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		Why is animal nutrition such an important issue for Pet Planet?
		We believe nutrition plays a very large role in any pet's fundamental health. Our customers are concerned about the health and welfare of their beloved pets, and have in recent years begun to question the quality of the foods they are feeding. The rate of auto-immune diseases in our family pets is on the rise. "Sensitivities" and "allergies" are all too common a theme in our stores. The average life span of a dog or cat today is lower than history tells us they should be. More and more of our customers are simply tired of costly veterinary bills for immune related illness, food sensitivities, and recommended "special" diets. Because of this growing nutritional awareness, the trend is towards a more holistic or natural approach to preventing disease and building the immune system through proper diet. "Inbreeding and excessive genetic manipulation has reduced our animal's ability to properly digest and assimilate food, leaving our companions very susceptible to illness. Repeated vaccinations, chemical baths, dips and sprays, flea/tick potions, medications, environmental chemicals & pollution, and most importantly, poor quality ingredients, artificial colors, preservatives and by-products found in poor quality pet foods and treats eventually inhibit proper digestive function." Lisa S. Newman, N.D., Ph.D.

		Why doesn't Pet Planet carry some of the most common brands of pet food?
		As the pet food industry became big business, so did the marketing campaigns of some products. The focus was not on the quality of the pet food, it was on the mass appeal of the product through color, smell, and marketing gimmicks. These commercial pet food companies focused then, and still do today, on appealing to the consumer through clever advertising, not necessarily substance, knowledge, and quality of product. The pet food industry is a large and confusing one. At Pet Planet, we carefully research the quality of every food we stock on our shelves. No matter how well advertised or how profitable it may be, Pet Planet will never carry a food that we would not feed our own pets.

		But aren't all pet foods basically the same?
		Today's competitive market contains a vast array of foods, snacks and nutritional supplements for dogs and cats. Products vary significantly in nutrient composition, availability, digestibility, palatability, physical form, flavour and texture. Some foods are formulated to provide adequate nutrition throughout a pet's lifespan, while other foods have been marketed specifically for a particular stage of life or a specific disease state. At Pet Planet we believe in recommending a pet food that contains highly digestible ingredients, while at the same time providing a high level of VALUE to our customers.

		So what should I feed my pet?
		There are very good, naturally processed diets available on the market today, prepared using high quality vitamin and mineral packages and wholesome, grade A (human grade) ingredients. Following the trends in human health, there are also a wide variety of holistic pet foods available. At Pet Planet we will never tell you what to feed your pet but we will strive to provide all of the information necessary for you to make an informed and educated decision on what to feed your best friend.

		How important is protein to a pet?
		High quality, grade A protein is essential for muscle, skin, coat and nail growth. Protein is the source of essential amino acids - the building blocks of tissue, muscle, bone, elements of the blood, hormones and antibodies that keep an animal healthy. Not all proteins are created equally. A high quality pet food will use human grade A meat free from by-products. Premium pet foods will always choose a highly digestible animal sourced protein rather than relying on cereal proteins. Most cereal proteins are devoid of the most important amino acids.

		My neighbour says her dog is vegetarian. Is that healthy?
		Dogs are natural carnivores and therefore should derive their protein from meat sources rather than grains. Unless allergy testing shows a verifiable and specific problem digesting animal protein (this is very rare) a high quality diet using meat protein is preferred. Cereal proteins are low in certain amino acids, animal protein is clearly superior. A complete animal protein contains all of the essential amino acids required by a cat or dog. Cats cannot thrive on a vegetarian diet at all. Cats cannot get all necessary nutrients from plants and plant products and must consume some animal tissues in order to meet their needs for high protein levels, taurine, arachidonic acid and preformed vitamin A. True meat protein (chicken, lamb, beef, pork meal) has a far superior amino acid profile than cereal/vegetable protein. Cereal proteins are low in many of the amino acids and specifically, the four most important amino acids (Methionine, Lysine, Arginine, and Threonine).

