Pet parents need to consider their pet's age, size, health and activity level when selecting the appropriate petfood, according to Michael Bellingham, Pet Food Manufacturers' Association chief executive.

Bellingham said that different dog breeds require different nutrients, so it can be "very beneficial" to tailor an animal's diet to its needs. Bellingham noted that commercial dog food is specifically designed to be "nutritionally balanced" to meet a dog's health requirements, so it is also critical that pet owners do not feed their pet table scraps that lack these necessary nutrients.

"Pet owners may also want to consider other factors such as convenience of feeding - for example wet versus dry - the dog's enjoyment of a food and their own budget," Bellingham said.