Providing the foundation for their health, it can’t go without saying how crucial it is to have science in pet food. A poorly formulated pet food can spell disaster in a number of ways that can lead to expensive vet bills and cut your pet’s life short.
Due to several issues commonly seen with commercial pet foods, more pet parents are making the switch to creating their pet’s food for them at home.
But when these meals are created without rigorous research and science, they can lead to issues that could have been avoided with a commercial option. Let’s find out how we can avoid that with the invention of dog food recipe maker and more.
History Of Pet Food
During the Great Depression, dog owners sought cheaper pet food options with long shelf lives for feeding their dogs. This led to kibble becoming the most popular dog food option, which was created by James Spratt in 1860.
Since then, kibble has retained its spot as the most popular type of dog food. However, there is a growing pool of pet parents who want to go back to diets popular before the Great Depression.
Current Challenges in the Pet Food Industry
From controversial additives to poor cooking practices to misleading claims, there are a number of challenges the pet food industry sees. Recalls due to contamination, ethical sourcing concerns, and the need for individualized nutrition pose additional hurdles.
Addressing these challenges is crucial for ensuring the quality and health benefits of pet food, emphasizing transparency, nutritional balance, ethical practices, and improved communication between the industry, regulators, and pet owners.
However, addressing these challenges hasn’t come soon enough for many pet parents. This is leading to more dog owners taking their pets’ nutrition into their own hands, where they are opting to create their dogs’ food for them at home.
Importance of Science in Pet Nutrition
Due to several issues seen in the pet food industry, more and more pet owners desire to create their dogs’ meals for them at home, where they have complete control over the ingredients and cooking practices.
There is nothing inherently wrong about wanting to create homemade meals for your dog. In fact, with the proper practices, homemade meals can support your dog’s health like none other. However, more often than not, homemade diets are failing to support our dogs’ health far beyond what’s seen with commercial foods.
Innovations in Pet Food Science
During the late 1960s, the veterinary industry started promoting the idea that current kibble and wet food at the time were failing to satisfy our dogs’ nutritional needs. This quickly led to the birth of specialty dog foods that took into account a dog’s age, size, breed, etc.
The idea of creating meals formulated to our dog’s specific needs hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s more popular than ever before and why more pet parents are opting for homemade diets.
This is the big reason the raw diet has become so popular as it seeks to give our dogs meals similar to the foods they ate pre-human intervention. However, there are a number of concerns with a raw diet, from antibiotic resistance to nutrient balances.
This has led to the current craze in pet food and one that may finally replace the kibble diet. I’m talking about the fresh diet, which is composed of meals that feature a range of wholesome ingredients that have all been gently cooked to maximize nutrition while eliminating the bacteria concerns that come with the raw diet.
And with the invention of countertop dog food machines, dog parents can easily create these meals at home, where they can create meals that are truly personalized for their dogs.
The Role of Veterinarians and Pet Owners
In the realm of pet food, veterinarians and pet owners play pivotal roles, especially with the rise of homemade diets.
Veterinarians serve as key educators, imparting knowledge on the significance of nutrition in pet health. Their expertise guides pet owners in making informed dietary choices tailored to the specific needs of individual animals.
Collaboration between veterinarians and the pet food industry is essential to ensure scientific rigor in formulations. Simultaneously, pet owners should advocate for their pets’ well-being by understanding nutritional requirements and selecting appropriate diets.
You should form a strong partnership with your dog’s vet and listen to their concerns. While many vets aren’t fans of the raw diet — even when put together right — many love the concept of the fresh diet. Your vet can help you monitor your dog as they make the transition and show you what to look out for and anything in particular your dog may need in their diet.
