Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique Gives Pet Food Answers

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique Compiled Common Questions Asked of Groomers and Compiled a Study Guide Groomers Should Know

Groomers are faced with a bombardment a questions on pet foods that are not always the easiest questions to answer. Veterinarians are the ones that should be providing the most accurate comments on pet foods, but customers want the opinion of groomers. Knowing how to answer these questions with correct information is ensure good ethics for a caring pet franchise.

What does ‘complete and and balanced’ mean? What ingredients compose a ‘complete and balanced’ pet food?

“Complete and balanced” means that a pet food has all the necessary ingredients for a pet’s diet.

This includes proportion fat, digestible carbs, vitamins, minerals, and water. These are all vary depending on age, breed, and diet. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), defines “complete and balanced” as pet food “formulated to meet or exceed the AAFCO nutrient profiles.” The profiles also contain lists of vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A. Supplementary vitamins and minerals that are not included on lists, but are in pet food, are vitamin C, vitamin K, enzymes, and antioxidants. Human grade pet food is also subjected to higher criteria standards.

Do age category foods really need to be so specific for the age of my pet?

The main difference in age categorization is the level of protein variation. Protein formulas target different life stages. A puppy needs a different amount of protein, than an adult, or senior dog. Pet food companies formulate their food contingent with protein levels that promote healthy growth, maintaining healthy weight, and focus overall health. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique recommends following age-based diet programs.

If my pet is on a weight loss program, how should I portion or cut their meals?

Weight loss programs for dogs depend upon the initial weight of the dog, and the ending goal weight. A dog’s caloric intake is not dependent on the amount of food, but more the type of food. Any foods with fillers or empty calories are not ideal for weight loss. There are special formulated food regimens that should be selected for weight loss programs.

When a pet food label uses the word ‘natural,’ what does that mean?

When used in a nutrition label “natural” refers to the inclusion of processed foods. The AAFCO defines “natural” as, “a feed of ingredient derived solely from plant, animal, or mined source with no added vitamins or minerals.” Ingredients can remain unprocessed if they are, “subjected to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation.” On the other end of the spectrum is processed foods with have synthetic vitamins, minerals, or other ingredients.

Pet owners must understand that pet food companies usually strive to go all natural, but because of costs can only make the majority of their ingredients all natural. Do your research and read the nutrition label. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique recommends Blue Buffalo.

Are dogs supposed to be purely carnivores? Are carbohydrates bad for my dog?

Dogs at one time before domestication were carnivorous, but have always possessed the ability to digest plant matter. Wild wolves eat grass for fiber. Helpful carbohydrates give dog’s energy and fiber. Not all forms of carbohydrates are beneficial like feed-grade grains. Some pet companies go grain-free by substituting grains for potatoes and this is the primary ingredient you will find in most pet foods. Other companies use whole grains.

What are the top ingredients I should look for in a nutrition label?

Protein, or meat. This should always be number one. The first five ingredients listed are the most concentrated in the formula.Things to look out for are fillers, meals, and byproducts.Natural ingredients are inherently nutrition rich and short lists have a tendency to be healthier for your dog. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique recommends Tiki Dog.

What is meat meal?

Meat meal is meat that has been cooked before mixing with kibble mix. This cooking process takes at least 90% of the moisture from the protein. The mix is cooked again and some believe that nutrients are lost during this process, while others believe it concentrates protein. Meat meal is rendered and not fit for human consumption.

How do I read the nutrition label?

The first ingredient is alway the primary ingredient and ingredients that follow are concentrated by descending order so the last ingredient makes up the least of the formula. AAFCO requires nutrition label for fatty acids, protein, fat, fiber, moisture, and amount of calories. Owners should select pet foods with highest amount of protein and least amount of synthetic additives.
Is fat an important ingredient in pet food?
Fatty acids like omega 3 and omega 6 are beneficial ingredients. They are good for coat shine, function of cells, nerves, and muscles, and also help regulate pet body inflammatory response. Fats also make food more tasty and your pet may be more keen to eat foods with high fatty acid content.

What are the best sources of Protein?

Real raw U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-inspected muscle and organ meat is the ideal protein for dogs, but all meat based protein is good. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique recommends pet owners avoid foods with bean based proteins like soy or pea.
What is the minimum requirement the AAFCO allows in their food?

