When it comes to any kind of debate regarding what is best for your pets and yourself, fresh food always wins hands down. It is a proven fact that the health of pets and humans will improve as our dependency on processed foods decreases.
The digestive system of our pets is designed for natural, raw and fresh wholesome foods and not the canned or processed foods. The best diet for your companions should include whole fresh foods and other supplements if and when needed to ensure optimal health and to prevent diseases.
Fresh wholesome foods are rich in probiotics, antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, all of them in their most natural state. The fresher the food the more intact are the nutrients which are more readily and easily digestible.
Pets on a fresh food diet have been shown to be more energetic and have lustrous coats, cleaner teeth and better smelling breath. Their stool volume reduces significantly and they are also less prone to allergies. In short, serving fresh pet food for your cats and dogs will help them lead a longer and healthier life.
Nutrients in food are less likely to remain intact when exposed to heat. So, it’s less likely for canned foods which are processed at high temperatures to retain the nutrients in their natural form. To overcome this today foods are frozen or freeze-dried which preserves the nutrients better.
Canned pet foods are packed with preservatives and flavor enhancers which are nothing but chemicals that cause many health hazards to our pets. The same goes to dry pet foods which is worse as it contains even more harmful additives to increase their shelf life. Preservatives aside, the main ingredients in canned foods itself can be a threat to pets as most often diseased animals and animals that are already dead before they reach the slaughterhouse are used to make pet foods.
Recent pet food recalls on a massive scale and other controversies are a testament to the substandard quality of processed pet foods. Serving your pets with unhygienic and inferior canned foods might cause vomiting or diarrhea. Some of the ingredients in canned foods can even cause cancer, organ failure and when consumed for prolonged periods might even lead to the death of your pet.
Well then why are canned and other processed pet foods so popular? The only and sadly the major point that tips the scale is the convenient factor. Today’s busy lifestyle of most pet owners forces them to opt for the convenient and cheaper processed foods over fresh home-made pet foods.
However, trying to feed your pets with fresh home-made food for every meal is also not practical. The best way is to find the right balance of fresh and store-bought pet foods. Rotating different types of foods is not only convenient for you but also good for your pets as it offers variety in their diet.
Fortunately, introducing variety in your pet’s diet is much easier today with the availability of a wide range of healthy frozen raw pet foods, freeze dried pet meals and dehydrated pet foods. These are not only convenient for you but also healthier for your pets. Just make sure that they do not contain any ingredients that you would not consume yourself.
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