainly will not treat it more carefully. Animals have a thick coating of fur that keeps them warm and are usually more than happy to venture outside in cold weather without a coat. However if you are particularly worried about keeping your pet warm, for example if it is quite an old dog or it is ill, buy the coat with the thickest padding, not the one with the glitziest trim.

Furniture is another of the many pet supplies where owners are faced with options ranging from bargain to blowout. It is well known that dogs and cats love to scratch at and rip up furniture, unless you are happy to see that velvet dog sofa you spent your whole pay cheque on with a lovely big tear in the side after three months, it is wiser to stick to standard options. However, orthopaedic furniture such as memory foam beds cost more than your average dog or cat basket, but has been specifically designed to alleviate pain and discomfort in pets with arthritis and other joint conditions. They may not look so glamorous but your pet is going to be far more comfortable, happy and healthy, so when it comes to orthopaedic furniture always go for the best that you can buy.

To summarise, there are many pet supplies on the market ranging from the most basic to the downright absurd, but do not be taken in by appearances when it comes to buying luxury cat supplies or overpriced dog supplies. If you really love and want the best for your pet, its health and happiness should be your two main priorities, which means buying products that have some genuine benefit regardless of what they look like. Your cat or dog can tell the difference when you swap from basic to gourmet food, but believe me, they will not even notice that crystal studded collar.

Leah Williams writes for Petmeds. Petmeds are an online retailer of pet supplies from medicines to shampoos. They have cat supplies, dog supplies and many more. Petmeds only dispenses genuine UK licensed drugs and are regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).