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"Natural" petfoods may not always be the best choice to feed to pets, according to veterinarian Susan Nelson of Kansas State University, in an article from UPI.com.
Nelson warned that cats and dogs do not have the same nutritional needs as humans, therefore "natural" petfoods with many fruits and vegetables may not meet all of a pet's nutritional requirements.
"Natural and veggie-based pet foods are based more on market demand from owners, not because they are necessarily better for the pet," Nelson said.
Nelson advised consumers to look for labels from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which sets minimum standards for the nutritional adequacy of diets. Consumers should be wary of any petfood company that claims to have organic or holistic food because these categories don't exist by AAFCO definition, according to Nelson.
Dogs can be fed a vegetarian diet as a healthy alternative to traditional dog food, an article in DNA India claims.
This type of diet is becoming more common in India, where many owners feed their dogs a combination of rice, vegetables, tofu and other vegetarian items. For those who prefer a vegetarian diet for their dogs, Pedigree introduced an all-vegetarian line for adult dogs.
“At least 3% of our nearly 600 clients insist on vegetarian or Jain food for their dogs,” said Wasiff Khan, owner of Homecare Dog Food Pvt. Ltd., a home delivery service for dogs. “Even most non-vegetarians don’t serve meat to their dogs during Navratri.”
In light of the UK’s National Vegetarian Week, the controversy over feeding pets vegetarian diets has come into focus once again.
Consumers question the treatment of animals used in meaty petfoods as well as the environmental impact of producing petfoods with meat, according to a recent article, but the real question is: Are vegetarian pet diets healthy and nutritious?
A 2006 study by Nestlé found that the 34 vegetarian cats it examined were healthy. However, a main concern that stems from vegetarian feline diets is the risk of taurine deficiency, which most meaty cat food has added back during the production process.
Dogs may also struggle to get the nutrients they need from vegetarian petfood. Top lacking nutrients for canines include taurine and L-Carnitine.
Whatever route owners decide to go, the authors of the article recommended they talk to their veterinarian first to ensure their pets’ proper nutrition.
Vegan-based diets for pets are gaining in popularity as some vegan owners are deciding that they want their pets to adopt a similar diet to their own. Mainstream public opinion, including other vegans, hasn't offered much support, given the fact that dogs are omnivores and cats are carnivores: some require nutrients not found in human diets, vegan or otherwise.
Despite this fact, some petfood companies have made their niche selling vegan petfood, such as the Minnesota-based, Evolution and Canada-based, Medi-Cal Royal Canine.
Some veterinarians are skeptical of the idea, pointing to the fact that owners and their pets are completely different species; each requiring their own specialized diet and nutrition.
Mars International India, manufacturer and marketer of Pedigree, is seeking to tap niche areas of the petfood market in India by introducing new products, according to an article on www.mydigitalfc.com. The company has introduced vegetarian dog food, keeping in mind the sensitivities of vegetarian pet owners, and will soon launch snacks and treats as well as specialized food for older dogs.
The US$20 million market in the country for petfoods is growing rapidly and is set to evolve into a size of US$74 million by 2012, the company said.
“The 100% vegetarian food is eyeing mainly the Tamil Nadu and Gujarat markets. A city such as Chennai, with a pet dog population of [100,000], has a market potential of US$12 million. At least 30% of pet owners in the city prefer vegetarian food for their animals,” said Ajay Iyer, regional sales manager, south and east of Mars International India.
Mars has produced a vegetarian variant with the same nutritional and calorie levels as that of the non-vegetarian one. The company is also introducing specialized food for dogs of age seven and above.
Retail stores contribute 60% of the sales, with the rest coming through other distribution channels such as veterinary specialists, breeders and institutions.
