Commercial Fresh Pet Food Diets | Today's Veterinary Practice
How to Discuss Fresh Pet Food Diets with Clients: A Veterinarian’s Practical Guide
Explore the growing market for commercial fresh pet food and learn how veterinarians can effectively compare these diets to traditional dry and canned foods. The overview delves into pet humanization, the impact of food processing—including ultraprocessed foods and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs)—and regulatory labeling such as the AAFCO human‐grade claim. These insights help guide practitioners in advising pet owners on healthier dietary choices.
How to Guide for Discussing Fresh Pet Food Diets
- Understand the Market Trends: Recognize that pet humanization has driven demand for healthier, fresh pet food diets. Clients increasingly view their pets as family members and seek diets that mirror homemade meals.
- Compare Diet Types: Familiarize yourself with the differences between fresh, dry, and canned pet foods. Note that fresh diets are minimally processed and often contain fewer advanced glycation end-products compared to ultraprocessed options.
- Explain Food Processing Effects: Discuss how food processing methods, like thermal processing and the Maillard reaction, influence flavor, shelf stability, and the formation of dietary AGEs, which may affect long-term pet health.
- Review Labeling and Regulatory Claims: Clarify the significance of AAFCO human-grade labeling, emphasizing that such claims require pet foods to meet standards for human consumption, thereby potentially indicating higher quality.
- Provide Balanced Recommendations: Advise pet owners to weigh the benefits and practical challenges of fresh pet foods—such as cost, shelf life, and storage requirements—against their pets’ nutritional needs.
Key Takeaways & Call to Action
As the fresh pet food market expands, veterinarians must stay informed and prepared to discuss these diet options with clients. Use these steps to deliver clear, balanced guidance that helps pet owners make healthier choices. Stay current with the latest research and industry updates, and consider subscribing to veterinary practice newsletters for ongoing insights.