{"id":9009,"date":"2023-10-11T15:09:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T15:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aercmn.com\/?p=9009"},"modified":"2023-10-11T15:09:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T15:09:29","slug":"pet-nutrition-part-i-understanding-whats-in-your-pets-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/pet-nutrition-part-i-understanding-whats-in-your-pets-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Nutrition | Part I: Understanding What\u2019s in Your Pet\u2019s Food"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9025 aligncenter\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-2.png\" alt=\"cat eating out of yellow dish, pet nutrition, pet health, Animal Emergency &amp; Referral Center of Minnesota \" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-2.png 800w, https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-2-768x384.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pet nutrition is a really important topic \u2013 yet often, pet parents may be in the dark about important details of their pet\u2019s diet. Consulting with your family veterinarian is important to ensure that your pet&#8217;s food includes the proper nutrients for their lifestyle and stage of life. If needed, your family vet can make a referral to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist<span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW158331303 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW158331303 BCX8\">\u00ae<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>In October of 2023, Dr. Rachael Adams, one of our emergency veterinarians, joined us on Facebook Live to discuss pet nutrition. Dr. Adams is <em>not<\/em> a board-certified veterinary nutritionist<span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW158331303 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW158331303 BCX8\">\u00ae<\/span><\/span> but has a passion for the topic and a lot of knowledge to share! You can watch the video replay of the information she shared or read a summary below.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Faercmn%2Fvideos%2F631014245855816%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"314\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW244393922 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW244393922 BCX8\">Name Brands<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW244393922 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW181302635 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW181302635 BCX8\">There are thousands of pet foods out there<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW181302635 BCX8\">!<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW181302635 BCX8\">When<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW181302635 BCX8\"> selecting a diet for your dog or cat, it is best to follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/wsava.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Criteria<\/a> for selecting a brand. Some of the companies that meet these criteria include:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Hill\u2019s<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Royal Canin<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Purina<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Iams\/Eukanuba<\/li>\n<li>Instinct<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\" data-ccp-charstyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;ec7d2ce7-df12-473f-8161-f6a5665b08b9|57&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469775450,&quot;oypena&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;oypena&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}\">The<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">se<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\"> pet food brands all meet the guidelines set by WSAVA.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">This <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">doesn\u2019t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\"> mean other brands <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">aren\u2019t<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">appropriate<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">, but they should be discussed with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist<span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW174651246 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW174651246 BCX8\">\u00ae<\/span><\/span>. When reviewing a food brand\u2019s credibility, a veterinarian will consider the following questions:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW19021461 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Does the company have a board-certified veterinary nutritionist on-staff?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Do they have published quality control standards to ensure safety and high-quality products?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Do they own their own production facility? <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9026 aligncenter\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2-1.png\" alt=\"pet food aisle at grocery store, man reading food bag label, pet nutrition, pet health, Animal Emergency &amp; Referral Center of Minnesota \" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2-1.png 800w, https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2-1-768x384.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW82487133 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW82487133 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\" data-ccp-charstyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;ec7d2ce7-df12-473f-8161-f6a5665b08b9|57&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469775450,&quot;oypena&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;oypena&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}\">AAFCO Statements<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW82487133 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW111313005 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\" data-ccp-charstyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;ec7d2ce7-df12-473f-8161-f6a5665b08b9|57&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469775450,&quot;oypena&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;oypena&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}\">The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a non-profit organization which sets standards for the quality and safety of animal feed and pet food in the United States. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW111313005 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">An<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW111313005 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\"> AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement helps pet parents determine what life stage the food is formulated for. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW111313005 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\"> This statement is often found in small print on the back or side of a food bag \u2013 typically underneath the ingredients and nutritional breakdown label<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW111313005 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"oypena\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>All pet food will have an AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement. Here are examples of what a statement should look like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;_____is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog (or Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles for _____.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Animal feedings tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that ____ provides complete and balanced nutrition for _____.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;____ provides complete and balanced nutrition for ____ and is comparable to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>AAFCO also has four recognized life stages that will be listed as part of the nutritional adequacy statement.