As people begin to take more interest in the processes and ingredients behind their own food, the same interest is mirrored by pet owners when it comes to their pets’ food.  Spurred by a growing understanding of how nutrition contributes to general health, and a rash of pet food recalls, more and more pet owners are taking notice and opting to purchase premium pet foods. 

“But why purchase premium pet foods?” you might ask.

Why purchase PBA-free plastics? Organic grains? Free range chicken?  Many of us make daily decisions between premium and regular products in an effort to boost our health and improve our quality of life.  Choosing premium pet food over a less-expensive but ultimately less nutritious pet food will have an impact on the quality of life of your pet.

Here are some of the benefits of purchasing premium pet foods:

• Quality Products v. By-Products:  Premium pet foods, like Addiction for cats and dogs, use actual meat and fish instead of by-products—the pieces left over when the good cuts of meat are taken out for people.  This includes bones, intestines, heads, feet, tendons, ligaments, and other offal.
• Vitamins & Minerals:  Vitamins and minerals are an integral aspect of your pets’ food.  Premium pet foods like Diamond Naturals have added antioxidants and omega fatty acids for optimum nutrition.  Premium pet foods also tend to avoid chemical preservatives that could harm your pet. 
• Natural, Organic, Raw: Most premium pet foods contain varying degrees of natural, organic, and raw ingredients, considered to have higher nutritional value than their processed counterparts.
• Premium Protein Sources:  Many commercial pet foods rely on wheat or corn gluten as a source of protein which is both difficult to digest, and known to be an underlying cause of digestive and allergy-related health issues.  Premium pet foods like Natural Balance Grain-Free Formula are meat-based and grain-free with sweet potato and brown rice for healthy carbohydrates.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to a premium pet food, take the time to shop around.  Get familiar with compositions and ingredients, especially the ingredients you don’t understand.  With so many different products on the market, it’s important to understand what you're buying and with great online deals, there are premium pet foods for every budget.

Choosing to feed your pets a diet rich in quality proteins, energizing carbohydrates, and healthy vitamins and minerals is an important aspect of your pet’s health, contributing to fewer trips to the veterinarian and a longer, better quality of life for your #1 furry friend.