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Why feed a premium dog food?

We all love our pets and want them to live long, healthy and happy lives. We keep them safe, active and well-fed, and because all of their nutrition comes directly from the food we choose, it’s our responsibility to make sure that food truly meets their needs. Choosing the right diet helps support long-term health, energy and overall wellbeing.

Just like humans, pets need a complete and balanced diet to maintain an ideal weight, support energy levels and stay healthy. Dogs and cats require the right combination of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and water, adjusted for their breed, lifestyle and life stage. These nutrients must also be easy for the body to absorb and, of course, taste great.

With so many bright packages and bold promises on store shelves, it can be hard to know what’s genuinely nutritious. That’s where premium pet food stands apart.

Are Premium Pet Foods Worth It?

The answer: Absolutely.

Premium pet foods go through extensive testing, often more rigorous than some human foods. To be considered “premium,” the formulas must meet the strict nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This requires high-quality meat, vegetables and supplements blended to ensure optimal nutrition, digestibility and flavour.

Why Premium Pet Foods Are Different

Premium pet food companies spend an enormous amount of resources on testing to not only meet but also maintain the standards set by the AAFCO.  They start with laboratory analysis to ensure that the nutrients are present in the correct ratio to the energy content and to each other.  This ensures that the food meets the requirements of the pet’s life stage and lifestyle, whether puppy or kitten, adult or senior.

Once the recipe has met these nutritional requirements, the research and development team further tests the food for palatability and digestibility through feeding trials.  For example, a panel of animals may be put on a 10 day feeding trial and their faeces collected every day and analysed for protein, fat, moisture and ash content.  The faeces is even graded from very soft to very hard, with the aim being for one that is just firm.  All of this unappetising work allows the researchers to determine whether the animals enjoy the food and how much of it their bodies utilise.  The better the raw material used in the food, the more the animal’s body absorbs, and the fewer and firmer their stools are.

Further testing is then undertaken in anywhere up to 8,000 households with animals that are at the life stage for which the food is aimed.  Testing at this stage can take up to six months and includes full veterinary examinations, food intake and body weight monitoring and observation of important indicators such as oral health, skin and coat health, body condition and faecal quality.  Blood samples are taken to monitor any nutritional changes, and of course, palatability is continuously monitored.

A premium pet food for cats and dogs can take up to three years to develop, and then, once it is available to sell to the pet owner, regular sampling of the finished product and continuous testing of the raw materials are undertaken.  The recipe that has then met the standards of the AAFCO remains exactly the same from one batch to the next, but where new nutritional innovations come to hand, a new recipe is developed, and the whole process of testing begins all over again to ensure that the product is at the highest standard possible before it can reach the market.

Why Do Premium Pet Foods Cost More?

The answer: They may not cost as much as you think.

Premium pet foods appear more expensive, but they often cost less per day than lower-grade foods. Budget foods frequently contain fillers with low nutritional value, meaning pets must eat more to get the nutrients they need. Premium foods use high-quality ingredients that the body can absorb more efficiently, so you feed less, and there’s less waste.

When you compare cost per meal instead of the price of the bag, premium foods often offer excellent value considering their quality and health benefits.

How Much Should You Feed?

Always follow the feeding guide on the packaging. Premium diets typically require smaller serving sizes because they are more nutrient-dense. Start with the lowest recommended amount and adjust only if your pet appears hungry or is losing weight.

Special Diets & Tailored Nutrition

Interestingly, some breeds have specific dietary needs, and premium pet food companies have developed formulas tailored to these.  For example, Rottweilers are prone to muscle, joint and skin problems, so a premium dog food is available that helps to build and maintain their muscle tone, supports healthy joints and contains zinc and copper for healthy skin.  Dachshunds are prone to back issues, and so the formula for this breed helps maintain a healthy body weight to reduce back stress and also contains antioxidants to support their immune system.  Specifically tailored formulas are also available for many other breeds of both dogs and cats.

Some animals have specific needs based on their age, size, health and even breed.  Where this is the case, the team at Better Pets and Gardens can advise on the best food for your cat or dog.

Cats are carnivorous by nature, and so their primary source of protein must come from real chicken, red meat or fish and not vegetables.  Premium cat foods offer this, but in formulas to suit their age and lifestyle.  For indoor cats, the formulation available reduces the discomfort of hairballs, allowing them to pass gently through their body.  Mature cats that are older than 7 years require different levels of antioxidants as well as protein, fat, calories, vitamins and minerals than young, active cats, and so choosing a product to suit their age is important for optimal health.

Premium pet foods contain quality ingredients that, by their very nature, are beneficial in several health issues such as dietary intolerances, food allergies and urinary tract, intestinal and skin disorders.  There are, however, specialised diets that have been developed to treat specific conditions such as obesity, reduced kidney function, liver disease and convalescence after illness or surgery.  For specific medical issues, seek veterinary advice.

BENEFITS OF PREMIUM PET FOODS

Apart from having the highest quality ingredients and maintaining strict standards in production and recipes, premium pet foods offer the following benefits:

Final Thoughts

Premium pet foods are carefully developed, nutritionally balanced and highly digestible, giving your pet everything they need to thrive. When you consider the quality ingredients, extensive testing and lower daily feeding cost, premium diets offer exceptional value and long-term health benefits.

If you’re unsure which premium food is right for your pet, our team is always happy to help.