This is one of the most common questions pet owners ask—and understandably so. The truth is, there is no single answer that fits every pet.

Just like humans, pets have individual taste preferences, underlying medical conditions, food hypersensitivities, and established habits. Many of these habits are created by us, especially when we are feeding and training our dogs or cats from puppyhood or kittenhood.

This article is dedicated to mostly healthy pets and aims to help owners make informed, realistic decisions when choosing the right food.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Pet Food

When selecting a diet for your pet, consider the following points:

Is the food completely balanced for your pet’s life stage and breed?
Who makes it and how is it produced?
The degree of processing (raw vs. cooked, dry vs. fresh)
Your pet’s taste preference or food hypersensitivity
Ease of purchase and storage
Homemade food options
How much to feed

Nutritional Balance and Life Stage Requirements

In general, approximately 99% of over-the-counter diets for dogs and cats are nutritionally complete and balanced. These diets are tested either through feeding trials on live animals or by laboratory analysis to confirm the presence of all essential nutrients.

Pet food manufacturers follow nutritional guidelines established by two major regulatory authorities:

WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association)
AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)

A nutritional adequacy statement confirming this should always appear on the label. More information can be found at:

Most diets are formulated for a specific life stage, while some are labeled “for all life stages.” These diets are essentially puppy or kitten diets, meaning they are higher in calories and nutrients and require portion adjustments as your pet ages.

Who Made the Food—and How?

Some manufacturing information is available directly on the packaging, while other details may require additional research or contacting the company.

Important questions to ask include:

How large and reputable is the manufacturer?
Do they own their production facilities?
Do they rely on third-party manufacturers or ingredient suppliers?

Transparency and quality control are key indicators of a reliable product.

Degree of Processing: Dry, Cooked, Fresh, or Raw

When choosing the degree of processing, think ahead about long-term practicality and safety:

Can you reliably maintain a steady supply?
Do you have appropriate storage space?
Are you comfortable handling food with a shorter shelf life?

Less-processed diets, particularly raw diets, carry a higher risk of Salmonella and E. coli contamination and are not recommended for households with immunocompromised individuals.

Additionally, not every dog or cat tolerates raw food well. Through domestication and selective breeding, many pets have developed gastrointestinal tracts that are better suited for cooked or processed foods.

For more detailed information, see this AVMA article:
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/243/11/javma.243.11.1549.xml

Taste Preferences and Food Hypersensitivity

Flavor, texture, and shape preferences are often influenced by what a pet was exposed to during puppyhood or kittenhood, as well as by mouth shape and dentition.

Food hypersensitivity (formerly referred to as food allergies) can also influence diet choice. If a pet consistently experiences itching, chronic ear infections, or gastrointestinal upset, a dietary evaluation may be warranted.

Reading and Understanding Pet Food Labels

Pet food labels can be confusing and are often influenced by marketing.

Key points to understand:

“Complete and balanced” means the diet meets AAFCO nutrient requirements.
Ingredients are listed by weight before cooking.
Terms like “premium,” “holistic,” and “natural” are not strictly regulated.
Grain-free does not mean healthier and is unnecessary for most pets.

True grain allergies are rare, and certain grain-free diets have been associated with diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Grain-free diets should only be selected for medically justified reasons.

Treats, Toppers, and Table Scraps

Many otherwise balanced diets become unbalanced due to excessive treats and extras.

Important guidelines:

Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily caloric intake.
Common human foods such as chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, and xylitol are toxic to pets.
Food toppers can unintentionally disrupt nutritional balance and contribute to weight gain.

Ease of Purchase and Storage

Choose a diet that is easy to obtain and store, even during travel or unexpected shortages.

Fresh and raw diets are harder to transport safely, so it is wise to have a backup option, such as canned food or kibble, that your pet tolerates well.

Homemade Diets

Homemade diets allow complete control over ingredient quality and preparation, but dogs and cats have very specific nutritional requirements. Diets must be carefully balanced for the pet’s life stage and health status.

A board-certified veterinary nutritionist can help formulate a safe and balanced recipe. Two reliable online resources that provide customized diet plans for a small fee include:

www.petdiets.com
www.balanceit.com

Do not panic if your pet needs to eat an unbalanced diet for a short period, such as plain chicken and rice for gastrointestinal upset or when commercial food is temporarily unavailable. Short-term imbalances are generally safe.

How Much Should You Feed?

All commercial diets provide feeding guidelines based on:

Body weight
Age
Reproductive status

These amounts are calculated for a lean body weight. If your pet is overweight, a general rule is to feed according to the weight they were at around one year of age.

Because every pet is different, some may benefit from a personalized nutritional consultation with a veterinary professional.

Diet Transitions: Switching Foods Safely

When changing diets, a gradual transition helps prevent gastrointestinal upset:

Mix small amounts of the new food with the old food
Increase the new food over 7–10 days
Extend the transition for pets with sensitive stomachs

Monitoring Your Pet’s Response to a Diet

Signs a diet is working well include:

Stable body weight and healthy body condition
Firm, well-formed stools
Shiny coat and good energy levels
Consistent appetite

Warning signs that may require diet reassessment include:

Chronic diarrhea or vomiting
Persistent itching or ear infections
Sudden weight changes

When to Seek Veterinary Guidance

Veterinary input is especially important for:

Puppies, kittens, and senior pets
Pregnant or lactating animals
Pets with chronic medical conditions (kidney disease, diabetes, GI disorders)
Pets on prescription diets

Summary

There are more pet food options available today than ever before, making it possible to accommodate nearly every financial, ethical, and sensory preference. Our pets are fortunate to have access to nutritionally complete, commercially prepared diets.

Unlike humans, pets cannot communicate nutrient cravings. This makes it our responsibility to provide them with consistent, balanced, and appropriate nutrition to support long-term health and well-being.

What Should I Feed My Pet?