Chippers1
Well-Known Member
Our study shows that for food , the animal fed with home made food (based on similar food as the family) reach an average age of 13.1 years, as the animals fed with canned industrial food, reach an average age of 10.4 years. The animals fed with mixed food (home made plus canned food) reach an average age of 11.4 years.
The difference between the two extremes amounts to more than 32 months, i.e. close to 3 years. This great difference shows that food is a major and determinant factor for the dogs' life expectancy. Giving it home made food is a guarantee for better protection, well being and longer life expectancy.
What makes the difference between the two types of food? (home made and industrial canned food) It is the basic quality of the ingredients used ( quality of the basic protein, quantity and faculty to assimilate vitamins and minerals when using natural products...) the importance of physical or chemicals treatments applied during the fabrication process. Indeed, canned-food processing requires various physical treatments: ( high temperature, lyophilisation, extrusion, flaking) anda l s o chemicals treatmentshydrolysis, coloring, additives.. ....)
It is clear from our analvsis that the implication ofthe proprietor of the dog in the selection of food served to the animal is of the greatest importance and that the life expectancy for his dog is directly related with the quality of the food.”
This analysis is 20 years old (with the data being collected in 1998) and the pet food industry has changed quite a bit since then.
Just anecdotally, I had a 14 year old Lab, a 21 year old cat and my OH's family currently has a 15 year old lab - all fed commercial pet food their whole lives so I always tend towards feeding what is best for the animal in front of you (and what they will eat!). There's so much work behind the scenes on pet food these days.