Junk Food for Fido: It's a No-No

With all the news reports and controversy over whether we hoomans (as the twitter anipal people say) should be feeding our "kids" (the ones with two legs) junk food or healthy food, is there a concern for pets, also?

I'm a Mom and a GrandMom and I definitely think there is too much junk food available these days. This includes candy, gum, soda pop, fast food and other foods that offer little or no nutritional value. They merely fill you up.

I sometimes give Wabby a taste of the milk from my morning cereal, and she loves it. But, it's not a daily occurence.

How often do you give Fido and Fluffy, your beloved dog or cat, something you know isn't really good for them? I have been guilty of this, in the past. Mind you, I'm not guilty of giving my pets a complete, on-going diet of "junk food" but I have, often, shared my dinner with them and offered them bits and pieces of food that is likely not good for them - like mashed potatoes, or pie, or some of my milk shake, or even a taste of my candy bar!!! Yikes!

Truth is, Purina has been researching our pets' diets for a long time. Dr. Larry talks about the study he worked on and how important it is to feed a good diet to our pets. A diet that has been tested and contains the right ingredients. A diet you can purchase in a vet's office or at your grocery store, knowing it's been shown to be healthy for your dog or cat.

I was reminded of this when I was reading an article about pets in Europe not being fed properly. The article was careful to note that there are diets specific to dogs and cats, and that even within breeds, the diet may vary. A bigger dog has different dietary needs than a toy dog. A Maine Coon cat will definitely need a diet very different than a common house cat.

It's up to us - we pet parents, to read the ingredients on pet food labels. To research online and be selective about believing everything we find online. We need to trust our veterinarians and know that if they recommend a particular diet, a special diet carried in their offices, it's because they feel it will benefit our pet - not for any other reason. If we don't feel comfortable with that, we need to find a new veterianarian!

In the end, it's time to stop thinking our pets can eat at the table with us. And, it's time to be aware of how a good diet can prolong our pets' lives. Let's hear it for long, healthy lives!