A lack of education around pet nutrition could be putting the health of our dogs at risk and costing pet owners a fortune
Australia’s dog owners could be hindering the health of their dogs as a major new survey reveals they don’t know what food is good for their pets or even how much they need to feed them.
Half of those polled admitted they didn’t know if the pet food they buy for their animals is nutritious and a quarter weren’t aware or even check how much they’re supposed to feed them.
Most worrying of all, over a third didn’t realise that being overweight was bad for a dog’s health and four in ten weren’t able to take their dog out for a daily walk.
The Big Dog Health Survey asked over 500 owners about their feeding and exercise routines and uncovered some worrying findings:
· 38% say their dog has health issues
· 73% are desperate for advice on how to feed them
· 50% don’t know if their pet’s food is healthy
· 82% would feed them a different diet if it boosted their lifespan by two years.
The study was carried out for Healthy Active Pet, a new company launched by The Healthy Mummy founder Rhian Allen aiming to educate owners about nutrition for dogs and cats. As research shows half of Australian dogs are either overweight or obese, it’s a critical issue.
“Australia is a nation of dog lovers, but it’s clear we don’t understand enough about pet health and nutrition,” Rhian said. “Good nutrition is such a fundamental factor in our overall health and our pets are no different. Eating healthy, species appropriate and fresh foods is one of the best ways we can ensure our pets live long, healthy lives.”
The survey also found that one in five owners shells out a staggering $60 or more a week to feed their dog. But spending more is no guarantee of quality.
“Unfortunately a lot of commercial pet food is highly processed which can cause digestion and inflammation issues”, Rhian warns. “At Healthy Active Pet, we recommend a fresh food diet that’s quick to prepare, cheap to buy and delicious to eat. I meal prep a week’s worth of food for my two dogs in just 10 minutes!”
For a monthly subscription fee of $6.95, Healthy Active Pet offers customers Australia’s only health, nutrition and weight management program for pets including recipe books, shopping lists, meal plans and a step-by-step cooking guide created by expert pet nutritionists. Membership also offers discounts on all raw air dried pet food orders (all 100% Australian made and sourced) and access to a Healthy Active Pet support group.
For more information:
Marlene Richardson | GASBAGPR | 0409 888 218 | marlene@gasbagpr.com.au
Key Facts:
The Big Dog Health Survey asked over 500 owners about their feeding and exercise routines and uncovered some worrying findings:
· 38% say their dog has health issues
· 73% are desperate for advice on how to feed them
· 50% don’t know if their pet’s food is healthy
· 82% would feed them a different diet if it boosted their lifespan by two years.
