Pet food at West Slope Farm & Ranch covers dog and cat foods from trusted national brands alongside farm-dog staples, plus treats and supplies for the animals that live in the house instead of the barn. Stop by the Delta store and we'll help you match a formula to your pet's age, activity, and appetite.
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Pet Food Feeding Guide
What does "complete and balanced" actually mean?
It means the food is supposed to supply everything the pet needs for the life stage on the label, when fed as directed. Makers back up that claim one of three ways: they formulate it to meet the national nutrient standards (AAFCO, the group that writes pet food standards), they actually feed it to animals in a standardized feeding trial, or they prove it's nutritionally the same as a food that passed a trial. AAFCO itself doesn't approve pet foods. It writes the standards, and each state enforces them.
How do I match a food to my dog's life stage?
The standards recognize three life stages: growth (puppies, plus pregnant and nursing dogs), adult maintenance, and all life stages (made to meet the toughest stage, growth). Growth foods pack more nutrition per cup, more protein, fat, and minerals, because young and reproducing animals need the most per pound. A food labeled "adult maintenance" only shouldn't be a puppy's whole diet.
| Life stage | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Puppy / kitten | Growth or all-life-stages formula; richer nutrition per cup |
| Adult | Maintenance formula matched to activity level |
| Senior / less active | Moderate calories; joint and digestion support |
| Pregnant / nursing | Growth formula, the most demanding stage |
Can my cat eat dog food?
Not as its only diet. Cats have to eat meat. They need more protein than dogs and nutrients dog food doesn't carry enough of. We'll point you to the right bag for each.