14 Common Mistakes in Pet Food Choices

1. 14 Common Mistakes in Pet Food Choices Why Pet Food Choices Matter More Than You Think Food choices are the single daily decisions that greatly influence your pet’s health in the long term. The right diet supports their immune function, health of skin and coat, offers them stable energy, supports their dental health, and helps them to maintain optimal body weight. On the other hand, a wrong diet may lead to allergies, obesity, digestive upsets and even chronic diseases. Pet owners feed their pets with emotions, which is a perfectly reasonable impulse, but emotion, in addition to a crowded market of labels and buzzwords which can lead to poor choices. The current pet-food landscape prominently includes dry kibble, fresh-refrigerated formulas, canned food, freeze-dried and raw options, plus therapeutic diets. This variety may be good, but it increases decision complexity for pet owners. Pet owners often think about which formula fits their pet’s life stage, medical needs, activity level, etc. In the following guide, we will cut through the noise. We will discuss the common mistakes you make in pet food choices and how you can avoid them. Top 14 Common Mistakes in Pet Food Choices Mistake #1 — Ignoring Age and Breed-Specific Needs Every puppy has unique calorie and nutrient requirements. An adult Labrador, a German Shepherd, and a senior Chihuahua need distinct diets due to differences in

2. activity level, breed, age, etc. Large-breed puppies need diets that have controlled calcium and energy to protect growing bones. Kittens need higher protein and taurine than adult cats. Use of an inappropriate life-stage formula may lead to developmental issues and nutrient gaps. In addition, if given more than enough, there are risks related to obesity. How to avoid: Go for life-stage labelled diets for your puppy/kitten, adult, and senior. The diet also must be breed-specific; for example, toy breeds cannot be fed what giant breeds eat. In addition, transition diets over 7-10 days and evaluate the body condition score (BCS) every month. Mistake #2 — Overlooking Ingredient Labels and Fillers Pet owners generally buy pet food based on price or brand names and not composition, which is a common and actually the most lethal diet-related mistake. The first few ingredients on a package reveal primary carb and protein sources like salmon, chicken. Pet food with excessive cheap fillers like wheat, corn or unnamed meals, and artificial additives can lead to digestive issues and may even trigger sensitivities in your pets. How to avoid: Use the “protein-first” rule. Always look for named animal protein, which should be the top ingredient by volume. Then look for moderate and digestible carb sources. Always try to avoid products with long lists of artificial preservatives and vague by-product terms. Generic FSSAI and GMP mandatory certification should also be checked, as there are many unregulated brands operating in the market. Mistake #3 — Following Marketing Hype Over Expert Advice

3. Pet owners tend to overspend and even include the wrong products in their pet’s diet by going with marketing hype. Marketers use terms like “human-grade”, “natural”, which do not guarantee nutritional adequacy and are just marketing gimmicks. Trend ideas like (blanket grain-free feeding, raw diets gained popularity before long-term impacts were understood. Marketing distracts pet owners from the basics. Your focus must only be on nutrient balance, ingredient quality and breed/age-specific suitability for your pet. How to avoid: Evaluate claims against nutritional adequacy and ingredient lists. If you are unsure, consult a veterinarian or a pet care nutritionist before transitioning diets. You can choose online vet consultation apps like Conbun, where pet care experts can guide with products and offer pet-diet-related strategies for optimum growth. Mistake #4 — Skipping Nutritional Balance and Portion Control

4. Both underfeeding and overfeeding can harm your pets. Package guidelines are not to be followed strictly, as they are generic. You need to adjust portion sizes as per your pet’s activity, metabolism, neuter status, age, breed, etc. Overfeeding can lead to obesity (very common), insulin resistance and even joint strain. On the other hand, underfeeding may lead to micronutrient gaps. How to avoid: Read the manufacturer’s guidelines and then adjust them as per your pet’s BCS and activity levels. Use BCS charts (1-9) to aim for a mid-range and healthy score. If you are a pet parent who focuses on home-cooked food, use supplements and vet-approved recipes to ensure completeness in the diet. Mistake #5 — Not Consulting a Pet Care Professional Pets suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, allergies, pancreatitis, or kidney disease need targeted diets. If you think generic healthy kibble can alleviate such conditions, you are wrong. Delaying professional dietary advice can lead to disease progression. How to avoid: Consult online veterinarians for nutritional and diet reviews. If your pet suffers from chronic conditions like obesity, weight loss, skin problems, etc, consult a vet for diet evaluation and lab monitoring. Mistake #6 — Overfeeding Treats

5. This is by far the most common diet mistake pet owners make out of love. But treats are actually the hidden calorie problem. Frequent training rewards or table nibbles can supply a significant portion of daily calories, undermining weight control and nutritional balance. How to avoid: Focus on limiting treats to <10% of daily calories. In addition, use low-calorie training treats and deduct treat calories from meals by reducing the portion sizes. Mistake #7 — Feeding Unsafe Human Foods Grapes/raisins, Chocolate, xylitol (in sugar-free items), onions and garlic are toxic to many pets. Fatty scraps can lead to pancreatitis. Many pet owners feed their pets human food unknowingly, which can lead to various health issues.

