The phrase “You are what you eat” may sound tired, but it’s actually tried-and-true. If you choose to ingest chemicals and other harmful ingredients in the form of preservatives, artificial colors, and the like, then be prepared for the consequences: less-than-optimal health. The key to optimal health, longevity, and disease prevention is a diet of wholesome food that’s free of toxins.

Our pets don’t live nearly as long as we’d like, so why risk shortening the lives of beloved best friends with harmful pet-food ingredients? A “complete and balanced” pet food contains the bare minimum of what your animal companion needs to survive. But if you want him to thrive, you’ll need to do a bit of homework, because not all “complete and balanced” foods on the market are created equal. Don’t worry – it’s easy if you follow a few simple tips.

A high-quality pet food may cost more than one formulated for mere survival, but it’s well worth it. Here’s the payoff: you’ll notice a certain healthy sparkle in your pet’s eyes, a gleam in his coat, and improved vigor in his step – plus you’ll save money in the long run by reducing the frequency of vet visits.

The first, most important thing you can do to maximize your pet’s longevity is familiarize yourself with food ingredients. Undesirable ingredients are usually difficult to pronounce, such as Equoxyquin, a chemical preservative that’s also used as a pesticide, and is a known carcinogen.

Prolonged exposure to chemicals such as Ethoxyquin in daily meals takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to cancer of the liver and/or spleen down the road. With cancer already striking 50 percent of pets over age 10, we all need to work to prevent our pets from becoming sad statistics. What’s more, chemical preservatives trigger seizures in epileptic pets.

Still, food does need to be preserved to remain edible for its shelf life, but conscientious manufacturers use Tocopherols, which is basically a fancy word for Vitamin E. With Tocopherol-preserved foods, not only is your pet eating food that’s safely preserved, he’s also getting Vitamin E with every bite. And that’s good news for his skin and coat (just as it is for human skin and hair).

The presence of numbers and colors in an ingredient panel means chemical colorings were added. These have no place in pet food; pets’ eyes don’t even register color the way we do, so why should their food come in a rainbow of hues? Spot doesn’t care what color his food is, as long as it smells and tastes meaty. Look for “FD&C Red” or “FD&C Blue,” and avoid foods that contain them, as they are known carcinogens. While you’re at it, avoid these ingredients in your own and your kids’ food and snacks. See? Feeding Fido and Fluffy so they thrive can actually improve the rest of your family’s health!

Author Bio: Rex & Sophia are the official Spokesdog and Spokescat for RedMoon Custom Pet Food. For custom pet food visit: http://www.redmoonpetfood.com or to learn more about custom pet foods visit: http://www.custompetfoods.com.

Category: Pets
Keywords: digestive upset, probiotics, pets