Pet Information > Others > Pet Articles > The Pet Food Industry Has Grown Into Big Business

The Pet Food Industry Has Grown Into Big Business

27 12:00:59
We all love our pets and actually many of them are better fed than some humans. Our dogs, cats, parrots, turtles, and yes even goldfish are companions and we take good care of them by providing the best pet food we can.

The sales of cat and dog food alone amounted to over 1.6 billion in the United Kingdom alone in 2006. The United States saw over forty five billion dollars spent on the feeding of dogs and cats.

Typically, pet food is derived from plant and animal material that may be considered by-products of human food and not regarded to be of "human grade". However, the food industry thoroughly inspects animal foods much the same as foods designated for human consumption.

Dog Food

Dogs have lived and thrived as a result of eating scraps and leftovers from their human owners for thousands of years, while commercial foods made for dogs have only been in existence for the past century. Many feel the dog food manufactured for their pets is made from inferior quality meat and includes additives which may be bad for their pets. But the pet food industry has been scrupulously inspected and tested for today's market and should be considered safe. Also the typical dog food is considered balanced which means the diet is meant to contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to maintain a healthy pet. Table scraps will not necessarily be of a balanced combination of what dogs need to maintain good health. Generally, dog food comes in either dry form as kibble or chunks and canned wet formula.

Cat Food

Cat foods are formulated with balance in mind for a carnivore, similar to dogs. But cats have some different requirements in their diet, specifically the addition of taurine, an amino acid. Cats need taurine in their diet in order to survive. Both wet and dry versions of commercial cat food contain plant and animal materials which are supplemented with minerals, vitamins, and additional nutrients. They cannot survive on mice or other rodents exclusively. As with dog foods, the key is a balanced diet.
Fish Food

Pet fish are captive and cannot seek out their natural diet, which will vary depending on the fish and where it lives. Macro nutrients as well as vitamins and trace elements comprise commercial fish food, including some fish by-products. They are fed in various forms such as flakes, pellets, or even tablets as some fish are bottom feeders while other must get their food from the top or middle of the aquarium. Some fish foods may contain additives to give them more color.

Bird Food

Birds can either be kept as pets in cages in our homes or simply fed outdoors while wild. Bird seed, suet, and nectar fed to hummingbirds are each designed for specific types of birds. Typically, bird food consists of seeds from various plants but not all birds eat seeds.

As with foods made for human consumption, the pet food industry is regulated to insure the quality is high because we all love our pets. If the pet food can or bag states "complete and balanced" then it must meet that standard of quality.