<\/p>\n<p>Recognized life stages are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\">Gestation\/lactation<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\">Growth<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\">Maintenance<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\">All life stages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9027 aligncenter\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/3-1.png\" alt=\"women holding dog and talking to veterinarian, pet nutrition, pet health, Animal Emergency &amp; Referral Center of Minnesota \" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/3-1.png 800w, https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/3-1-768x384.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW162266687 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162266687 BCX8\">How to <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162266687 BCX8\">Choose<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162266687 BCX8\"> Your Pet\u2019s <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162266687 BCX8\">Food<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW162266687 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW250340396 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW250340396 BCX8\">There are many different pet diets<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW250340396 BCX8\"> from many <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW250340396 BCX8\">different brands<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW250340396 BCX8\">. When choosing your pet\u2019s food, consider not only the AAFCO Statement, but also your pet\u2019s specific nutritional needs, especially if they have any health issues or diseases.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW250340396 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">For example, Dr. Adams has a 6-year-old black Labrador named Finn<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">. Finn<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\"> is on a veterinary therapeutic diet<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">, which is a specialized diet <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">for pets that addresses a medical purpose. This type of diet <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">requires a prescription <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">from a veterinarian<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">. Finn needed this <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">special<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\"> diet for two <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">reasons<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW88935203 BCX8\">:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW88935203 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"Arial,Times New Roman\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Finn has an ongoing disease process in his shoulders that led to arthritis at a young age. Some veterinary nutrition studies have found that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetnutrition.tufts.edu\/2018\/06\/should-i-give-fish-oil-to-my-pet\/?fbclid=IwAR0ml7JFQ-GjXOfSNmdLb8i2PccuQuaNRuMmmHqpUPrEyvuYB3KIwu71SlY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">omega-3 fatty acids<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> can help slow the progression of arthritis in dogs. Omega-3 fatty acids are a great supplement for middle-aged and senior dogs, especially large breed dogs, to both prevent and improve mobility issues. Instead of taking these fatty acids in a capsule, Finn\u2019s food has a higher amount of Omega-3s to help prolong his quality of life.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"Arial,Times New Roman\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Finn is a Labrador who loves to eat! To prevent obesity, his food has a very high fiber content. Fiber allows Finn to eat a higher volume of food without the extra calories. In addition, Finn used to have runny stool, but the high-fiber food also resolved this issue.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW48907380 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW48907380 BCX8\">It&#8217;s<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW48907380 BCX8\">truly amazing<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW48907380 BCX8\"> what diets can do to improve your pet\u2019s quality of life!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW48907380 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9016 aligncenter\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/4-1.png\" alt=\"dog holding empty bowl, pet nutrition, pet health, Animal Emergency &amp; Referral Center of Minnesota \" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/4-1.png 800w, https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/4-1-768x384.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Selecting your pet\u2019s food may seem overwhelming, but we hope this blog arms you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision. Remember, always check the nutritional information and the AAFCO statement, consider your pet\u2019s medical conditions or specific nutritional needs, and always discuss your questions or concerns with your family veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. They will help you choose the best diet for your pet!\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/pet-nutrition-part-ii-the-truth-about-pet-diet-trends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Part II<\/a> of this blog to learn about current pet diet trends such as raw diets, homecooked diets, \u201cboutique\u201d diets, supplements, CBD products for pets, and more!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Content provided by Rachael Adams, DVM and Cassie Panning BS, CVT, VTS (Nutrition).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7548 aligncenter\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fast-Track-Triage-for-Clients-Facebook-Post-7.png\" alt=\"Animal Emergency &amp; Referral Center of Minnesota, Fast Track Triage, color-coded triage system, pet emergency, Twin Cities emergency vet, Minnesota emergency vet, Saint Paul emergency vet, Oakdale emergency vet\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fast-Track-Triage-for-Clients-Facebook-Post-7.png 940w, https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fast-Track-Triage-for-Clients-Facebook-Post-7-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/ext\/embed.html?id=386676318022016537\" width=\"345\" height=\"618\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pet nutrition is a really important topic \u2013 yet often, pet parents may be in the dark about important details of their pet\u2019s diet. Consulting with your family veterinarian is important to ensure that your pet&#8217;s food includes the proper nutrients for their lifestyle and stage of life. If needed, your family vet can make [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[1981,17,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,452],"class_list":["post-9009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-aafco-statement","tag-animal-emergency-referral-center-of-minnesota","tag-commercial-pet-food-diet","tag-fiber","tag-omega-3","tag-pet-food","tag-pet-food-brands","tag-pet-food-labels","tag-pet-nutrition"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pet Nutrition | Part I: Understanding What\u2019s in Your Pet\u2019s Food<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dr. Adams, an emergency vet, discusses what to look for on the label when selecting your pet&#039;s commercial food diet.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/pet-nutrition-part-i-understanding-whats-in-your-pets-food\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pet Nutrition | Part I: Understanding What\u2019s in Your Pet\u2019s Food\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dr. Adams, an emergency vet, discusses what to look for on the label when selecting your pet&#039;s commercial food diet.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/pet-nutrition-part-i-understanding-whats-in-your-pets-food\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Animal Emergency &amp; 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