		What are by-products?
		Contrary to popular belief, there are both good and bad by-products. Some by-products are good sources of easily digested protein such as heart, liver, kidney, lung and other organ meats. Other "bad" by-products generally include hair, hooves, feathers, skin, intestines, heads, beaks and feet - they will show a high protein content on the crude analysis but unlike muscle meat they are very difficult for an animal to break down and therefore are not absorbed and digested by the animal.

		I noticed my dog food uses soybeans as a source of protein, is that good?
		Dogs lack an essential amino acid necessary for soybean digestion. Undigested protein-based material from soybean can move into the intestines where it is fermented by bacteria, producing intestinal gas, digestive upset, possibly lack of appetite and ultimately poor health. (Source: Lisa S, Newman, "Nutrition")

		If a dog food contains both animal and cereal proteins, does it matter what order they are listed in on the ingredient panel?
		By law, pet food must list ingredients in descending order according to weight.

		I noticed that some pet foods list "whole chicken" and some list "chicken meal". What's the difference?
		"Meal" means that the protein has been cooked and is therefore pure dehydrated meat. A premium food that uses chicken or lamb meal as its primary source of protein is typically easier to digest for your pet. Even though whole chicken may be listed first on an ingredient panel (remember - ingredients are listed according to weight!) a food that lists chicken meal may actually have more chicken, as it does not contain the water found in whole chicken.

		My dog is a senior, should I look for a low-protein food?
		Protein in the diets of senior dogs should not be restricted simply because the dog is old. Trying to prevent the natural decline in kidney function associated with aging by reducing protein consumption may lead to a negative nitrogen balance and losses of body protein reserves. Senior and aging pets should be fed diets with a percentage of calories from protein that is slightly higher than the minimum necessary for adult maintenance. In addition to having lower protein reserves, the decreased total energy needs of the senior pet may result in the need to slightly increase the proportion of protein calories in the diet. However, it is imperative that this higher protein level come from highly digestible meat sources, higher levels of cereal proteins defeat the purpose of providing a higher protein level as they don't contain readily bio-available amino acids.

		There has been a lot of controversy lately about carbohydrates. Do pets need them?
		Carbohydrates are supplied in the diet from plant sources like grains and vegetables and provide the fuel needed to sustain life. Carbohydrates are necessary for the digestion and metabolism of proteins and fats. Without carbohydrates and fat, protein would be converted to glucose and therefore protein would no longer be available for its primary purpose of building and maintaining body tissue. Without the proper balance of carbohydrates, they body struggles to regulate body heat and assimilate nutrients.

		Does it matter what type of carbohydrates they get?
		Sources of carbohydrates include whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Quality of ingredients is an important component to determining food quality. Not all carbohydrates are created equally. Peanut hulls, corn husks, rice husks, wheat mill run, rice by-products, oat groats, and soy grits are all examples of very poor quality carbohydrates. These ingredients provide absolutely no nutritional value to our pets. Grade A grains such as brown rice, brewers rice, amaranth, millet, barley, and vegetables are good sources to look for in an ingredient panel.

		Like people, can pets have too much fat in their diet?
		A high concentration of low quality saturated fat may lead to digestive upset, heart, liver, and kidney stress when excessive amount of cholesterol builds up. Polyunsaturated fat can help to reduce cholesterol levels (safflower, sesame, canola and corn oil). Even quality grade A animal fats must be used in proper proportion in a commercial diet or health problems may ensue.

		So why do pets need fat in their diet?
		Fat increases food palatability (i.e. make food taste better). The quality and source of the fat in a pet food is very important. Fats provide the necessary nutrients for a healthy skin and coat. Look for a food that contains a balance of both Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids. High quality fats (fatty acids) play a very important role in food assimilation in our animals, as it transports soluble vitamins A, D, E and K to the small intestine for absorption into the animal's system.

		What else do I need to know about vitamins for my pet?
		A high quality vitamin package promotes the body's chemical reactions (the metabolic process). Vitamins are necessary for growth, vitality, resistance to disease, allergens and toxins, and promote general overall health.

