Myth Busters: Answering Common Owner Questions About Pet Food

Myth Busters: Answering
Common Owner Questions
About Pet Food

Lisa M. Freeman, An owner’s decision about what to feed his or her pet has
DVM, PhD, DACVN become a more complicated question than it once was.
Tufts Cummings School of There is no single “best” food for all pets because optimal
Veterinary Medicine diet(s) depends on many factors, such as life stage, body condi-
North Grafton, Massachusetts tion, exercise (or lack thereof), environment, and health status.
Often owners base their decisions on marketing messages rather
than objective nutritional data. Although there are limitations, the
information provided on a pet food label can provide helpful
guidance for making objective selections of appropriate foods.
The two most useful pieces of information on a pet food label are
the nutritional adequacy statement and the manufacturer.

16 Myth Busters: Answering Common Owner Questions About Pet Food

Nutritional Adequacy It is important to ensure that the criteria out-
The Association of American Feed Control lined below help to ensure that the food is
Officials (AAFCO) adequacy statement must made by a reputable and knowledgeable com-
be included on all pet food labels in the United pany with strict quality control measures.
States. This statement confirms 3 important
facts: The Manufacturer
The manufacturer’s name and contact in-
1. Whether the food is complete and balanced. formation should be provided. The manufac-
All over-the-counter foods should be com- turer should then be contacted for answers to
plete and balanced. If the statement reads the following questions:
“for intermittent or supplemental use only,”
it is not complete and balanced. The prod- 1. If the product is tested using AAFCO nu- While feeding
uct may be acceptable as a veterinary thera- trient profiles rather than feeding trials, does trials help to test
peutic food to be used for a specific it do so by formulation or by analysis of the for the food’s
purpose––eg, in a case of severe kidney dis- finished product? The latter is preferable. nutritional
ease––but should be avoided for everyday adequacy,
feeding. 2. Do they employ a full-time qualified nutri- they do not
tionist? What is this nutritionist’s name and guarantee
2. If the food is complete and balanced, for qualifications? Appropriate qualifications that the food
which life stage is it intended? AAFCO pro- are either a PhD in animal nutrition or provides
vides nutrient profiles and feeding trial re- board certification by the American College adequate
quirements for growth, reproduction, and of Veterinary Nutrition or the European nutrition under
adult maintenance but not for senior/geri- College of Veterinary Comparative Nutri- all conditions.
atric status. A food that is formulated to tion. Who formulates their foods and what
meet the AAFCO profiles for all life stages are his/her credentials?
must meet the minimum nutrient levels for
both growth and adult maintenance. 3. Where are their ingredients produced and
their food manufactured?
3. How did the company determine that the
food is complete and balanced? Labels may 4. What specific quality control measures do
include 1 of 2 statements regarding nutri- they use to assure the consistency and
tional adequacy: quality of ingredients and the end prod-
uct? Examples include certification of a
• “[Product name] is formulated to meet the manufacturer’s procedures (eg, by Hazard
nutritional levels established by the Analysis and Critical Control Points,
AAFCO Dog (Cat) Food Nutrient Pro- Global Food Safety Initiative, or Ameri-
files for [life stage(s)].” This determination can Feeding Industry Association); testing
is based either on the recipe or on analytic ingredients and end products for nutrient
testing of the finished product (preferably content, pathogens, and aflatoxins; mate-
the latter). rials risk assessments; and supplier audits.

• “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO pro- 5. Can they (and will they) provide informa-
cedures substantiate [product name] pro- tion on levels for any requested nutrient
vides complete and balanced nutrition for (protein, phosphorus, sodium, etc) for the
[life stage(s)].” Feeding trial evaluation of dog or cat food in question? An average/typ-
food is the basis of this statement. While ical analysis is preferable as a guaranteed
feeding trials help to test for the food’s nu- analysis provides only the minimums or
tritional adequacy, they do not guarantee maximums and not exact numbers. These
that the food provides adequate nutrition values should ideally be given on an energy
under all conditions. basis (ie, grams per 100 or 1,000 kilocalo-

Critical Updates on Canine & Feline Health • 2014 NAVC/WVC Proceedings 17

ries) rather than on an “as fed” or “dry mat- conducted? Are the results published in
ter” basis. The latter two do not account for peer-reviewed journals?
the variable energy density of different foods.
6. What is the caloric value per gram, can, or If the manufacturer cannot or will not provide
cup of the food? any of this information, one should be cau-
7. What kind of product research has been tious about using that brand.

