Pet Owners Confused About Cat and Dog Nutrition, petMD Survey Finds

Jennifer Coates, DVM
By Jennifer Coates, DVM on Jan. 15, 2013

The Top Five Misconceptions about Pet Nutrition

By Jennifer Coates, DVM

January 4, 2013

petMD recently conducted a survey of owners on the topic of pet nutrition. The results revealed some confusion regarding the nutritional needs of dogs and cats and how to ensure that the products we buy meet those needs. Understanding how to feed our pets properly is critical to their well being. This knowledge gap is worrisome, but also represents an opportunity for improving the health and longevity of our beloved companion animals. 

The survey’s top five findings were: 

1. Misunderstood Terms

Fifty-seven percent of the pet owners who responded rightfully look to pet food labels for information about the type of ingredients included in their pet’s food. However, what is written on the label is not always straightforward. Much of the language used on labels is tightly controlled and regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), but the definitions are not easy to come by. 

Take the word “by-product,” for example. The majority of respondents to the petMD survey believed that animal hair, teeth, and hooves are included in meat by-products, and that is simply not the case. AAFCO regulations expressly do not permit these body parts to be included in a by-product used in pet food.

2. The Importance of Feeding Trials

The majority of owners look to the label to learn about what is included in their pet’s food.  However, the survey also showed that pet owners fail to look for key quality information also included on the label. All AAFCO approved pet foods must display a statement indicating how the pet food manufacturer determined that particular diet would meet the needs of pets. This can be done in one of two ways: via a computer program or by actually feeding the food to dogs or cats. Feeding trials are a far superior method for determining whether or not pets will thrive on a particular diet. Nonetheless, only 22 percent of people taking the survey said they look at pet food labels to see if the diet has undergone a feeding trial. 

3. Misidentifying Potential Allergens

Pet food labels can be a good source of information, but only when combined with a basic understanding of pet nutrition. For example, more than 40 percent of owners taking the petMD survey responded that grains are common allergens in pet foods, with more than 30 percent of respondents specifically implicating corn. On the other hand, only 6 percent of owners identified meats as potential allergens. In fact, the situation is exactly the opposite.

In a literature review1 of 278 cases of food allergy in dogs where the problem ingredient was clearly identified, beef was far and away the biggest culprit (95 cases). Dairy was number two at 55 cases. Corn was actually a minimal offender coming in with only 7 cases. The situation was similar for cats. Of the 56 cases that were looked at2, 45 feline food allergies resulted from eating beef, dairy, and/or fish, while corn was responsible for only 4 cases.

4. An Under-Appreciation of Balanced Nutrition

The petMD survey also revealed that some owners under-appreciate the importance of balanced nutrition. The value of protein seems to be understood; 69 percent of respondents indicated that protein was an important nutrient for pets. What is perplexing, however, is that only 2 percent named fats, 3 percent named carbohydrates, and barely over 25 percent named vitamins and minerals as important nutrients for pets. 

To satisfy all the nutritional needs of dogs and cats, pet foods must provide all of these ingredients in the right balance. Too much of one or too little of another can be harmful to a pet’s health.

5. Skepticism of Label Accuracy 

Less than 30 percent of the petMD survey respondents believed that labels completely list all of the ingredients in pet food. In fact, AAFCO regulations mandate that every ingredient contained within a pet food be included in the ingredient list, in order from the biggest to the smallest contributor, by weight.

Misconceptions surrounding pet food and canine and feline nutrition can lead owners to make ill-informed choices about what to feed their companions. Your veterinarian is the best source of information about what to feed your pets. He or she can take into consideration their unique combination of lifestage, lifestyle, and health to make individualized diet recommendations.

1 Carlotti DN, Remy I, Prost C. Food allergy in dogs and cats. A review and report of 43 cases. Vet Dermatol 1990;1:55-62.

Chesney CJ. Food sensitivity in the dog: a quantitative study. J Sm Anim Pract 2002;43:203-207.

Elwood CM, Rutgers HC, Batt RM. Gastroscopic food sensitivity testing in 17 dogs. J Sm Anim Pract 1994;35:199-203.

Harvey RG. Food allergy and dietary intolerance in dogs: a report of 25 cases. J Sm Anim Pract 1993;34:175-179.

Ishida R, Masuda K, Sakaguchi M, et al. Antigen-specific histamine release in dogs with food hypersensitivity. J Vet Med Sci 2003;65:435-438.

Ishida R, Masuda K, Kurata K, et al. Lymphocyte blastogenic responses to inciting food allergens in dogs with food hypersensitivity. J Vet Intern Med 2004;18:25-30.

Jeffers JG, Shanley KJ, Meyer EK. Diagnostic testing of dogs for food hypersensitivity. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1991;189:245-250.

Jeffers JG, Meyer EK, Sosis EJ. Responses of dogs with food allergies to single-ingredient dietary provocation. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996;209:608-611.

Kunkle G, Horner S. Validity of skin testing for diagnosis of food allergy in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992;200:677-680.

Mueller RS, Tsohalis J. Evaluation of serum allergen-specific IgE for the diagnosis of food adverse reactions in the dog. Vet Dermatol 1998;9:167-171.

Mueller RS, Friend S, Shipstone MA, et al. Diagnosis of canine claw disease – a prospective study of 24 dogs. Vet Dermatol 2000;11:133-141.

Nichols PR, Morris DO, Beale KM. A retrospective study of canine and feline cutaneous vasculitis. Vet Dermatol 2001;12:255-264.

Paterson S. Food hypersensitivity in 20 dogs with skin and gastrointestinal signs. J Sm Anim Pract 1995;36:529-534.

Tapp T, Griffin C, Rosenkrantz W, et al. Comparison of a commercial limited-antigen diet versus home-prepared diets in the diagnosis of canine adverse food

reactions. Vet Therapeutics 2002;3:244-251.

Walton GS. Skin responses in the dog and cat to ingested allergens. Vet Rec 1967;81:709-713

 

2 Carlotti DN, Remy I, Prost C. Food allergy in dogs and cats. A review and report of 43 cases. Vet Dermatol 1990;1:55-62.

Guaguere E. Food intolerance in cats with cutaneous manifestations: a review of 17 cases. Eur J Companion Anim Pract 1995;5:27-35.

Guilford WG, Jones BR, Harte JG, et al. Prevalence of food sensitivity in cats with chronic vomiting, diarrhea or pruritus (abstract). J Vet Intern Med

1996;10:156.

Guilford WG, Jones BR, Markwell PJ, et al. Food sensitivity in cats with chronic idiopathic gastrointestinal problems. J Vet Intern Med 2001;15:7-13.

Ishida R, Masuda K, Kurata K, et al. Lymphocyte blastogenic responses to food antigens in cats with food hypersensitivity. Unpublished data. University of

Tokyo, 2002.

Reedy RM. Food hypersensitivity to lamb in a cat. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1994;204:1039-1040.

Stogdale L, Bomzon L, Bland van den Berg P. Food allergy in cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1982;18:188-194.

Walton GS. Skin responses in the dog and cat to ingested allergens. Vet Rec 1967;81:709-713.

Walton GS, Parish WE, Coombs RRA. Spontaneous allergic dermatitis and enteritis in a cat. Vet Rec 1968;83:35-41.

White SD, Sequoia D. Food hypersensitivity in cats: 14 cases (1982-1987). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989;194:692-695.


Jennifer Coates, DVM

WRITTEN BY

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary...


Help us make PetMD better

Was this article helpful?


Get Instant Vet Help Via Chat or Video. Connect with a Vet. Chewy Health