In recent years, an industry has grown around these anxieties. Consumers can now choose from an ever-increasing number of high-end dog food brands that advertise “real” food, often resembling the food we feed ourselves: carrot chunks , chicken cubes, leaves from green vegetables. You can choose from flash-frozen raw foods, dehydrated meats and whole grains, and vegetarian diet supplements. Several brands will ship “customized” diets to your home, borrowing a concept from human meal delivery services. The food is usually labeled “human-grade,” often refrigerated, advertised as not including “fillers,” and almost always at a higher price point than more common midrange brands.
By the looks of it, the food seems better than the kibble my dogs eat in every conceivable measure – fresher, more nutritious, tastier. Although often harder to find, store, and afford, this looks like the kind of food you’ll feel good about good about feeding your best dog friend; as it can make them healthier and happier. But is it?
“The most important thing for the health of the pet is that the food provides all the necessary nutrients, all the vitamins, all the minerals, the right amount of protein and fat, and so on, that they need to be healthy. , “said by Jonathan Stockman, assistant professor at Long Island University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. These standards are set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and are met by most commercial dog foods available in the United States. “That’s not really something that’s provided in any better way by more human-like diets,” Stockman said.
Carly Fox, senior veterinarian at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center NYC, agrees. “The nutritional content of high-end brands of dog food is not significantly different from typical grocery store brands,” he told me via email.
If you buy a quality grocery store brand, Fox isn’t particularly concerned about fillers. “Most of the ‘fillers’ in dog food are different types of carbohydrates (ie, grains, potatoes, legumes, etc.),” he says. They provide fiber, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, and they likely make up a large percentage of dogs’ caloric intake. Based on previously reported nutritional information, Fox estimates that a brand like Farmer’s Dog, a company that delivers portions of fresh food to your door, has a carbohydrate-to-protein ratio of about 1:1. But he says the carbohydrate content of pet food is difficult to measure; not necessarily listed on packaging and may vary among brand recipes. He estimates the same ratio is found in most mid-range brands, such as Blue Buffalo. (A value brand, such as Kibbles ‘n Bits, fares a bit worse, in his assessment, with a ratio closer to 2:1.)
Jonathan Regev, co-founder and chief executive of Farmer’s Dog, said the company’s ratio of carbs to protein, on average, is better than 1:1, but he declined to give a different ratio. Regardless, he says that’s not the most important benefit of the company’s foods, writing in an email: “Our uncompromising standards in both the quality and unique production of our food — especially our avoidance of intense processing that’s the unfortunate default throughout the pet food industry — the reason veterinarians and consumers are increasingly moving away from kibble and canned products.
The “human-grade” designation on dog foods may not mean what you think it does. According to AAFCO, human ingredients are “stored, handled, processed, and transported in a manner consistent and compliant” with human food, meaning the factory or kitchen is licensed to produce food for humans and animals. . “Although the standards for human foods are different in some ways than for pet foods,” says Fox, “this does not translate into enhanced health benefits, or mean that the ingredients are actually better for your pet.”
The “made in the USA” label carries some weight. While it doesn’t necessarily say anything about the quality of a food, ingredients that come from the United States are at least “generally safe,” said John Loftus, an assistant professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “There have been some issues with ingredients from China,” he says, so he recommends avoiding pet foods that come from there. Loftus said jerky treats should be made in the United States, especially.
One area where high-end foods are better, according to Loftus, is digestibility. It refers to how well nutrients from a food can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Loftus said traditional grocery store brands have come a long way in terms of their churn rate, with many of them coming in somewhere around 90 percent. However, fresh diets are “probably a little bit higher.”
Fresh diets can also help, if your dog is a picky eater who finds human food tastier. “Satisfaction may be enough of a reason to justify the increased cost,” Fox said. Caregivers can also choose to cook their dog’s food at home, a route Loftus suggests they take only with the guidance of a veterinary nutritionist (or recipes supported by one). “Making sure they have all the vitamins and minerals they need is really important,” she says.
The bottom line seems to be that you’re not doing your dog a huge disservice by feeding him typical grocery store kibble. But if you, like me, still want some guidance on how to make sure your dog’s diet is healthy and nutritious, Fox says there are a few things you should look out for. First, make sure the food meets AAFCO standards for your dog’s age, and that it passes feeding tests perfectly. The manufacturer should be known and contacted for any questions, and the company should employ veterinary nutritionists (and participate in published, peer-reviewed research). You should also keep an eye on your dog’s health — monitor their weight, their stool, their skin and coat, and tell your vet if anything seems wrong. They can help you adjust their diet or guide you toward a new type of food, if necessary.
Honestly, it’s not like my dogs have ever shown negative feelings about their food. When it’s time to eat, they jump and spin with joy, and they always ask for a little more. Their health is good and stable. It seems that right now the only thing about their “sad dog cereal” that needs to change is my own perception of it. Let’s call it “normal dog cereal,” maybe, or “dog cereal that tastes really good!”
Kelly Conaboy is a New York writer covering dogs, culture and dog culture.
clarification
This article has been modified to provide additional context about how Carly Fox, senior veterinarian at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center NYC, estimated the carbohydrate-to-protein ratio of fresh dog food brands such as Farmer’s Dog. It has also been updated to add that the chief executive of Farmer’s Dog disputed Fox’s estimate and to add a quote from him.
correction
A previous version of this article incorrectly identified a senior veterinarian at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center NYC. She’s Carly Fox, not Amy Fox. The article has been corrected.
