Feeding your furry friend: Picking the right pet food

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Pet owners dish out a lot of money for their furry friends. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association, pet spending is estimated to reach $58.51 billion dollars by the end of 2014. Pet owners spend a big chunk of that on food.

With so many choices, marketing and fads — picking the right pet food can be overwhelming.

"There are 30-some nutrients that dogs and cats need and they need nutrients — not ingredients," said Dr. Sarah Abood of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

The key for pet owners, according to Dr. Abood, is looking beyond the hype and checking out the label to see the best food for your animal.

The next time you buy food look for the nutritional adequacy statement. It shows the product has been approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

To learn more about picking the right pet food, visit our affiliate here.