Nutrition

Our goal in providing this page of information is to direct you to the best information for choosing food for your pet. 

• Information provided by Animal Emergency and Referral Center
• Latest updates on the Grain-Free situation:  Nutrition Articles Updated July 21 2019
• The Savvy Cat Owner's Guide: Nutrition on the Internet
• The Savvy Dog Owner's Guide: Nutrition on the Internet

Canine and Feline Diets Recommendations - The following considerations should be researched in choosing the best nutrition for your furry friend:

Manufacturer contact information

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) lists these excellent questions to ask of manufacturers:

• Does the company have a veterinary nutritionist or equivalent on staff and available to answer questions?
• Who formulates the diets and what are their credentials?
• Are diets tested using AAFCO feeding trials or formulation tests?
• What is the caloric value (per can or cup)?
• Will you provide nutrient analysis and digestibility of your products?
• Describe your quality control measures to assure consistency and quality?
• Have there been recalls of any of your products?
• Where are your diets produced and manufactured?
• What kinds of research have been conducted on your products? Where is it published?

Nutritional Adequacy
        All pets foods should have a statement indicating if nutritional adequacy has been proven through feeding trials or formulation tests. Trials are preferable to formulation tests.

Life Stage Claim 

• Two profile standards are available from AAFCO: Maintenance and Growth/Reproduction. 
• If the label states it is appropriate for “all life stages” it must meet the standards for both standards.         
• In meeting these standards, excessive amounts of some nutrients may result in overfeeding.  
• No standards exist for the senior life stage.

Caloric Content Disclosure

• Caloric disclosure in not required by law and remains optional.
• Companies that report caloric content are preferred.
• Suggested feeding volumes are usually overstated by about 25% because these values are based on sexually intact adult pets.
• Most of our pets have been surgically altered.

Ingredients
       Evaluation of ingredients is the most controversial aspect of interpreting pet food labels.