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Review
. 2021 May;51(3):529-550.
doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.01.009.

Pros and Cons of Commercial Pet Foods (Including Grain/Grain Free) for Dogs and Cats

Affiliations
Review

Pros and Cons of Commercial Pet Foods (Including Grain/Grain Free) for Dogs and Cats

Sherry Lynn Sanderson. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2021 May.

Abstract

Commercial pet food in the United States includes a diverse range of products. There is a tremendous amount of variation among companies regarding the financial resources invested into producing their products, research, and marketing. Commercial pet food is a regulated industry at both the state and federal levels, and many of the same standards applied to the human food industry apply to pet food. Many foods that both pets and people consume are processed; however, the type and extent of processing do not correlate with the nutritional value. Commercial pet food does not meet the needs of every pet.

Keywords: Commercial pet food; Grain-free diets; Grain-inclusive diets; Misinformation; Processed foods; Regulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The author currently is receiving supplemental support from Nestle Purina in the form of cat food and cat litter for a study funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), and has previously received research funding from Hill’s and Nestle Purina. The author has also lectured for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Royal Canin, and Nestle Purina.

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