For many pet lovers, their animal companions double as family members. Many pet owners spend extra time/money ensuring their pets are provided the best care.
They schedule regular vet visits, purchase pet accessories, and even hire pet nannies when they have to leave their pets for an extended period of time. It’s easy to see just how much pet owners love their companions.
Unfortunately, many pet owners have a blind spot when it comes to choosing food for their cats or dogs. Unbeknownst to them, they’re giving their pet cat or dog low-quality food.
In this article, we discuss the potential consequences of consistently giving your pet low-quality food. Keep them in mind as you decide which food you purchase for your pets.
Low-quality Food Can Contribute To Obesity
Obesity is a potential side effect of consistently feeding your pet low-quality commercial food. The complications that come from being obese can be very dire for your pet.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), obesity can cause serious health problems such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Don’t overlook the likelihood that your pet’s quality of life will deteriorate due to the excessive weight they have packed on.
So, how exactly does eating low-quality pet food contribute to obesity?
For starters, many examples of low-quality pet food contain plenty of calories and carbohydrates while still lacking nutrients so they aren’t receiving optimal nutrition. Unfortunately, pets tend to overeat when they aren’t getting enough nutrients. Once a pet develops a habit of overeating, becoming obese usually follows.
Increased Vulnerability to Various Ailments
Just like us, our pets have certain nutritional requirements. If those nutritional requirements aren’t met regularly, your pet may suffer as a result. They could end up becoming more susceptible to various ailments.
Malnourished pets could end up vomiting and the waste they expel may also change in appearance. They may also become more lethargic. You may also notice them shedding more.
It’s important to strike a balance when you’re putting together your pet’s diet. You want them to receive adequate nutrition while still leaving room for some occasional treats.
Exposure to Potentially Harmful Substances
Although they aren’t watched as strictly as human food, pet food is still monitored to ensure that it’s safe for animals to consume. Sadly, there have been instances over the years when chemicals found in pet food caused direct harm.
Back in 2007, large quantities of pet food were recalled after it was discovered that it had been tainted with certain chemicals. To be more specific, the recalled pet food contained melamine and cyanuric acid. Thousands of household pets in the United States died because they ate that tainted food.
Pet food recalls are very rare, but they can happen (to receive dog food recall alerts, sign up on Dog Food Advisor). Some manufacturers out there may be including harmful chemicals in their products because of a desire to cut down on costs.
If you’re not certain about the ingredients used in a particular brand of pet food, it may be best to just avoid it. Consider other options instead.
Feeding your pet low-quality food is a bad idea in so many ways. The savings you get from purchasing that kind of food might cost you more in vet bills. Pick up or prepare better food for your pet if you want to maintain their good health. If interested in learning more about the raw food diet, read our blog written by someone who educates other pet owners on the process.
Your pet deserves only the best when it comes to food and quality of companionship. Whenever you’re away, we at TAILored Pet Services can step in and stay with your beloved animal companion. Reach out to us today by emailing through our website or calling/texting 425-923-7791.
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