In recent years, pet owners have started to become more aware of pet food and what it is like to shop for pet food. In a time when obesity is an epidemic among pet owners, pet food has become the latest fad. The pet food business is a multi-billion dollar industry, as pet owners try to give their pet the best diet possible. Unfortunately, this often comes at the expense of our pet's health. With pet food is more important than ever, pet owners need to know what to look for in pet food, what ingredients to avoid, and how we can help our pet's health while we are shopping for pet food.

Many pet food companies use preservatives and artificial flavors, resulting in pet foods that are less healthy than more natural foods. Veterinarians and other animal nutrition experts have written many studies on pet food over the years, many finding major negative effects on pet health. However, most pet food studies show that commercial pet food contains far more fat and calories than diets typically recommended for cats or dogs. In fact, all-natural, holistic diets often have better pet health outcomes than do diets high in fat and sugar.

Another pet food trend is pet supplements. Supplements are nothing more than concentrated pet food that is formulated and designed to improve your pet's health. In the past, supplements were unheard of; however, pet supplements have become popular in recent years. The pet industry has responded to the demand for healthier pet food by creating pet supplements that mimic the all-natural foods we provide for our furry friends.

However, pet supplements should not be confused with cat or dog food. While both of those pet supplements claim to be made to address common pet issues (like excessive dryness), they differ in various ways. For example, pet supplements for dogs contain a variety of chemicals and dyes, while pet supplements for cats generally fall into one of two categories: old and Methylcobalamin. The chemicals and dyes used in pet supplements for dogs may not be harmful to cats, but they can certainly affect humans.

Not surprisingly, pet wipes are a pet supplement that is highly controversial. The pet wipes that are available are highly abrasive, which can cause pet damage and scratching problems in your pet's skin. Unfortunately, pet wipes also contain mineral oils that are highly irritating to sensitive pet skin. To be sure, look for eco-friendly, hypoallergenic pet wipes that do not contain pet abrasives and pet chemicals.

Another pet supplement trend in the pet industry is pet insurance. Similar to human health insurance, pet insurance is intended to provide long-term pet care in the event that pet ailments or injuries are permanent or serious. Many pet insurance companies require pet owners to choose from a variety of coverage plans. One common option is pet health insurance. This type of pet insurance covers preventative medical care and standard care for chronic pet ailments at a reasonably low cost. Some pet insurance companies even offer assistance for pet surgeries that are elective.

Finally, pet food companies are making drastic changes to their pet food by replacing existing pet food with organic, all natural products. In the past, pet food companies have used meat, poultry, and eggs in their pet food products. These pet food ingredients were considered healthy because they were natural, unprocessed, and chemical free. Today, these same ingredients are being replaced with corn, soy, and wheat gluten meal. While these ingredients are less expensive than meat and poultry, they are far from being healthy, especially for a cat or kitten.

As you can see, changes are afoot in the pet food industry. With this being said, it is critical that pet owners take a close look at pet food companies. The changes are often made to benefit pet owners, but they may come at the pet owners expense. Therefore, it is critical that pet owners always do their homework before purchasing any pet food.