What Is Human-Grade Pet Food And How Is It Beneficial For Your Pet?

Everyone needs food to live but the food that makes up our diet makes a huge difference in our lives. While one could survive solely on fast food, it’s not ideal for our health. As we make the conscious effort to switch to eating healthy, the same should be applied for our furry friends. 


What is human grade pet food?

“Human grade” in legal terms refers to pet food that has been imported, produced, and/or slaughtered according to human food standards and are accredited by human food standard facilities.


Thus, human-grade pet food can come in many forms. From freeze dried treats to gently cooked pet food or even raw protein, there are plenty of options for you to choose from regarding fresh pet food. If you are feeding kibble or canned wet pet foods, then 99.9% of your options are not human grade. Your furry one might not be used to eating raw food so human-grade gently cooked diet is a good starting point to ease them into the transition from commercial pet grade to human-grade pet food.


However, not all food that humans can eat is deemed to be safe for your pets. For example, onions are toxic for cats and dogs. If you plan on making your own home-cooked pet food for your furry ones, do conduct your research conscientiously and discuss it with your veterinarian before switching up your pet’s diet.


Commercial human-grade pet food on the other hand are prepared and produced under strict standards and regulations to ensure that they are safe for consumption. This form of pet food should also be formulated to give your pets the healthy, balanced diet they deserve2. Ensure the brand you use is formulated by an in house PhD nutritionist or veterinary nutritionist.



HOW IS IT BENEFICIAL


  • You know what goes into your pet’s diet
  • When you give your pet human-grade pet food, you know exactly what you’re feeding them. Fresh human-grade pet food is made with real high quality ingredients that you can see and not just a bowl of dry, brown kibble.


    The commercial pet food that you get from the supermarket or kibbles and canned food from pet stores are often packaged with preservatives and other additives to give them a longer shelf life, hence these are not beneficial for your pets’ gut in the long run

    • Healthier skin and coat

    Dogs and cats tend to suffer from dry skin resulting in itching, rashes and dry coats. Oftentimes we treat it as an allergy but pet food plays a big role in their skin health. Especially when their diet consists mainly of dry pet food filled with fillers, your furry friends don’t get the essential omega-3 fatty acids needed to keep their coats soft and healthy.


    So if your pets suffer from dry skin often, maybe it’s time to try switching out the pet food you’ve been feeding them for something fresh and nutritious. If it still persists then you should seek your vet for professional opinion.

    • Better digestion

    Fresh human-grade pet food is easier on your pet’s stomach as their digestive systems are not designed to consume all the processed food. Human-grade pet food is a lot more digestible and ensures that your pet gets all the necessary nutrients required in a healthy, balanced diet.

    • Longer lifespan

    We all regard our fur babies like our own children so we want them to live long healthy lives. Human-grade pet food has been proven to increase your pet’s lifespan. Just like how eating processed food puts us at risk of various health issues, the same goes for our pets.

    Fresh human-grade pet food is significantly more nutritious which helps your pets with maintaining a healthy body weight. A balanced diet also increases your pet’s energy leading to a healthier lifestyle while improving long-term health for your furry ones.

     

     

    While there isn’t anything inherently bad with commercial kibbles and canned food, there are simply more benefits to switching your pet food to one that is human-grade. In general, when choosing pet food for your furry friends you should be looking for ones that meet the nutritional requirements for your pet. Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is just as important for your pet as it is for yourself.


    Every pup and kitty are different so what works for others may not work for your pet as age, size, breed, and activity level differs from pet to pet. Do consult your veterinarian to determine what sort of diet works best for your pet’s lifestyle.