Did you know that 80% of dog and cat owners have major misconceptions when it comes to their pet’s food? Pet food has been around a long time: it has a life, history, and fascinating bits of trivia that may surprise you.
Over 150 Years Of Nutritional Evolution
Commercial pet food has been around since 1860, when a guy named James Spratt from Ohio created a biscuit type dog food by carefully compounding a preparation of wheat meals, vegetables, beetroot, and meat to feed dogs on ships going between America and Europe. That’s over 150 years of nutritional evolution to help make your pet’s life better.
Your Pet Food Stinks
When it comes to dog food, it’s not about taste. Humans have a strong sense of taste, with around 9,000 taste buds, compared to a dog’s average of about 1700, and cats with an average of about 470. So, it’s common for us humans to have the misconception that our pets feel the same way about the taste of what they are eating. Not so.
With our furry family member it’s more about the smell than the taste when it comes to grub. Dogs have about 125 million sensory cells in their noses, as opposed to us humans, with our 5 to 10 million. So, when your pet loves a partifucal food, it’s not the flavor so much as the smell that gets that tail wagging or that kitten purring.
Gotta Keep It Fresh Yo’
Ever notice how excited your dogs and cats get when you open a fresh bag of food? Do they seem to lose interest over time? As foods age they lose their delicious aroma, so it’s important to keep your pet’s food fresh and smelling its best.
The average dry dog or cat food is at its peak for about a month after you crack that bag open, so be sure to keep it tightly closed, or in a container with a proper lid to seal in that new food smell.
Starches Rock Your Kibble
Grain free does not mean starch free. Sometimes, people get these two confused. Starchy vegetables like peas and garbanzo beans are important in dog and cat food because of their nutritional value. They also help to bond the food together into those lovely little kibble shapes that are easy to scoop into a bowl, and cats and dogs love to eat.
Highest Trending Pet Food Faux “Paw”
The most commonly made pet food mistake is overfeeding. Pudgy pets may look cute, but it’s not good for them. More than half of our pet dogs and cats are overweight, which can lead to all sorts of health problems. Healthy weight can be supported by proper measures and avoiding too many treats or human foods.
Like humans, overweight and obese dogs and cats are more likely to get ill than their normal weight counterparts. An overweight dog is more likely to suffer from breathing difficulties, diabetes, damage to joints and ligaments, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and decreased liver function.