Pricey fresh food for Fluffy and Fido could be worth it in the long run

Pet lovers might try every single diet out there for their fur baby. The current trend is fresh and organic food.

Fresh foods supporters claim fresh food preserves nutrients better than canned or dried pet foods.

The U.S. pet food market is a $25 billion industry.

According to Nielsen, U.S. sales of fresh pet food in groceries and pet stores jumped 70% to more than $546 million between 2015 and 2018, not including online sales of homemade fresh pet food.

Houston fresh and organic dog food company founder Barbara Marshall said it's more expensive, but worth it.

"It's the same thing for people as is for dogs. If we eat well, we eat right, we take care of ourselves our chances of feeling good are going to be a lot better," said Marshall.

She said a human's needs are very different from that of an animal.

"If they truly need the grains, and they're not allergic to the grains, and aren't getting the grains, they're not getting the nutrients they need to thrive. It's very important for the dog to have a balanced diet," said Marshall.

She added most humans cheat and can get what they need. Indoor pets cannot get in the fridge or cupboard and cheat.

The FDA says raw pet food has a high risk of bacterial contamination.

Marshall doesn't like a raw food diet, because if pets have a digestive E. Coli, once out of the system, it can remain active on the ground for seven days. Should a human or pet step on it, it could be brought into the home and exposed to humans.

Feeding pets raw food is the most expensive option. According to Nielsen data, the average fresh pet food costs $5.26 per pound, while the average frozen raw pet food is $6.23 per pound.


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