We’ve all been affected in some way or another by the recent economic troubles, and inevitably troubling times are bound to trickle down the line to the low man (er, dog) on the totem pole. Or, do they? In a recent poll whose results (I find) a little surprising given the times, and only one out of seven people are cutting back spending on their pet, according to an Associated Press survey conducted in December. So what does this say about the American public?

I’ve been following the daily gloom-and-doom news reports on a regular basis and my response to the marked reduction in “voluntary”  surgeries by consumers (such as liposuction, nose-jobs, chest enhancements, etc) is “smart move, folks”. In times like these, looks have to take a little reduction in priority over necessary items like food and shelter, at least for those with a responsible bone in their body. Vacation spending, travel, eating out… sensible reductions in spending to say the least. But let’s get back to Fido…

Fido, for many of us in America, is just like one of our children. And for those who don’t have children, Fido is held in equal regard as a substitute for procreation. Take it from one who has experienced both kinds of love and affection; the well-being of Fido and my son come before pretty much before anything in the world, especially luxuries for me.

But do we need to spend lots of money to keep Fido happy, recession or not? The good news is, most likely he or she could care less. Here’s some good news, an interesting tidbit of information that may help reduce Fido’s budget–  a recent  article in Consumer Reports suggests that “expensive” pet food is not necessarily more nutritional. Hallelujah!

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should go out and obtain the cheapest generic brand necessarily. According to Iveta Becvarova, a Veterinary nutritionist with the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, there are some items that you should pay attention to in order to find the most nutritional food at the best price:

• Review the ingredients! A protein source should always be listed as the primary (or second at the least) ingredient. Ensure that the food utilizes a quality protein source such as organ or whole meats, or chicken byproducts, instead of meat and bone meal.
• Ensure that you utilize the life stage blend that is appropriate for the age of your pet. Due to potential obesity problems, steer clear of blends labeled “for all life stages”.
• Look for information about feeding trials. Every pet food package will have an American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement. This regulatory group informs dog owners how the food is formulated and some information regarding which means that the food has been tested on animals for digestibility and nutritional balance.

So is the recession affecting your Fido’s lifestyle? Given that the number one priority for most animals is love and outdoor activities with their significant master, the recession is probably a boom for Fido, since both of those items can be had for “free”.

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