Looking for the tailored pet food product

In recent years, pets have increasingly become a part of the family. For singles and couples without children, they are often even regarded as a child substitute.As pets assume this upgraded status, consumers are also more focused on how to feed their four-legged friends. Whereas pets were fed primarily on leftovers from human meals in earlier times, many dog and cat owners are now much more aware regarding healthy nutrition for their pets.The manner in which pets are fed has become increasingly diverse: some people make their own dog food, some feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores and others give their dogs a raw food diet.Increasing consumer needsThe demands made on the pet food industry have grown considerably as a result of the changing needs of pet owners. Pet food must now look appetising as well as being healthy and as natural as possible. The function of pet food has changed in the last few years too. Many products now contain select ingredients such as salmon, chicken liver, aloe vera and clams to reward or pamper pets. Pet food is also expected to help improve the health of pets. To save a pricy visit to the vet, more and more dog and cat owners are turning to pet food products that promise added health value, whether by preventing tartar or obesity or contributing to a healthy gut. "Sensitive" and "light" products are in great demand.The production process is subject to constant change in the quest for the optimum pet food products. Great importance is attached to processing of the raw ingredients in a way that maintains freshness and is as gentle as possible. Pet food must be easily digestible, because many pets have a sensitive stomach and digestive system. Artificial colourings, preservatives, flavour enhancers and other additives are generally no longer tolerated in pet food products, and many pet food manufacturers have ceased to use glucose too.Holistic products have developed into a major trend. According to Wikipedia, holism embraces the idea that natural systems (physical, biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc.) and their properties should be viewed as wholes, not as collections of parts. Holistic pet food products are very popular in the USA in particular, while in Europe, products with similar contents are labelled as natural pet food. Organic or biological products are likewise in fashion. As was to be seen at the last Interzoo and Global Pet Expo, grain-free…