WHAT YOUR PET EATS MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK: WHY WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PET FOOD

Pet food is getting a foodie makeover

Australian pets are becoming foodies in their own right, with owners taking a closer look at what goes into their bowls and thinking more carefully about nutrition, ingredients and overall wellbeing.

With 73 per cent of Australian households owning a pet, the humble dinner bowl has become another place where owners are applying the same health-conscious thinking they use when choosing food for themselves.

Just as humans have become increasingly interested in protein, gut health and the quality of the ingredients on their plates, pet owners are asking similar questions about what they feed their dogs and cats.

But there is one important difference. Your pet isn't a small, furry version of you.

Dr Teagan Lever, Director of Vet Services at Pet Circle, says choosing the right food can significantly affect a pet's long-term health.

“Food is one of the most important parts of a pet’s daily routine, so choosing the right diet can have a meaningful impact on their long-term health and wellbeing,” she says.

“While we naturally want to share the things we enjoy with our pets, their nutritional needs are different to ours, which is why a complete and balanced pet food suited to their age, size, lifestyle and individual needs is so important.”

Pet food is getting a foodie makeover

Walk down the pet food aisle these days, and it's clear things have changed.

There are dry and wet foods, fresh options, freeze-dried and air-dried recipes, different protein sources and formulas aimed at everything from puppies and kittens through to senior pets.

Owners can also choose foods designed around particular nutritional needs, including digestion, skin and coat, joints and immune health.

It gives pet owners considerably more choice than the one-size-fits-all approach of the past. But more choice doesn't necessarily mean your pet needs a complicated meal plan.

The most important thing is still choosing a complete and balanced food appropriate for the animal's age, size, lifestyle and individual needs.

When pet food starts looking like human food

The growing interest in ingredients has inevitably made its way into pet food.

Pet Circle's Instinctive Bite range, for example, offers everything from single-protein recipes to air-dried food, with options designed for different ages and nutritional requirements.

The range includes proteins such as Australian lamb, duck and pork, while some air-dried recipes contain meat, organs and ingredients including New Zealand green-lipped mussels.

It is part of a broader move towards giving owners more control over what goes into their pet's bowl, without necessarily making feeding time complicated.

And no, this doesn't mean your Labrador needs a tasting menu.

So what should actually be in the bowl?

Start with a complete and balanced diet suited to your pet's particular life stage.

A growing puppy or kitten has different nutritional requirements from an active adult, while an older animal may need a different balance again.

From there, owners can consider factors such as size, activity levels, body condition and any specific dietary requirements.

Treats and toppers can certainly have a place, but they should complement the main diet rather than become the main event.

And then there are the leftovers.

Anyone who has ever eaten dinner under the intense supervision of a hopeful dog will know just how persuasive those eyes can be.

But the fact that your pet will happily inhale whatever falls from the table doesn't mean it is nutritionally appropriate.

Some foods that are perfectly safe for humans can be dangerous for pets, while others simply don't contain the balance of nutrients dogs and cats need.

Your pet doesn't need a Michelin-starred dinner

The good news is that feeding your pet well doesn't require turning their dinner into a culinary production.

You don't need to prepare elaborate meals every night or buy every new product that promises to transform your pet's life.

What matters is choosing an appropriate, complete and balanced diet and feeding it consistently.

Because your dog may genuinely believe that your leftover pasta is the greatest meal ever created.

Unfortunately, their digestive system did not get the memo.