Is Your Pet's Food Safe? Here's How to Tell

Is your pet’s food safe?

You wouldn’t feed unhealthy, potentially poisonous food to your child. Why would you feed it to your cat or dog? November is National Pet Awareness month and the ideal time to reflect on whether our four-legged loved ones are eating food that’s safe.

What makes a safe pet food?

So, is your pet’s food safe? In honor of the occasion, the veterinary technicians at premium pet food maker Natural Balance suggest looking out for the following when choosing pet food for your furry friend:

Go grain-free

Toxins are commonly produced by molds that occur in cereal, grains, or added ingredients. Natural Balance recommends ensuring your pet food is tested regularly, and it encourages pet owners to look for limited-ingredient or grain-free formulas.

Store your pet’s food in a cool, dry place

Bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli thrive in warm, moist environments. Make sure your pet’s food is tested before it hits the shelves and store the food in a cool, dry place once you bring it home.

You should also store your pet’s food in a tightly sealed container so that it stays good as long as possible. Don’t store it in direct sunlight. I find that a pet food container like this one is very handy.

What’s in cheap dog food?

Artificial chemicals are often added to pet foods to help with flavor or shelf life. Make sure to read the ingredients list (just like you would for your own food) and opt for pet foods without added dyes or chemicals.

Safe pet foods aren’t always about how expensive the food is. So, it’s more important to look for quality ingredients.

What dog food brands are safe?

You can find a variety of safe pet foods. So, here are a few good choices for your dog.

• Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food.
• Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry.
• Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Dry.
• Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry.

Resources are available to help provide pet-related advice, including how to select and care for pet food. Natural Balance offers services beyond what one would expect from a pet food brand. They have Buy With Confidence veterinary technicians who are available to discuss pet-related topics through online chat, email, and phone.

Every bowl of food should be tasty, nutritious, and safe and that is why Natural Balance is the only brand with an ISO-certified testing facility that checks for the nine most common contaminants across toxins, bacteria, and chemicals before distribution to store shelves.

Finally, how do you make sure your pet is healthy and happy?

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