A good diet is the best way to prevent health problems in our pets. The harmful effects that a poor diet can have on our pets translate into higher costs for veterinary services and a poor lifestyle.

Manufactured dog food is not suitable for all dogs, although this is a myth that most people believe. Dog food is supposed to be made for dogs, but what is often used in manufactured food is not fit for human consumption. Although pet foods are advertised as nutritionally complete, they are not complete foods that can cover all of your pets’ basic nutritional requirements. Another myth is that the larger the size of your pet, the more food you should give it.

Manufacturers claim that modern pet foods are formulated based on science and balanced to provide complete nutrition that supports health. Feeding your pets scraps of their meals is thought to upset the balance that scientifically formulated diets can provide.

Another myth promoted by many dog ​​food manufacturers is that you should feed your dog the same type of food because variety causes health problems. Animals can adapt to diets that are deficient in nutrients to some extent, but health problems will develop over time. Some of these conditions are not always related to poor diets, but can be cured with proper diets and supplements. Some examples are obesity, diabetes, allergies, or more serious conditions related to the immune or endocrine systems. Animals enjoy variety in their diet, just like carnivores and omnivores that live in the wild. Feeding your pet different animal proteins can help you identify food sensitivities or allergies, but it’s also a good way to reduce nutrient deficiencies or imbalance caused by one type of pet food.

If you think your pet doesn’t need vitamins, minerals, and other supplements because there’s so much of it in the pet food you buy, you’re wrong. Nutrients in pet food can be easily destroyed by the processing methods involved in its production. Synthetic additives added to correct nutrient deficiencies, along with chemical preservatives and colorants. The science of pet nutrition is not as developed as the interests of higher profit margins in the industry.

Substandard pet food is just as present on grocery store shelves as junk food and soda is for humans. Although there are brands that offer certified organic ingredients, raw, canned or freeze-dried foods, they receive less attention than brands that advertise heavily on television.

Regular dog food is too often made using human food by-products, sometimes imported from third world countries to maximize the profit margin for its producers. Testing of such foods can never be done for every batch of product because the costs would be too high. Recalls are common with such products due to bacterial and fungal contamination from poor quality ingredients.

Good nutrition may be a better way to avoid costly treatment and offers better insurance against serious illness.