SOAPBOX | PET GAZETTE | 29
THE IMPORTANCE
OF A HEALTHY DIET
There’s no doubt that we’re a nation of pet lovers, but recent research paints
a stark picture when it comes to owners’ knowledge of their pets’ nutritional
needs. Ashley Burdock, commercial manager at SARVAL, UK-based supplier
of protein ingredients to the pet food market, discusses the importance of pet
nutrition and the health dangers posed by an incorrect diet
SETTING THE SCENE
According to a study commissioned by
OnePoll and Lily’s Kitchen, one in fi ve cat
owners don’t know their pet is a carnivore.
Alarmingly, the insight also revealed that pets’
diets were commonly supplemented with raw
vegetables and salad, while common treats
included plate scrapings, takeaways, cheese
and even chocolate!
It’s no surprise that eating the wrong food
can be detrimental to pets. One in fi ve owners
admit their pet has been diagnosed with
medical conditions, such as skin problems and
diabetes, due to a poor diet. A further 20% have
had to make a trip to the vets after their pet ate
something that disagreed with it.
Feeding human food and treats to pets is
never going to be the best way to meet their
nutritional needs, but it may come as a surprise
to many that one of the biggest dangers to
www.petgazette.biz
a pet’s health is actually poor quality, mass
produced pet food.
QUALITY VS. PRICE
When ingredients don’t supply ideal levels
of nutrients, a pet can become chronically
deprived of what it needs. Sometimes the issue
is fairly specifi c, for instance, zinc defi cient diets
have been linked to the development of skin
lesions. At other times, poor overall ingredient
quality can cause increased shedding,
gassiness, chronically loose stools, intermittent
vomiting, or even obesity.
Being sure to purchase pet food products
from trusted manufacturers and reputable
sources is obviously one way to help ensure
that a pet is receiving the nutrients it needs
to thrive. A 2007 scandal in China reported
cowboy pet food manufacturers adding
melamine and cyanuric acid to raw ingredients
to make the ingredients appear to contain
more protein than they actually did. These acids
caused destructive crystals to form in pets’
kidneys and a subsequent lawsuit estimated
that over 13,000 pets died as a direct result of
March 2019