We all want to do what is best for our pets – that’s a given. When we pick up a package of pet food, the first thing we do is look at the ingredient list. But ingredient lists are misleading at best. Here at PetsWeekly, we’ve done many posts (and even created a detailed “Pocket Guide to Pet Food Labels” infographic), on how to decipher pet food labels, yet we have barely scratched the surface on the topic of nutrition.
Big changes are coming to our ingredient lists. We’ll be seeing labels that are easier to read, easier to understand and easier to interpret. But until that day comes, there are some things to think about when reading a pet food label.
Ingredients are vehicles for nutrients and the quality of ingredient is just as important as the ingredient itself. Where a source is grown and how it is grown can impact the quality of each product. For example, if you eat a carrot that has been organically grown in a farmer’s garden, without pesticides, without chemicals, your body will absorb more nutrients. Sourcing is a big part of selecting high-quality ingredients that are filled with nutrients and easily absorbed by your pet’s body.
[note icon=”yes”]This is a sponsored post; we have been compensated by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Hill’s Pet Nutrition is not responsible for the content of this article. [/note]
In addition, the balance of nutrients in a pet food is very critical. Too little phosphorous can harm your pets, while too much protein can result in deficiencies. Amino acids are essential for your pet’s development, and so are vitamins, fat, carbohydrates and fiber. However, to be effective, these ingredients must be properly balanced. Good nutrition isn’t just about ingredients – it’s about the right balance of nutrients.
Natural ingredients do not guarantee optimum nutrition, precisely balanced nutrients does. Hill’s Ideal Balance is 100% balanced nutrition guaranteed or your money back. This is a fantastic resource for
“Creating a natural pet food is one thing,” said Kathy Gross, Hill’s Pet Nutritionist. “Creating a perfectly balanced one to Hill’s high standards is quite another.” In fact, Gross even feeds it to her own pets, which says a lot right there. Learn how she created this food and how she ensured a perfect balance in this interesting video:
[bt_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ1S6GbiTiA” width=”600″ height=”400″ responsive=”yes” autoplay=”no”][/bt_youtube]Check out the Ideal Balance website for great information about finding the right Ideal Balance food for your pet and use this handy Comparison tool for dog food to see how Ideal Balance stacks up against the competition., and be sure to take advantage of the Try Me Free rebate!