One of the first questions I ask my clients when they come to our clinic is,"what is your pet eating?"

Physical observations of an animal's coat, skin, weight, teeth and ears can be a direct reflection of what that pet is eating. In addition, a history of skin problems, ear infections, poor stool quality or digestive function, weak immune system and anal sac problems may also have a direct association to an animal's diet.

The quality and safety of the food people feed their pets are of increasing concern, especially in light of the recent pet food recall. For some commercial pet food companies, profit is the primary focus and it may come at the expense of your pet's health.

Labels can be hard to interpret

Ingredients are required to be listed in order by weight - including their water content. Ingredients containing substantial amounts of water (meat) will sometimes be listed ahead of grains, even though the grain might be contributing a greater percentage of the protein in the finished food. Furthermore, when reading a label it is important to understand that "meat and bone meal,"beef and bone meal" or "by product meal" tend to be the poorest quality animal-source ingredients. When looking for the primary protein source in a food, look for a specific meat or meat-meal listed like "lamb" or "beef meal."

Corn in all its forms, as well as wheat, are common allergens and susceptible to spoilage by mold and other toxins. Food with significant cereal content like corn gluten meal may also indicate that a company is placing higher value on economy than nutrition.

The "semi-moist" food types, which are most commonly fed to cats and toy dog breeds, are often full of texturizers, preservatives and colorings that may add taste, but no nutritional value to the food. Any food that contains chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, (banned from human foods because of possible carcinogenic effects), ethoxyquin, propylene glycol or propyl gallate should be left on the shelf. Many brands are now preserved with Vitamin C and E instead of synthetic preservatives. These more "natural" brands may still have some synthetic preservatives, but the amounts will be less.

Human grade ingredients

Many foods claim they contain "human grade" or "USDA inspected" ingredients. This implies the ingredients are passed by the USDA for human consumption, but that may not always be the case. Another marketing tactic used by some pet food companies is the "natural" claim. The governing body of the pet food industry has a very broad definition of natural - which allows for artificially processed ingredients. A recent trend seen in the higher-end pet foods is the reliance on the marketing appeal of healthy, human food ingredients like vegetables, herbs and fruits.

This can be very misleading because the actual amounts of these ingredients are very small and in some cases the items themselves are scraps and discards from processors of human foods. All in all, these products do not provide a significant health benefit.

In summary, there is no single perfect food for dogs or cats, and any decision about diet should be made in consultation with a veterinarian. Breed-specific problems, age, activity level, history of medical problems and economics should all be taken into consideration when choosing the best food option for you and your companion.