Pet food industry pros met at the KC Convention Center for the third and final day of the international Petfood Forum on Wednesday. Among the topics of discussion was nutrition.
"One of the biggest growth areas right now is this new category with dehydrated foods and raw foods,” said Dr. Greg Aldrich.
Aldrich is a pet food nutritionist and consultant who is also heading a pet nutrition program at Kansas State University that would be the first of its kind.
The expert says there were 2,500 new pet food products on the market last year alone. Given the endless options, it can be difficult to decipher what the best options are for your dog or cat.
"The idea is, find what fits for you and your family and your pet,” said Aldrich.
The K-State professor said that ideal diet varies from pet to pet and that there is not one single known pet food ingredient that is harmful to all dogs or cats.
"Some of those [ingredients] may have some small foundation in truth for allergies or personal sensitivities by the animal, but by in large there's no one single ingredient that's bad for them,” he said.
A lawsuit was filed against Purina last year from dog owners who claimed their Beneful brand’s "Dry Kibble" made their dogs sick. However, Aldrich says anything with an AAFCO label should be safe for your pet.
"If you look at the nutrient profiles for AAFCO, we have to meet 43 specific nutrients: amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals ... and then if we can get some of those other elements from kale or carrots or peas or whatever else might come along as the next fad food item, then we'll do that,” he said.
Other tips to keep in mind:
- If your dog does have an adverse reaction to a diet, consult your veterinarian.
- Diet may need to change for your pet over time, depending on age.
- Variety of food within a diet may not be better for your pet and could actually lead to obesity.
Dr. David Dzanis, a vet and pet food consultant also attending the Petfood Forum, said that AAFCO standards are being further revamped this year, therefore pet food companies have until next year to reformulate their products to meet the new standards.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