6. How to avoid: Learn about common food toxins and avoid fatty and seasoned leftovers. If you want to offer human food, stick to plain cooked meat and a small amounts of veggies. Mistake #8 — No Fixed Feeding Times (Free-Feeding) To keep your pets in good health, you should not only maintain a regular physical activity routine but also a regular feeding routine. Free-feeding hides their appetite changes and encourages overeating. Scheduled meals and portion control make appetite monitoring very easy. How to avoid: Use scheduled feedings. For most adult dogs, it must be twice daily. For physically active dogs, you can make it three. Kittens and small breeds often need multiple small meals. Timed feeding helps detect early illness when appetite drops. For example, if your pet refuses to eat at a fixed time each day, it could be a sign of a health problem. Mistake #9 — Feeding Table Scraps

7. Consistent feeding of table scraps can lead to behavioural issues like begging and nutritional imbalances. They often contain hidden facts, toxic ingredients and spices. Regular feeding may also lead to obesity if unchecked. How to avoid: Always keep human meals separate. You can offer a small plain piece of cooked lean protein as an occasional treat and count it in the daily calorie intake. Mistake #10 — Not Accounting for Treat Calories and Supplement Overuse Supplements are only helpful when indicated, for example, joint nutraceuticals with arthritis, omega-3s for skin, etc. But overusing or excessive supplementation can also disbalance your pet’s diet. In addition, treating calorie creep is also a common oversight.

8. How to avoid: Pets should be given supplements only if a vet has advised you to do so. Record all food and calorie intake. For weight loss and medical goals, get your pet’s daily caloric needs calculated by a pet. Mistake #11 — Choosing Grain-Free Without Medical Need Grain-free diets for pets have become popular, and many pet owners choose to feed them to their pets. However, these diets are of no use if your pet does not have a grain intolerance. Case reports and regulatory reviews have indicated that prolonged and imbalanced grain-free diets increase the risk of diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in some dogs. How to avoid: Remember, grain-free feeds are for pets only with documented grain sensitivity. Ensure that your pets' diets are balanced, complete and offering key nutrients like (L-carnitine, taurine) at optimum levels. Discuss long-term plans with your veterinarian. Mistake #12 — Switching Food Too Abruptly

9. Diet changes are mandatory for pets, but the transition must be smooth. An abrupt change in diet could lead to issues like diarrhoea, vomiting and refusal to etc. Pet parents replace food too quickly and blame the brand rather than the fast transition. How to avoid: Transition over 7–10 days: 25% new/75% old → 50/50 → 75/25 → 100% new. For sensitive pets, stretch the transition for more than 2–3 weeks and observe stool quality. Mistake #13 — Neglecting Special Health Needs Just as humans need specific diets as per their health conditions. Pets with kidney diseases, diabetes, pancreatitis or allergies need therapeutic diets or diet strategies by a vet tailored to their health condition. Generic commercial options or food products

10. marketed for specific conditions may lead to complications. Regular nutritional monitoring should be one of your agenda items for chronic disease care. How to avoid: If your pet has a medical condition, follow vet-recommended therapeutic diets and monitor progress with periodic lab checks. Collaborate with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist for complex cases, for instance, multiple comorbidities. Mistake #14 — Assuming “Fresh” or “Human-Grade” Automatically Means Balanced “Fresh” and “human-grade” labels sound appealing, but they do not guarantee completeness. Some fresh or refrigerated diets are formulated by qualified nutritionists and are complete; others are not. Homemade “human-grade” meals often lack critical micronutrients unless formulated and supplemented correctly. How to avoid: Verify any fresh product’s complete & balanced statement and whether it underwent feeding trials or nutritionist formulation. For homemade fresh diets, work with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure micronutrient adequacy. Labels like “fresh”, “human-grade” may sound appealing, but they do not guarantee a complete nutritional profile. Some fresh or refrigerated diets, which are formulated by qualified pet nutritionists, are complete, and others are not. Homemade meals often lack the required micronutrient profile unless supplemented and formulated correctly. How to avoid: Always verify fresh products and balanced statements by checking whether it underwent feeding trials or nutritionist formulations. To develop a balanced

11. and complete homemade diet, work with a pet nutritionist or veterinarian to get personalised suggestions. Final Thoughts: Take Action for Your Pet’s Health Nutrition is among the highest-impact decisions that you can make for your pet’s health. Avoid the above-mentioned Pet common mistakes by choosing food based on life stage and medical needs, reading ingredient panels, controlling portion sizes and restricting treats. If you are comparing specific products, focus on comparing ingredient lists, completeness statements and guaranteed analysis. If you are still in doubt consult a veterinarian or a certified pet care consultant to design a tailored feeding plan and monitor health outcomes. Consult a certified pet nutritionist on Conbun to give your pet the best nutrition possible. (FAQ'S): About Pet Food Choices Q1.) How do I pick the right dog food for my dog? Ans. Prepare a diet based on your dog’s age, breed, health, and activity level. Always look for named protein sources, balanced nutrients, and vet-approved dog-food formulas. Q2.) What are the 5 most common risk factors for food safety? Ans. Poor storage, contamination, expired ingredients, artificial preservatives and improper handling are the most common food safety risk factors for pets. Q3.) What is the problem with pet food? Ans. Many pet food brands use fillers, artificial additives, and low-quality protein sources, which lead to nutrient deficiencies and digestive issues over time. Q4.) What is the best food for a pet? Ans. The best food for a pet is nutritionally balanced, species/age appropriate and vet-recommended, which is ideally made with real meat, essential vitamins and digestible carbs. Q5. What is the most popular pet food? Ans. Dry kibble is the most popular pet food due to its convenience, longer shelf life, and affordability.

12. Q6.) What pet foods should I avoid? Ans. You should avoid foods with unnamed meat meals, preservatives, artificial colours, or excessive fillers like soy, corn, and wheat. Q7. What are the different types of pet food? Ans. Freeze-dried meals, dry kibble, raw, fresh-refrigerated and vet-prescribed therapeutic diets are the main types of pet food.