If you want to have a pet in your home, the following information is right for you. The task of every pet owner is to provide a suitable living and developmental environment for their pet. The main thing to remember is that you take responsibility for its life. The baby will please you with its achievements and healthy appearance with proper care.

An important factor of maintenance is nutrition. It must meet the following criteria:

• meal regime;
• balanced composition;
• feeding hygiene;
• environmental impact of feed.

By the way, few people pay attention to the last point. It is absolutely in vain. The composition and production of food have a significant impact not only on the animal’s health but also on the environment. As we know, we create the atmosphere around us. How to preserve nature? After all, it is the main value for us and our descendants. Read more about it in our article.

What nutrition to give preference

Every animal needs a balanced diet. This approach positively affects its well-being and physical activity. The owner has a choice: to prepare food himself or to prefer a ready-made product.

The first option’s advantages are confidence in the diet’s composition and reduction of harm to the environment. But do not forget about the disadvantages: food must always be fresh and takes a lot of time, which is not easy for today’s busy person. Are you ready to do it regularly? Going on a trip, you may face transportation and food safety difficulties. In this case, it is preferable to choose a ready-made food. However, there are also nuances here. It is necessary to take into account the needs of the pet:

• age;
• breed;
• activity throughout the day;
• health conditions (pregnancy, allergic reactions, surgery, etc.);
• digestive system, etc.

Cheap, low-quality food contains preservatives, flavor enhancers, and other chemical additives. Its consumption has no benefit, and the damage caused to the pet’s body is enormous. Subsequently, health problems may arise. Therefore, you should take a responsible approach to the choice. The best option is to buy a product not lower than the premium class. It is helpful to get advice from a veterinarian. An experienced specialist will choose the best option for your pet, considering individual characteristics.

Conservation of natural resources

Cats and dogs are the largest consumers of meat products among pets. Therefore, there is a growing demand for premium pet foods with high meat content today. Meat food production emits about 64 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. 

Another interesting feature is that pets worldwide produce more than 5 million tons of feces yearly. It is equal to the waste of about 90 million people. Therefore, it is recommended to use disposable bio-bags to clean up after your pets during walks. Otherwise, all feces will percolate into groundwater, causing irreparable damage to natural resources.

Pet foods don’t appear in a bowl out of nowhere. They go through several stages:

• cultivation/mining;
• processing;
• transportation;
• distribution;
• preparation;
• consumption.

The generation of greenhouse gases accompanies each step. On a large scale, it can lead to solar heat retention and climate change. A large proportion of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by human activities related to manufacturing feed products. We should not forget about waste disposal.

Naturally, there is no question of giving up your four-legged friend. But it is recommended to think about more economical options for their feeding. Pet nutrition does not go unnoticed in the changing environment. The meat used in commercial pet products is sourced from industrialized farms. Such farms require high consumption of water, energy, and other resources needed to keep the animals and produce feed crops. However, today, there is a decent alternative. Many furry owners prefer the products of the reliable pet food company that operates without chemicals, showing concern for the environment.

Dry or wet food

It is difficult to pick one rule for everyone regarding a pet’s health and physical condition. Every pet is different, with varying nutritional and health needs. 

Wet food is preferred for pets that do not consume enough water. Such a product is ideal for maintaining an optimal level of water balance in the body but negatively affects the state of the oral cavity. Solid granules of dry food are necessary for babies when changing milk teeth and cleaning teeth from food residues and plaque. In addition, dry food is more economical to use. However, ensuring the pet consumes a lot of water is necessary.

You can leave dry pellets in the bowl all day long. Wet food should be cleaned up after each meal, and the leftovers should be thrown away. An open packet can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than three days. Dry food is attractive due to its long shelf life.

But what about the environment? Scientists from all over the world united to study animal feed’s impact on the environment. As a result, the following was revealed: when using wet food, twice as much energy is spent, and seven times more carbon dioxide is emitted than when using dry food. The reason is that almost 90% of the calories in wet food come from animal sources. This indicator in dry feed is twice less. At the same time, the amount of water consumed to manufacture products is approximately the same.

Do not forget about the packaging. Wet food is sold in portions; therefore, it will require more packaging material. By the way, its decomposition process is quite long – at least a hundred years. That is, wet food has a greater impact on the environment. 

What conclusion can be drawn from the above? The production of dry food is more environmentally friendly than wet food. If you care about the planet, take this aspect into account. Simply replacing wet food with dry food is an effective way to support the fight against the climate crisis. Remember that the conservation of natural resources starts with each of us!