Showing posts with label natural cat food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural cat food. Show all posts

16 October 2013

Pet food ingredients and sourcing

Pet food ingredients and sourcing



If you're like me, you are probably always looking for the right things for your pets. I am constantly seeking out the right toys, the right places to walk the dogs, the right beds to keep them comfortable and even the right amounts and kind of playtime. In my world, I am fortunate to have worked in the pet food industry so finding the right natural pet food is a little simpler for me, but sometimes even I get overwhelmed. If you are shopping in a brick and mortar store or on-line, you'll probably notice the theme of every food being the "best" for you dogs and cats -- of course if there was only one "best" food, there would only be one brand of food.

One of the biggest concerns I've been hearing from people is about all the recalls of pet food and treats, and that is a legitimate concern. Most of us are looking for a healthy, natural product that is manufactured in the USA by a company that cares about the safety and quality of the pet food they make as much as I care about what I feed -- yes, that is a tall order.

When you start looking around at foods, there are lots of options. I like that Hill's offers comparison tools and recommendations for formulas. When you look through the information on the web site, you'll see that even in natural foods, it is important not to have too much or too little of key nutrients -- Hill's does a nice job of balancing their ingredients. I also liked that this line has no corn, wheat or soy and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

I also like that Hill’s dry foods are manufactured locally, right here at home in the USA in their own facilities. Most of their ingredients are sourced from the U.S. and all the meat and poultry comes from USDA-inspected facilities. I checked on the ingredients sourced outside of the U.S. and was told they are monitored just as strictly as those from the U.S., and Hill’s has zero tolerance for Salmonella. In fact, they conduct more than 60 quality checks on every batch of food, every ingredient can be tracked by batch or ingredient, within 24 hours, and more than 1000 Salmonella tests are conducted every month.

I've tried the Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ with my dogs, and I like how it feeds out and the dogs seem to like the flavor too. There may not be a “best” pet food for everyone, but with Hill’s® Ideal Balance™, is definitely one to consider for your companions.


Learn more about these products 
Hill's® Ideal Balance™ Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Adult dog food  Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Grain Free Natural Chicken and Potato Recipe Adult dog food
Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Adult cat food
Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Grain Free Natural Chicken and Potato Recipe Adult cat food



The fine print: I have been compensated for compensated for completion of this article, but the opinions remain my own. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

22 September 2013

Gourmet meals for cats and dogs and a GIVEAWAY!

Gourmet meals for cats and dogs and a GIVEAWAY!


Gourmet Menus for Your Cat and Dog

Author has been compensated for completion of this article. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.  

I've had cats and dogs in my life -- although only dogs right now -- and I can attest to both the cats and dogs wanting to be fed in the mornings. There is certainly no lounging around in our household, but perhaps that is all the horses we've had over the years too.

Our animals have always been adamant about feeding time, perhaps they were listening to my mother (a Registered Dietitian) telling us for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

When I had cats, I tried to offer them something early in the day that was enticing, often canned food, and they always seemed to like that. Once they have had the canned food, you'll want to leave a dish of dry food for nibbling on throughout the day. Cats are natural grazers, so having some food available will make the routine of eating, sleeping, sunbathing, snacking, sitting on the computer keyboard, and napping so much simpler.


If you and your cat are together during the day, offering treats is a great way to make your cat feel special -- plus it is a good way to give them attention without taking all the attention away from your own projects. If you are working outside the home offer treats to your cat when you return triumphant from the day in the work-world. Have your cat  treats in a convenient place so you can pat her on the head, hand her a tasty treat and all will be right in the world again.


For dinner, why not start with an appetizer of wet food, followed by refilling the dry food dish for dinner and late night snacks. What a lucky kitty!

When I looked at the cat and dog products for this giveaway, there were lots of positives. Here are three that you might appreciate.

Points of Interest 
  • No matter what you like to use to feed or treat your pet, you'll have a great selection with dry food, wet food and treats from Hill’s® Ideal Balance™.
  • Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ foods have NO corn, wheat or soy and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. 
  • Treats aren’t just for dogs – cats love getting a special treat, too! Ideal Balance has natural treats for both dogs and cats.
Want to learn more about the products? Click on over and take a look -- you'll be able to order from there too if you want to.

Yes, yes, that is all great but how about the giveaway?


GIVEAWAY - YAY!
Twenty lucky winners will receive a Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Gift basket, 10 for cat lovers and 10 for dog lovers. The baskets include the following:  

Ideal Balance Dog Gift basket: (10 Available)
  • Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Grain-Free Natural Chicken & Potato Recipe Adult – 3.5 lb bag  
  • Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ wet food – 6 cans 
  • Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Treats – 2 bags variety 
  • Dog bowl 
  • Blanket

Ideal Balance Cat Gift basket: (10 Available)
  • Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Grain-Free natural Chicken & Potato Recipe Adult – 2 lb bag  
  • Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ wet food variety pack – 6 cans case 
  • Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crunchy Naturals with Real Tuna 
  • Cat bowl  
  • Place mat
 Okay, wonderful, so how do I get this great gift basket? 



Gift Basket Giveaway | Try Hill’s Ideal Balance Grain Free
I’d love to hear your thoughts about grain free cat and dog food.  Do your cats or dogs struggle with grains in their food? What do you like about grain free? On Tuesday, October 1st,  I will be (okay it will actually be one of the dogs picking up printed comments) randomly choosing comments (20 total) to win a free gift basket so that you can try Hill’s Ideal Balance Grain Free. (Be sure to let me know if you want to try dog or cat food.) Please share this with local rescue groups so that they can enter to win too.

Thanks for stopping and be sure to share and comment on Facebook too.