What should I be feeding my pet?

Since we see more than 13,000 pets a year, we get so many questions about pets. They range from ‘why does my pet snore’ to ‘why has this rash been there for 7 years’. One of the most popular questions, however, is:

What should I be feeding my pet?

Browsing the scores of pet food options on a store’s shelves, with each one enticing you with images of real ingredients and happy-go-lucky pets, and labeled with marketing buzzwords such as “handcrafted” or “grain-free” can be overwhelming. Your veterinarian can steer you toward the food that’s ideal for your pet’s age, breed, size and activity level.

“Veterinarians can and should offer advice on feeding, not the high school kid at the food store,” said Dr. Karen Louis, a veterinarian and owner of Metro East Vet in Belleville, Illinois. “Some pet food companies have hired marketing teams that are positively brilliant at confusing pet owners.”

Feeding your pet the best food CAN be confusing.  Grain?  Grain free?  Protein?  Which kind?!  It’s hard enough to feed ourselves well!

Whenever you hear the answer ‘you should talk to your veterinarian about that’ to ANY question, don’t think it is just a brush off answer.  It truly is our professional opinion that anything associated with the health and wellbeing of your pet should be a conversation pet owners have with the doctors you trust to care for your pet.

While the internet can be tempting, it didn’t go to vet school.