How and Why Pet Food has evolved over the years

We all love our pets. Sometimes we love them more than humans. That’s why we take special care in giving our pets very wholesome and enjoyable meals and treats whenever possible. Meals and treats that remind them of how much we love them and how much we want them to be with us for as long as they can.

It’s very sad to lose any pet. We’ve had our share of losses too. And it’s because of these losses that we have to consider a change in diet for our beloved fur babies.

Grain based diets are Harmful

Kibble is a common way to feed our pets. It is amongst the easiest ways to plan and schedule feeding times for furry family. Not all kibble has been designed or developed in the mentality to keep our pets healthy. In fact, there are studies that link some cancers and other diseases with the processed foods we give to our pets. A lot of these foods contain grains and other filler ingredients.

We’re not saying all grains are bad. For the most part, mass-produced grains are not very good for digestion and cause inflammation to vital organs. Things like wheat, corn, and oats can be questionably grown with genetically modified organisms (GMO) and are considered very harmful to both humans and animals. But there are also grains that are highly coveted and provide many health benefits. We will talk about that in a future article.

There are many new companies which offer more protein based products. Products that link to a higher energy level, shinier coat, increased activity, normal stools, and various other benefits when used over grain based pet foods.

Grain or Grain Free

We’re not the experts on this matter. But you can find several articles related to this specific topic. Below is a video we thought would be useful in explaining the differences in grain and grain free.

YouTube | The Tattooed Dog Trainer

Since the discovery of harmful side effects of grains in food, a movement for healthier choices and green eating has become widely recognized and accepted. If the food isn’t good enough for a human, than they’re certainly not good enough for our pets either. Right?

Grain free products started to hit the market at a slow, but noticeable pace over the years. A demand for them has opened a doorway for scientists and nutritionists to explore the possibility of using fresh foods, and sourcing them from reputable suppliers. The need for these products over processed pet foods has been on the rise ever since.

Fresh food vs. Raw food

Fresh foods have been another popular choice in feeding our fur babies. Some of these were merely leftovers we didn’t feel like eating later, and basically junk food for our pets. The problem here lies in the process of cooking these foods, which can also be harmful to our pets as well.

Fresh foods offer a variety of benefits. When prepared from scratch and holistically cooked with our pets in mind, we can find them to be more excited when it comes to meal time. They are often happier and have less health issues from this method, because they know we’ve taken the time to make them a heartfelt meal when we also decide to eat.

This brings us to raw foods. Raw foods offer the same type of benefits and are more naturally and biologically digestible for our pets. That’s why you will find diehard advocates who believe that this is the best way to feed your fur babies, and rightfully so.

It’s up to you

We’re not here to give you advice. Ultimately it’s your choice. We just want to give you the information, so that you can make a careful decision, the next time meal time comes around for your pets. We care about all animals, just as much as we care for pets and feeding them the right way, will ensure longevity and more happy years to come.

Here are a few suggestions on grain free, fresh food, and raw food choices for your fur babies:

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo is centered around the food philosophy of how pets should be fed. They provide grain free products in all categories and have a very comprehensive quiz that caters to your specific pet needs.

Ollie

Ollie is centered around a mixture of dry and wet foods prepared by subscription for delivery to your home, so you never have to go out and buy it yourself.

The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog is centered around human-grade raw foods, straight from high quality reputable sources, which may be purchased in stores or online.

Woody’s Pet Food Deli

If you’re native to Minnesota, you can find a local Woody’s to window shop your choices and speak with their staff about their variety.

Badlands Ranch

Badlands Ranch is designed with kibble in mind, but without the low quality, overcooked ingredients most kibble manufacturers use. They pride themselves in providing a clean, healthy, and nutritious option.

We don’t have a favorite choice here. It’s really just up to you at this point. But if you liked reading this, please consider subscribing to our blog for more tips and information on how to love your pets, like we love them as our own. Thanks for reading.