FAQS ABOUT PET FOOD FROM OWNERS & ANSWERS*

Pets require What is the best food to feed my pet? pealing (to people) ingredients. Some manu-
nutrients, not Despite all the marketing claims to the con- facturers may add ingredients to products
ingredients; trary, there is no best diet for all pets. Every solely for marketing purposes, to increase the
a food full of pet is unique, so the goal is to find the best appeal of the food to consumers. These ingre-
great-sounding food for the individual pet. Expense doesn’t dients may have unproven benefits, be present
ingredients can necessarily equate with quality. Some inex- in miniscule amounts, and provide nothing to
be less nutritious pensive foods have years of rigorous scientific the food but added expense. More ingredients
than one testing behind them and some very expen- also mean increased quality control measures
containing less sive ones lack vital nutrients or are based on (and more time and expense) are necessary to
appealing (to unsound science. Larger companies generally ensure that the finished product adheres to the
people) have more stringent quality control proto- desired nutrient formulation.
ingredients. cols, employ expert nutritionists and food
scientists, and strive to increase collective nu- My friend says that grains are bad
trition knowledge through research. Smaller for dogs. Is this correct?
manufacturers may have less control over in- Whole grains, rather than being fillers, con-
gredient quality, perform less laboratory test- tribute valuable nutrients including protein,
ing, and are less likely to employ full- or vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and
part-time veterinary nutritionists. fiber to foods while helping to keep the fat
and calories lower than if animal products
Is the ingredient list a good way to were used in their place. Even refined grains
determine the quality of a pet food? such as white rice can have beneficial health
Although ingredient lists are commonly implications depending on the type of food
used by lay people to determine the quality and the pet. Dogs and cats can efficiently di-
of pet foods, this approach has many pitfalls gest and use nutrients from grains. Allergies
and is subject to intentional manipulation to grains (and even to animal proteins such
by the food manufacturer. Ingredients are as chicken, beef, and dairy) are actually very
listed on labels in order of weight, including uncommon in dogs and cats.
water, so ingredients with high water con-
tent (like fresh meats and vegetables) are It is becoming more common in the satu-
listed before similar amounts of dry ingre- rated pet food market for manufacturers to
dients, even though they may contribute perpetuate myths to sell products and in-
fewer nutrients overall. crease market share. Grain-free foods are
often an example of this strategy. Many such
Pets require nutrients, not ingredients; a products merely substitute highly refined
food full of great-sounding ingredients can be starches such as those from potatoes or tapi-
less nutritious than one containing less ap- oca in place of grains. These ingredients
often provide fewer nutrients and less fiber
*Modified from the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Med- than whole grains while costing more.
icine Nutrition website: tufts.edu/vet/nutrition/faq

18 Myth Busters: Answering Common Owner Questions About Pet Food

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES

Nutrition Guidelines Commercial Pet Food • Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association • Association of American Feed Control Regulatory and safety issues of dietary
supplements, adverse event reporting
Nutritional Assessment Guidelines Officials: Information on regulations, – fda.gov/food/DietarySupplements/
– wsava.org/educational/ labeling, and other important facts about default.htm
pet food
global-nutrition-committee – petfood.aafco.org/ • Mayo Clinic Drugs and Supplements
• American Animal Hospital Association • FAQs about pet foods Information: Fact sheets on human
– tufts.edu/vet/nutrition/faq/ supplements and herbs
Nutritional Assessment Guidelines – mayoclinic.com/health/
– aahanet.org/Library/ general_pet_nutrition.html drug-information/DrugHerbIndex
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pet
NutritionalAsmt.aspx • National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office
Food site: Information, links, food safety of Dietary Supplements: Evaluating
Tools for the Veterinary Health Care Team issues, recalls, pet food labels, reporting supplements, fact sheets, safety notices,
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association portal internet health info
– fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/Products/ – ods.od.nih.gov
Nutrition Toolkit
– wsava.org/nutrition-toolkit AnimalFoodFeeds/PetFood/default.htm • United States Department of Agriculture
• Pet Nutrition Alliance • Pet Food Institute: Information on (USDA) Food and Nutrition Information
– petnutritionalliance.org/ Center: General supplement and
ingredient definitions, nutrition myths, nutrition information, links to a variety of
Pet Nutrition – General Information for Pet labeling regulations dietary supplement websites
Owners – petfoodreport.com – fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.
• National Research Council php?info_center=4&tax_level=
Home-Cooked Pet Food 1&tax_subject=274
downloadable booklets: Your Dog’s • Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary
Nutritional Needs and Your Cat’s • United States Pharmacopeia Dietary
Nutritional Needs Medicine Nutrition Service Frequently Supplement Verification Program:
– dels-old.nas.edu/banr/petdoor.html Asked Questions Independent testing of dietary
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association – tufts.edu/vet/nutrition/faq/ supplements (human supplements only)
Nutrition Toolkit (The Savvy Dog Owner’s – usp.org/usp-verification-services/
Guide to Nutrition on the Internet, The home-cooked_diets.html usp-verified-dietary-supplements
Savvy Cat Owner’s Guide to Nutrition on • American College of Veterinary Nutrition:
the Internet, and Selecting the Best Food Raw Meat Diets
for Your Pet) Listing of board-certified veterinary • Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary
– wsava.org/nutrition-toolkit nutritionists who will formulate nutritionally
balanced homemade food recipes for Medicine Raw Diet Fact Sheet
Pet Nutrition – General Information for veterinarians and/or pet owners – tufts.edu/vet/nutrition/resources/
Veterinarians (Nutrition Myths) – acvn.org
• Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary • BalanceIT: Commercial website that raw_meat_diets.pdf
offers semicustomized balanced home- • FDA Guidance Document on Safe
Medicine Nutrition Service Frequently cooked food recipes for pet owners with
Asked Questions healthy pets. Veterinarians can customize Handling of Raw Foods
– tufts.edu/vet/nutrition/faq/ preformulated recipes for animals with – fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/
medical conditions.
general_pet_nutrition.html – balanceit.com CVMUpdates/ucm048030.htm
• Nestlé Purina Nutrition Myths
Dietary Supplements Other
– purinaveterinarydiets.com/Veterinarian/ • Consumerlab: Site (with a small • Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative: Nutrition
SignIn.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fVeterinarian%
2fSupport%2fMyths%2fDefault.aspx subscription fee for use) that and other tips for optimizing the indoor
independently evaluates dietary pet’s environment
• P&G Deciphering Fact from Fiction supplements (primarily for human – indoorpet.osu.edu/
(co-written by Dr. Freeman) supplements but some pet supplements • USDA Nutrient Database: Full nutrient
– pgpetwellness.com are included) profiles on thousands of human foods
– consumerlab.com – nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search

