How do I choose the right food for my dog or cat?

What do you pay attention to when choosing a good food for your cat or dog?

The labels and names of dog and cat food are sometimes difficult to decipher and read. Some foods are called premium, gourmet or even super ultra premium and other foods only have a name on them. Does this matter much? There are brands that sell food with beef, but if you then look closer you see that it also contains a lot of chicken meat. And there are plenty of other examples. Then there are the ingredients themselves. One contains added sugar and the other seems to contain no sugar at all. One contains omega-3 fatty acids, while the other contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. What should you choose?

High-quality proteins in pet food

In our country, actually all the meat used in dog and cat food comes from high-quality meat processing plants. These meat processing companies get the meat from companies that also process the meat, which we as humans eat. The animal proteins are therefore of good quality and usually come from chickens, pigs or cattle. The diet foods intended for dogs and cats with food allergies or food hypersensitivities are often made from other animal protein sources. In these, lamb, goat, rabbit or horse meat is often used. This meat, too, is always of high quality, which benefits the health of dogs and cats.

Labels on dog and cat food must not give misleading information

Rules on naming have changed. Labels must no longer give misleading information. This is why many foods are no longer specifically called beef or pork, but have been given more general names such as pieces of meat in sauce or pâté with chicken and turkey. For the normal dog or cat, it does not matter what name (flavour) is on the food. However, it is advisable to look at the total amount of animal protein when making your choice. Animal protein is an expensive raw material, which is why the more expensive foods often contain more or more digestible protein. Every animal needs protein.

Organic dog and cat food is really something different from natural food

Nowadays, there are also more and more good organic dog and cat foods. The term "organic" has a strict legal definition and cannot be used lightly. It can only be called organic if the food meets Ministry of Agriculture standards. So this is completely different from when the label says it is a natural product. This is because this is not a term with an official definition and can be used by anyone.