It’s common for pet owners to feel lost or overwhelmed when it comes to their dog or cat’s nutrition. Information overload is real, and there is no shortage of misinformation. Herein, animal specialists have a role to play in separating fact from fiction and guiding owners towards healthy and good-tasting food.
Every owner wants to do best by their pet, but it’s easy to get sidetracked by common misconceptions,” says a rep with Hill’s Pet Nutrition do have good research that can bring the facts to light.”
There are many myths worth busting when it comes to pet nutrition. Ahead are some of the most misleading…
Myth: Dogs are carnivores.
Truth: Dogs may belong to the “Carnivora” family, but their ability to eat and remain healthy on a diet consisting of both plant and animal foods places them as omnivores from a dietary perspective.[1]
Myth: Cats should not eat carbohydrates because they are carnivores.
Truth: Cats are carnivores and have a high dietary protein requirement, but they can also use carbohydrates efficiently for energy. Carbohydrates spare protein necessary to sustain blood glucose concentrations and provide a substrate for lactose during milk production. As such, research indicates that food fed to growing animals and those with high-energy needs should contain at least 20% carbohydrates.[2]
Myth: Natural means organic.
Truth: Natural and organic are not interchangeable terms. Similar claims such as “free-range,” “hormone-free,” and “natural” can appear on food labels, but they should also not be confused with “organic,” which are defined as products that have been certified as organic in accordance with USDA and AAFCO regulations.
Myth: Pet foods with ingredients listed as “by-products” are inferior.
Truth: By-products are common ingredients in both human and pet food. A by-product is simply something produced in the making of something else (e.g., vitamin E is a by-product created when processing soybeans). Ingredients listed on pet food labels as meat by-products include organ meats such as liver and kidney, which have excellent nutritional value.
Myth: Cats should not eat carbohydrates because of the risk of diabetes.
Truth: Current evidence does not support a direct cause-and-effect relationship between increased carbohydrate intake and diabetes in cats.8 And because of relatively increased amounts of protein, phosphorus and fat, some low-carbohydrate foods may not be ideal for diabetic cats with concurrent conditions (e.g., kidney disease, hepatic disease, pancreatitis).
Myth: Corn can cause gastrointestinal upset and/or allergies
Truth: Corn can be safely and easily digested and is not a common cause of adverse or allergic food reactions in pets. In fact, corn is implicated in fewer allergy cases than other common protein sources such as beef, dairy products, wheat, chicken, egg, lamb or soy.[3]
Myth: Reading the ingredient list is the best way to assess the suitability of pet food.
Truth: Ingredient lists are just one part of the puzzle. Appropriate amounts of precisely formulated nutrients are just as important as ingredients.
Keeping your dog or cat healthy doesn’t have to be complex. Learn more about proven pet nutrition at Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
[1] Debraekeleer J, Gross KL, Zicker SC. Introduction to feeding normal dogs. In: Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al., eds. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. 5th ed. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute; 2010:251-255.
[2] Gross KL, Yamka RM, Khoo C, et al. Macronutrients. In: Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al., eds. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. 5th ed. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute; 2010:49-105.
[3] Roudebush P. Ingredients associated with adverse food reactions in dogs and cats. Adv Sm Anim Med Surg. 2002;15(9):1-3.