Common Pet Nutrition Myths That New Owners Tend to Believe

The grain-free trend grew out of human low-carb diet culture, but dogs are not humans. Whole grains provide fiber, B vitamins, and readily available energy. More importantly, the FDA has been investigating a potential link between certain grain-free diets high in legumes and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Research is ongoing, but many veterinary cardiologists recommend caution. Unless your dog has a diagnosed grain sensitivity — confirmed by a vet — there is no established reason to avoid grains.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have both issued policy statements discouraging raw protein diets for pets. Studies have found pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria in commercially prepared raw pet foods. Pets can shed these bacteria in their feces even when they appear healthy, creating a household exposure risk — particularly relevant in homes with young children. See our guide to kids and pet germs for more on this. If you're interested in fresh or minimally processed food, discuss options with your vet.

Multiple published studies have found that the majority of home-cooked pet food recipes circulating online — including those from veterinary websites — are deficient in one or more key nutrients such as calcium, zinc, or specific vitamins. Unlike commercial foods formulated to AAFCO standards, a well-intentioned home recipe can create slow-developing deficiencies that are difficult to spot. If you want to feed homemade, working with a veterinary nutritionist to create a properly balanced recipe is strongly recommended.

While variety sounds intuitively appealing, cats' digestive systems adapt to a consistent diet. Rapid switches between protein sources or formulas are a common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in cats. That said, feeding a single food from kittenhood through adulthood can occasionally lead to food fixation, which makes transitions difficult later. Veterinarians often suggest gradual, occasional rotation — not frequent or abrupt changes — if variety is a goal. Any transition should happen slowly over seven to ten days.

AAFCO does provide a loose definition of "natural" — meaning ingredients derived from plant, animal, or mined sources without chemical synthesis — but this covers an enormous range of ingredient quality. A food can be labeled natural and still contain low-quality rendered by-products. Conversely, some synthetic nutrients, like taurine in cat food, are essential for health. Focus on AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements and ingredient quality rather than front-of-bag buzzwords. If you want to sharpen your label-reading skills more broadly, our practical guide to reading nutrition labels offers transferable skills.