In This Issue
Pet food recalled after testing positive for salmonella
Pets at Home ramps up training recruitment scheme
Ten million owners don't know what's in their pets' food
Ceva launches humorous new TV advertisements
Santa Denzel treats 500 dachshunds for Christmas
Skinner’s donate over £10,000 in dog food to rescue centres throughout the UK
Owners put their pets’ health at the heart of 2019
Vince the Vet completes launch of unique range of clinically proven, natural supplements and remedies,
Taking the stress out of settling, bonding and training
Vitalin to showcase eco-friendly packaging at PATS
Last chance to nominate for Ceva Animal Welfare Awards
Pet Trade Xtra hits the high spots in 2018
New products that caught our eye in 2018 – will they become 2019 bestsellers?
An award-winning product taking the market by storm
Christmas recipe for dogs proves to be a winner
Another festive product that caught our eye
HOWND entered the dog treat market and made instant impact
The best of the previous Pet Trade Xtra
Owner ‘distraught’ after Pets at Home grooming incident
Revealed: Top 50 pet industry news stories of 2018
New appointments at pet food firm
HOWND set to launch Hemp Wellness Treats Starter Pack with free counter display
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Ten million owners don't know what's in their pets' food

 

Research from True Instinct, the raw and natural pet food expert, reveals that 10 million* dog and cat owners are not aware of what’s in their pet’s food. Despite this, a quarter are pledging to make a healthy New Year’s resolution for their four-legged friend.

 

The poll of UK dog and cat owners** reveals that the nation’s knowledge of pet food ingredients is extremely low, with over 62% (equating to 10 million out of 17 million total dog and cat owners in the UK) admitting to not knowing what they’re really feeding their pet. More than half say they aren’t aware that mainstream dry pet foods contain sugar, meat derivatives, processed ingredients and artificial additives. Less than 15% of those surveyed are aware that shocking ingredients such as bone ash, feathers and synthetics can be found in some of these foods.

 

The knowledge gap continues with around a third of pet owners not realising dogs can’t eat foods such as chocolate or onions which are both toxic. Conversely, owners aren’t aware of the many ingredients that can improve pet health either; 14% say dogs can’t eat butternut squash, which is a nutritious vegetable, and 20% say blueberries are a no-go but are actually full of antioxidants. Both are found in natural and raw pet foods such as True Instinct, due to the countless health benefits they provide.

 

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Whilst only 40% of UK dog and cat owners are making a healthy New Year’s resolution for themselves in 2019, a quarter are putting their pets first and have pledged that they’ll make one for their four-legged friend – ensuring they kick start the year to get their pet healthier and happier.

 

This could be down to the fact that over a third say their dog or cat suffers from a health issue such as bad breath, diabetes or a skin condition, and 10% are overweight. Such conditions can be alleviated simply by switching to a more natural, healthy diet.

 

Whilst knowledge of ingredients is low, the research does show that 26% of pet parents say that when selecting their pet food brand their dog or cat must visibly enjoy it, and a quarter state it must make a difference to their health and wellbeing.

 

Top 10 list of New Year’s resolutions for our pets this January:

  1. Go for more walks (45%)
  2. Cut down on unhealthy treats (40%)
  3. Give them a better, more natural diet (31%)
  4. Spend more time with them (30%)
  5. Brush their teeth more often (29%)
  6. Pay more attention to their training/behaviour (25%)
  7. Take them for regular health checks (21%)
  8. Stop bad habits e.g. sleeping on the bed, eating from the table (19%)
  9. Give them more regular baths (18%)
  10. Ensure they socialise with other dogs/cats (16%)

Melanie Sainsbury, Veterinary Education Manager for True Instinct comments: “January is often a time where our thoughts turn to getting healthier, be it taking part in ‘Dry January’ or just generally being more conscious about what we eat – and this shouldn’t be any different for our pets. Whilst there is clearly a gap in knowledge of what’s really in certain pet foods, we understand that pet owners are often time-poor and often prioritise convenience. 

 

“However, it’s promising to see from the research that pet parents want to make a positive change – and it doesn’t have to be difficult either.

 

“Pets could take part in their very own ‘Dry January’ – but one where they enjoy a balanced nutritious diet in the form of a more natural, healthy dry food such as True Instinct. Our Raw Boost product includes no nasties and all the ingredients they need to thrive, whilst still in a convenient format.”

 

For more information or to place an order, visit www.trueinstinct.co.uk or call 0800 0183770.

 

*Calculated using PFMA data on current dog and cat population 2018 – 17 million

**Survey by OnePoll on 17th December 2018 of 2,000 UK dog and cat owners

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