Materials that are made up of plants or animals, intended to be consumed by pets such as dogs, cats, fish, bird, and others are known as pet food. These foods are usually sold at pet stores and supermarkets and are usually specific to the type of animals, for instance, cat food or dog food.
Leading manufacturers of food items for pets are seen undertaking animal nutrition studies while formulating commercial food products for pets. They are based on the nutrition research to ensure the well-being of pets while they obtain enough nutrition from the pet food. The growing interest in pet health and well-being is being seen on a large scale in major countries across the globe.
Pets are being humanized and this is a major reason that is giving rise to development of specialized products such as refrigerated pet food, the ones that offer preventive benefits, and pet toppings such as gravy and sauces. These trends in the pet foods market are giving rise to changes in the way food for pets is manufactured. Owing to this, there is an enormous variety of pet food available in the market in the range that consists of raw foods as well as highly specialized foods.
Pet Food Comparison: Dry V/s Wet
When it comes to choosing the right food ingredient for pets, pet owners often come across a choice between dry and wet pet foods. Amidst the constant confusion of selecting the food for pets, pet owners often rely on other pet owner's choices, previous preferences of their pets, some follow the advice and recommendations given by the veterinarians and breeders. With so many sources of information, choosing the right food variety for your pet could be a challenging decision.
Wet pet foods are preferably a good option when choosing food for animals that are unwilling to drink adequate amount of water, as they are a good source of hydration. While they can benefit from the hydrating attribute, the pets can also consume a larger portion without adding extra calories. Moreover, the wet foods have a stronger scent and richer flavor, which allows the pets to consume the food even if they lack appetite due to age or illness. However, despite its advantages, wet foods fall back due to the shorter shelf life and could be a cause of dental problems in case of certain pet animals.
While wet food items for pets need to be consumed quickly, dry pet foods have a longer shelf life. With no fear of getting spoilt, the dry food kibbles are a good choice for pet owners as they provide convenience for pet owners. Apart from being easy to store and cost-effective, some dry pet foods are shaped in a way that allow cleaning the teeth of the pets as they chew the food. However, these food options do not provide enough moisture as much as the wet version which is often holds significance during hot and dry climates, and when pets age or fall ill.
While there is a constant debate over which one is the ideal pet food, pet owners could use both types of food products occasionally or even together.
Organic and Natural Pet Food: Health Benefits to Boost Demand
Organic food for pets is gaining greater popularity amongst pet owners owing to their natural and additive-free ingredients. Pet owners are willing to spend more money when it comes to natural edible ingredients for pets owing to their benefits for the pets in the family.
Listed below are some of the potential benefits achieved by the consumption of natural and organic foods-
Greater Life Expectancy:
Organic foods ensure a longer life for the animals by promoting internal and external health of the pet. They help in boosting their immune system, thereby improving quality of life and increasing the life expectancy.
- Lesser Probability of Allergies:
Being free from chemical additives, artificial ingredients and components or toxic pesticides, which may cause discomfort to pets, organic and natural pet foods ensure that the pets are free from any illness or allergy. They directly aid the immune system of the pets allowing them to fight all kinds of allergies and infections.
Greater Energy:
With an extensive amount of nutrient-dense calories in them, the organic and natural pet foods provide great energy to the pets for staying active and physical for long.
Weight-management:
The consumption of natural and organic pet food helps in effective weight management. These foods help in avoiding obesity in pets which would increase the chances of sickness for the pet.
All-natural ingredients:
Organic and natural food items for pets do not contain any animal by-product such as tissues, fillers, or gluten. The presence of all-natural ingredients such as meat makes it a safer alternative for consumption.
Healthy Lifestyle:
Being a high source of proteins and grains, these foods are better digested. They help in keeping the digestive system far from disorders, thereby providing a healthier lifestyle for the pets.
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