Pet food companies are subjected to AAFCO nutrient profiles and must submit a statement of nutritional adequacy. The AAFCO ensures that food is complete and balanced and meets nutritional requirements pets need on a daily basis. The FDA also regulates, certifies, tests, and approves all pet food and holds them up the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) which “requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.”

Premium Movement Emerging Trend Hitting Pet Franchise Industry

Important Trends Hitting the Pet Franchise Industry

Environmentally Conscientious Offerings Producing Sustainable Goods for Pet Franchise Industry

Trends in the American conscience translate into trends seen in the pet franchise industry and there have been huge shifts in the past few years. One of the biggest that Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique is recognizing is the want for sustainable and more eco-friendly products. Start-up companies are focusing on providing products that are renewable, recycled, or made with materials that are less wasteful. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),  America alone produced over 254 million tons of trash in 2013. Statistics like this are pushing the pet franchise to respond. This is evident in the inception of the Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition (PISC) which aims to progress the industry’s standards to for planet wellness. Environmentally responsible pet-supply manufacturers are using sustainable production methods and recycling materials to reduce waste and pollution, and urging others to do their part.

Repurposed Materials

Innovators within the pet franchise industry like the start-up Cycle Dog are taking initiatives to make products out of materials that would have been otherwise wasted. Cycle Dog uses old bike tire inner-tubes reused to make a backing for pet collars. The inner-tube rubber cannot be melted or injected into other forms so it is often sent to the landfill. Lynette Fidrych, Dog Cycle president, devised a way to make the material into the pet collar backing because it dries quickly and is resistant to bacteria growth. The cycle dog bar is reinforced with a safety bar that restricts the buckle from unintentionally releasing, offers four times the strength of average products, and is safe and sustainable for the planet. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique is keeping this product on it’s radar.

 

Sustainable Items

The first and most integral part of creating an eco-friendly pet franchise is to recycle, and offer products that are recyclable. A Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique product that follows this model is the Bionic Bone and other Bionic stuff-it toys. The Bionic Bone is eco-friendly, 100% recyclable, non-toxic, and dishwasher safe. It is made from FDA approved rubber and is–as the name suggests–indestructible. Meaning one purchase and your dog will have this toy forever which is good for your dog, your wallet, and the planet. Also in this vein is to the idea of implementing recycling options into your own business. Call your local county office and find out how to receive a recycling bin and the recycling pickup schedule. Customers will appreciate the gesture and good practice. Customers also have a tendency to have interests in hemp based dog toys over cotton. Hemp is fast growing, replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen, needs 50% less water than cotton, and can grow with little irrigation. In terms of eco-friendliness hemp is superior to cotton and more consumers are seeking dog toys made from this textile now than in past years.

 

Inform Customers on How to Recycle Unused Cat Litter

The versatility of cat litter is wide and there are a lot of options for cat owners who want to start recycling their unused cat litter. Note: All litters that your cat has used must be thrown away, and cannot be flushed down the toilet.

 

  • Clay based cat litters can be used to soak up oil leaks when working on your car or gardening equipment. Spread the litter out on the driveway or garage to help clean oil spills.
  • Wood and paper based litters make great soil retainment material for indoor and outdoor plants. Spread the unused litter around the perimeter of your plants roots to help soak water.
  • Wheat and corn based litters can be used in compost bins and piles.

 

You can also make your own cat litter by removing the ink from old newspaper. The process is very simple and takes only a few hours.

  1. First shred your newspaper.
  2. Add three teaspoons of eco-friendly dish soap to sink. Use colander and newspaper to sink, then fill it.
  3. Once the water turns gray drain it.
  4. Fill the sink back up without soap and repeat process with warm water.
  5. Add small amount of baking soda to the mushy paper and knead water out. (Wear gloves to avoid ink stains on hands)
  6. Dry the mixture out and use as necessary.

 

Outside the Grooming Industry

A trend to recognize that is not within the Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique realm, but is important to know as a marketing trend is the recyclability of small animal pet products. Pet-bedding for reptiles and birds are becoming more eco-friendly to meet the wants and needs of consumers. One notable company is  FiberCore, a distribution supply company that focuses on creating pet bedding that protects the environment. Since the need to replenish pet bedding is a constant it is imperative for the pet franchise to offer sustainable products to reduce waste and optimize pet health.