Evolution of Pet Foods: Differences Between Pet Food Formats and Ways to Leverage Them in Practice

Not so long ago the world of pet foods was relatively simple, with just a choice between canned or dry formats made by a limited number of well-known pet food companies.  But today, the range of pet food options and their diversity are more complex, creating confusion for veterinarians and challenging client questions for practice staff.

The session will review the history of the pet food industry in the US to help understand the origin of each format.  We’ll compare nutritional composition, processing methods, and research behind each format.  By understanding the pros and cons, veterinarians can better counsel clients and recommend diets that align with both pet health needs and owner expectations.

Learning outcomes

• The history of commercial pet foods in the USA is around 100 years old.  Canned was the first format in 1922, dry started around 1950, and the first Fresh diets started in 2006.  Today, pet food industry is in fast evolution, with a wide range of different formats and a growing number of new companies.
• Dry, Can and Fresh/Frozen formats differ significantly in the macronutrient composition and calorie content.  Dry format has the highest caloric density and can format tends to have the lowest.  Fresh/Frozen diets are in the middle of the range between dry and can formats for calorie density.   Some formats may fit better the needs of pets depending on life stages and lifestyles.   
• The impact that the processing has on nutrient availability is often overlooked.  Published data shows consistently higher essential amino acids digestibility associated with gentle processing temperatures versus dry, canned and even raw processes.     
• Some Formulas available on the internet for Home Cooked Diets can lead to feeding nutritionally deficient diets.  Some of the most recurrent deficiencies found when analyzing those diets were Calcium. 
• All US pet food labels will change in coming years due to the implementation of the PFLM (Pet Food Label Modernization Act).  Some of the changes involve the declaration of carbohydrates in the Guaranteed Analyses.  Also, Crude Fiber will be replaced by Total Dietary Fiber.