Pet Food: Expensive is Not Necessarily Better

Phrases like "holistic," "gourmet" and "premium" now are commonly found on pet food packages. But any product could make these claims, because they aren't regulated and FDA does not define them. There also are no FDA standards for "prescription" diets, usually sold by vets, and non-prescription diets. And "senior" foods do not need to be specially formulated, although manufacturers now must show proof of scientific claims, such as foods designed to reduce urinary tract infections. Dr. Gary Edelson, an associate veterinarian with Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Weston, Fla., said there is no reason to believe higher-priced pet food is safer or more nutritious than less costly varieties. "(You) would like to think that the more expensive the diet, the more expensive the ingredients" -- which may sometimes be true. "But expensive also could mean you are paying for a marketing campaign." He said the best way to tell that a pet is being fed the right product is if the animal is healthy and active, with a glossy coat. Edelson always picks products with labels stating the food was developed through "animal feeding tests" under guidelines by the Association of American Feed Control Officers, a regulatory group that sets ingredient standards. He also said he prefers companies with a nutritionist on staff, "so if there is a problem, I can talk to someone who can do some research on it."