'Natural' petfood may not be best, veterinarian says

"Natural" petfoods may not always be the best choice to feed to pets, according to veterinarian Susan Nelson of Kansas State University, in an article from UPI.com.

Nelson warned that cats and dogs do not have the same nutritional needs as humans, therefore "natural" petfoods with many fruits and vegetables may not meet all of a pet's nutritional requirements.

"Natural and veggie-based pet foods are based more on market demand from owners, not because they are necessarily better for the pet," Nelson said.

Nelson advised consumers to look for labels from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which sets minimum standards for the nutritional adequacy of diets. Consumers should be wary of any petfood company that claims to have organic or holistic food because these categories don't exist by AAFCO definition, according to Nelson.