Owners love their pets and want to make sure they are feeding them well. Common pet food for sale in the grocery or discount store is inexpensive and convenient to purchase; more than likely, natural pet foods require a special trip and are usually more expensive. Is there really a difference? Well, yes.

Conventional Versus Natural Pet Food

The differences involve the quality of the ingredients and the degree of processing. Pet food contains protein from various sources. The protein comes primarily from the ground remains of animal processing such as the heads, feet, and intestines — the discards of the human food industry. This practice allows farmers to gain added revenue rather than having to pay to get rid of waste, and it provides the pet-food industry with a low-cost protein supply. Preservatives are also added to pet food to ensure that it lasts for months, in the grocery store and at home. Many commercial pet foods include grains that are not digestible by dogs and cats. Even though grains contribute relatively small amounts of protein compared to meat, this is done so that the label will reflect a certain concentration of protein.

The meat processed into by-product meal or meat and bone meal may be from sick or healthy animals. The meat products are processed through an extruder that steams the material under high pressure to form food nuggets. This processing destroys the nutritional value, requiring manufacturers to put nutrients and minerals back into the product.

The FDA is responsible for regulating the pet-food industry but does not require premarket approval before a pet food can be sold. Instead, its responsibilities lie with ensuring that the ingredients are safe and necessary and that the food is labeled correctly with the manufacturer's name and contact information along with all of the ingredients.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is made up of federal and state regulators. The group has no regulatory authority, but it is involved in developing model laws and regulations, uniform feed ingredient definitions, and appropriate labeling.

When choosing a pet food, it's important to pick a brand that has an AAFCO guarantee and cites feeding tests or feeding profiles, not just nutrient profiles. Many natural recipes will include higher quality protein without by-products. Look for labels that include identified meat like chicken, lamb, or beef as the first ingredient, not just the word meat. Natural pet food will most likely not use chemical preservatives but will rely on vitamins C and E to partially or fully preserve food. As an added bonus, some natural foods are sold in recycled packaging.

If you want to change your pet's diet, don't try it all at once. Although owners may prefer a change to more natural food, a sudden change may upset a healthy pet's digestive system. A small portion of the new food can be mixed with a larger portion of the old food to slowly introduce more and more of the new food. When changing pet foods, watch your companion for any warning signs, such as changes in coat, body weight, or odor, that mean the new food may not be agreeing with them.

Homemade Pet Food

One sure way to know your pets are getting a balanced and natural diet is to make their food at home. This may also prove successful if your animal companion suffers from reactions to commercial food. If planning to make homemade pet food, it's important to meet the animal's nutritional requirements. You can consult a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist on the appropriate breakdown of protein, vegetables, and grain and any other vitamins or minerals that need to be added. When planning your pet's meals, be sure to know what foods your pet shouldn't eat, such as milk and onions. You don't need to spend hours slaving over a dinner for your pet, either. Some animals, like dogs, can handle eating raw meat without problems. If you would like to switch your pet to a homemade diet, do it gradually, just as if you were changing commercial pet foods.