How Do You Choose The Best Chow For Your Furry Friend? Here Are Some Tips To Help You Out

Settling in to your role of becoming a full-fledged pet parent is no easy task. Much like taking care of and raising a child, you’d only want the best for your beloved canine or feline friend. Giving them lots of snuggles, playtime, socialization, and a cozy space to snooze come rather easy and almost effortless—but what about nutrition? 

The question of what to feed your pets should take into account their age, size, breed, and any health issues they might have. Picking the best food also entails research and lots of trial and error. None of the aforementioned factors will matter if your dog or cat doesn’t even like the taste and texture of the food you’re giving them. 

Sounds frustrating, right? To help you out, below, we’ve gathered pro tips on how to pick meal choices for your furry (best)friend alongside pet-approved food brands you can try out. FYI—these can all be conveniently purchased with just a few clicks via the SM Malls Online app and delivered right to your doorstep. Pro tip: You can get same-day delivery on all your pet needs from Pet Express! If you're a new user, you can also save an extra 50% off (capped at P200) when you use the PETTREATS200OFF voucher upon checkout!

Know their nutritional needs

The very basic place to start is to get educated on what makes pet food nutritious—hearty, delicious, and balanced all at once. 

Both dogs and cats need a lot of protein in their diet; this ingredient, which can be consumed from both animal and plant sources, is the building block of tissues, organs, cells, hormones, and antibodies. It’s really an understatement to say that it basically keeps your four-legged pals in tiptop shape. 

A great option to try is Pedigree’s Adult Beef Wet Dog Food 1.15kg, which has a combination of protein, fat, and fiber. It’s produced from quality meat and selected veggies carefully cooked to preserve the nutrients that your dog needs. Shop this home-cooked-inspired meal for only P229 via the SM Malls Online app.  

For your feline friend, we recommend Whiskas® Adult Tuna Dry Cat Food 1.2kg, which retails for P299.75 via the SM Malls Online app. This is a complete and balanced recipe from Whiskas® that’s formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance. 

Take note of their life stage

While most pet food labels say they’re complete and balanced for all life stages (convenient, right?), know that your pets have different nutritional requirements at various ages, just like their human counterparts. So it’s still best to feed them meals that are specifically designed for their age, size, breed, and activity levels. 

For small-breed puppies, like Pomeranians, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Poodles, and Beagles, among others, opt for Pedigree’s Puppy Mini Milk Dry Dog Food 1.3kg. At P319.75 via the SM Malls Online app, it has 40 essential nutrients to support your pup’s growth and development. The kibbles are small enough and ideal for your baby’s tiny teeth and mouth and contains 26% protein (exceeding the recommended 25% serving for growing pups).  

For kittens aged one to two months, we suggest the Whiskas® Junior Ocean Fish with Milk Dry Cat Food 1.1kg at P299.75 via the SM Malls Online app. It contains 30% protein for lean muscles and calcium for the development of strong bones. 

Mix wet and dry food

Canned, wet food contains more moisture (hey, your pets need a lot of water, too!), but kibbles are more convenient and cost-effective. If you want to achieve that balance between price and nutrition, you can mix wet and dry food for your pets. Once you’ve found a good wet food that your pet loves, you can add some kibbles as a topper. 

For some crunch and extra nutrition for your cat, shop Purina’s Friskies Surfin’ Favourites Dry Cat Food 1.2kg, which goes for P349 via the SM Malls Online app. Your cat will purr in delight with this one, as it contains flavors from ocean whitefish, salmon, and filet mignon. Plus, it has essential fatty acids that promotes healthy skin and coat. 

Consider dental chew treats

Treats are equally important to have on hand since they can also be an excellent source of added nutrition such as vitamins A and E for your furry friends. 

Our pick is the Happi Doggy Apple Dental Chew Dog Treats 30g, which you can score for only P59.75 a pack via the SM Malls Online app. These dental chew treats can be effective in reducing the amount of oral bacteria in dogs and in promoting fresh breath. Made with real apples sans the seeds (which are harmful for dogs), these dental treats stimulate the gums, increase saliva flow, and reduce buildup of cavity-causing bacteria. 

While there’s a ton of information online about canine and feline nutrition (including this one!), it still all boils down to your pet’s preferences and needs—and your budget, too. Truth of the matter is, experts don’t always agree on this topic, simply because there’s not just one answer. But if you do plenty of research while considering what suits your pet best, making an informed decision on your pet’s diet can be a breeze. 

Make sure to check out more deals on pet essentials at SM Deals and order for in-store pick up or delivery via SM Malls Online! Don't forget, you can get same-day delivery on all your pet needs from Pet Express! If you're a new user, you can also save an extra 50% off (capped at P200) when you use the PETTREATS200OFF voucher upon checkout.