I was so lucky to be a part of the bloggers invited to join the Purina Youtube Live with Dr. Marty Becker!  America’s veterinarian and nutrition expert gave us an hour of interesting discussion about dog nutrition.  You’ve seen him on “Good Morning America” and “The Dr. Oz Show.” He’s the author of 22 books that have sold more than 7 million copies combined, including three New York Times best-sellers. Dr. Marty Becker truly is “America’s Veterinarian.”

He said it important to have a balanced diet for your dog so they have all the nutrition required for a long and healthy dog. It is important to understand that ‘by-products’ labelled on food can often mean very nutrition dense parts like liver, brain, heart. Dr Becker is a big fan of probiotics to supplement their dog’s healthy gut.

Many human food trends are transferring to the pet world.  Some of these trends include free range, organic, locally sourced and unique protein source. The #1 problems for pets are dental disease and skin problems. Do not overspend on food and then skimp on medical necessities.

100% nutritionally balanced and complete food is always best for pets. They can include commercially raw diets and quality kibble.  Pet owners can always do research online and look for books with expert food scientists research. The key is nutrition not ingredients.  Look out for brands that have their own manufacturing and their in-house team to stand behind the food they produce.

This is another great resource to find further information recommended by Dr Marty Becker: www.petfoodinstitute.org

Find out more about the range available from Purina.