Choosing The Right Food wa photo: Dinganch@concentric.net The benefits of a wholesome, natural diet include increased energy and fewerallergies. (NAPSA)—Pets hold a special place in American hearts; more than 71 million homes havepets. And pet owners want the best for their beloved dogs and cats. A Harris survey commissioned by the Wellness brand of natural pet food found sometelling information about pet owners: 56 percent of dog and/or cat owners worry that their pets’ food contains ingredients they wouldn’t want them consuming. Just 38 percent say they understand all the ingredients listed on their pet food labels. Pets are what they eat—just as it is with humans. People make healthy choices because of the long-term benefit, and the same should hold true with the food choices made for dogs and cats. Pets can’t pick their food, which means ownersare responsible for giving them the right recipes so that they can be healthy. So why are so many pet owners feeding their furry family members the equivalent ofjunk food every day? “Pet owners ask their veterinarian what they can do to raise a healthy pet,” said board-certified veterinary nutritionist Edward Moser, MS, VMD, DACVN. “The most important thing they can do is to feed their animals a superior, natural diet based on simple, authentic ingredients.” Premium foods, such as Well- ness Super5Mix formulas for dogs and Wellness Complete Health for cats, include high-quality ingredients that deliver an ideal balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates. All the Wellness food and snack recipes are made without any fillers or potential allergens such as wheat (including wheat gluten) or soy, and include no added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The kinds of pet foods that do use artificial flavors, colors and preservatives often have lower nutritional value and may be high in “empty calorie” fillers such as grains that are not typically digestible by pets. Dogs and cats fed low-quality food will often eat more to feel satisfied, which can quickly eat up a family’s pet-food budget. The pet nutrition experts at Wellness recommend studying the ingredient label on your pet’s food. Here are some things to look (and look out) for: Meat should be the first ingredient, not meat or poultry byproducts. Avoid commonly identified allergens (e.g., wheat, wheat gluten, soy). No added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives should be found in the food. * Look for ingredients you recognize, such as chicken, fish and wholesomefruits and vegetables. “When a dog or cat eats a simple and healthy diet, you'll notice,” said Dr. Moser. “Those wholesome ingredients carry benefits that range from a shiny coat and increased energy to fewer adverse reactions to the food, such as allergies, and ulti- mately to a longerlife.” Premium, natural foods can make a considerable difference in your pet’s health and long-term well-being. Read labels carefully and choose what’s best for your furry family member to help them achieve true wellness. For more information, visit wellnesspetfood.com.