		Are there different types of vitamins?
		Fat Soluble Vitamins: A, D, E, K - require high quality fat in the diet to be absorbed. Water Soluble Vitamins: B Complex are considered energy regulating vitamins. Vitamin C is vital to many biochemical processes. Water soluble vitamins require water and are, therefore, more rapidly absorbed.

		My grocery brand food says it contains vitamins. How do these compare to a premium food's vitamin package?
		In poor quality utilitarian or grocery commercial pet food, complete vitamin packages and vitamin bio-availability are not present. Premium pet foods use expensive, high quality and bio-available sources of vitamins in their diets to ensure our animals are absorbing these vital dietary requirements. In many premium formulas, a manufacturing processes called chelating or sequestering are used to protects the vitamins in the food from potency loss during the manufacturing process. It also protects vitamins from degradation by trace minerals so vitamins do not lose potency. The chelating/sequestering process delivers almost 100% of the trace nutrients to the point of absorption. In grocery or utilitarian foods that do not use chelation or sequestering, by the time the food gets to the small intestine of the body most of the vitamins and minerals that may have been in the food are lost and not bio-available.

		What does bio-available mean?
		When a nutrient is bio-available to an animal, it means that the nutrient is in its highest quality and most digestible form. It means that the nutrient is in a form that can be absorbed into the animal's system so that they may derive the greatest benefit possible from that nutrient.

		Why do vitamins matter so much to my pet?
		Depletion of just one single vitamin in a pet's diet can create a dangerous imbalance. Improperly balanced vitamins can cause problems relating to the nervous system, immune system, skin and tissue, bones and joints, blood, heart and blood vessels, intestines, eyes and ears.

		Why do pet foods need to contain minerals?
		Minerals are vital to cellular activity. Minerals cannot be synthesized by the body and must be supplemented in the diet to ensure proper assimilation of other nutrients. A high quality, bio-available mineral package will ensure that the body maintains efficient use of vitamins, enzymes and hormones. Depletion or an unbalance of just one single mineral compound in a pet's diet can create a dangerous imbalance. Improperly balanced vitamins can cause problems relating to the nervous system, immune system, skin and tissue, bones and joints, blood, heart and blood vessels, intestines, eyes and ears.

		But almost every food advertised says it contains the recommended minimum level of minerals. What makes premium food different?
		AAFCO (American Animal Feed Control Organization) sets basic levels of the essential vitamins and minerals needed daily to sustain a particular lifestyle for all commercial pet foods. These levels are minimal and may not typically be enough to maintain out pet's optimum health and vitality. Premium pet foods are mineral fortified at levels higher than the grocery or utilitarian pet foods are. Premium foods are fortified to optimum levels of wellness, not minimum levels. Premium foods use a higher quality mineral package, which makes the nutrients in the food much more bio-available to the animal. Premium pet foods will use chelated or sequestered minerals which makes the mineral package more bio-available to the animal with less toxicity.

		Why is water listed as a component of nutrition? Does it contain any nutrients?
		No, but a lack of water will quickly dry out mucous membranes lining the digestive tract and prohibit nutrients to the blood and vital organs. Water is essential for proper digestion. It encourages movement of chewed food into the digestive tract, provides a carrier for digestive enzymes and assimilation, and supports detoxification and elimination. A fresh, clean, adequate supply of water must be available to a pet at all times. Stainless steel, ceramic or glass bowls should always be used because they can be cleaned easily and completely, without bacteria build up. Any change in a pet's drinking patterns should be noted, as such changes can often be the first sign of illness or disease.

		Is that everything that could be in my pet's food?
		No. Manufacturers add preservatives to pet foods to maintain the freshness of their product so it will last long enough to reach the consumer and the consumer's pet. Preservatives are listed in the ingredient list usually in parenthesis behind a fat source, and can be divided into two categories: chemical and natural. Chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin can create a product with a shelf life of up to 5 years, but should be avoided since these additives have been proven carcinogenic! Natural preservatives, such as vitamin E, C, rosemary extract, and mixed tocopherols, preserve the pet food in a safe and natural way, effective for up to one year.