I read online that by products can per-weight basis and are important compo-
include hair, hooves, and floor nents and even delicacies of human diets in
sweepings. Is this true? other countries. The term by product indicates
By products are commonly vilified, often by that the ingredient is a leftover from animal
pet food manufacturers that are trying to carve carcasses once the desirable (for Americans)
out market share for themselves. By products muscle meat has been removed. AAFCO def-
(mainly organ meats and entrails) often pro- initions of mammalian by products specifically
vide more nutrients than muscle meats on a exclude hair, hooves, horn, hide trimmings,

Critical Updates on Canine & Feline Health • 2014 NAVC/WVC Proceedings 19

With the manure, and intestinal contents as well as any- tested over decades to provide adequate nu-
exception of thing that is not specifically part of the carcass trition for the dog or cat. With the exception
some pets with (floor sweepings, for example). As with all in- of some pets with multiple or severe health
multiple or severe gredients, the quality of by products can vary, concerns, there is a commercial food that is
health concerns, so it is important to select manufacturers that appropriate for every pet, and nutritional de-
there is a have stringent internal quality control stan- ficiency diseases are rare in pets that are fed
commercial dards. commercial products. While home-cooked
food that is foods allow more control of ingredients and
appropriate for I’ve heard that raw diets prevent customization to the specific pet, most home-
every pet, and and/or solve a lot of health problems cooked food recipes are not formulated by a
nutritional in pets. Is this true? qualified veterinary nutritionist and are vague
deficiency Despite anecdotal reports from pet owners and and deficient in multiple essential nutrients,
diseases are rare even some veterinarians, there is currently no making them much less nutritious than com-
in pets that are evidence that raw foods offer any benefits over mercial foods. Even when the recipe is nutri-
fed commercial cooked ones. However, there is substantial ev- tionally balanced, there is no evidence that the
products. idence that raw foods may be associated with average animal receives better nutrition from
dental fractures, bacterial and parasitic infec- a home-cooked food than a commercial food.
tions, and other health concerns in pets. These For the vast majority of pet owners, commer-
foods also pose potential risk to people, espe- cial pet foods offer the best nutrition with the
cially those that are immunocompromised most convenience and affordability.
such as young children, the elderly, and pa-
tients receiving immune-modifying drugs or What is the best diet for a growing
who have cancer. Pets that eat contaminated puppy or kitten?
raw foods have been demonstrated to shed vi- Growing kittens should be fed a kitten food or
able pathologic organisms in their feces, and it an “all life stages” formula until 1 year of age.
is likely that areas that they frequent are also Growing small- and medium-breed puppies
contaminated. As numerous recalls and some need a puppy or “all life stages” formula until
pathogen surveys in the last few years have 1 year of age. Large- and giant-breed puppies
proven, all raw meat, regardless of source, (adult size >50 lb) need a food specifically de-
should be considered to be contaminated until signed for large-breed puppies until 12 to 18
proven otherwise. In addition to food safety months of age. It is ideal if the product has
concerns, nearly all home-prepared raw diets passed AAFCO feeding trials rather than
and many commercially available raw prod- merely being “formulated to meet” the nutri-
ucts are deficient in essential nutrients. It is also ent profiles for growth. Throughout growth,
common for commercial raw products to be it is important to keep a puppy or kitten lean
very high in fat, which may not be tolerated to reduce risks for health problems and to op-
by some animals. For more information, check timize its life span. Spaying or neutering re-
the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary duces calorie requirements, so it is important
Medicine client handout on raw meat diets. to reduce calories after surgery to reduce the
risk for obesity.
Are home-cooked foods healthier for
my pet than commercial products?
High-quality commercial pet foods have been

20 Myth Busters: Answering Common Owner Questions About Pet Food