FOOD TRENDS

The history of pet food is very interesting. In the United States the first commercial canned dog food was Ken-L Ration which was made available in 1922 and its main ingredient was horse meat. During World War II tin and meat were rationed and pet food was classified as “non-essential”. So cereal makers (General Mills and Ralston Purina Co) began experimenting and in 1956 the first dry kibble was produced and for many years was the leading pet food option.

In addition to eating dry kibble supplemented with “table scraps” dogs also slept outside in dog houses. Fortunately, those trends changed as our relationship with dogs evolved. Dogs are now viewed as companions and family members. They sleep inside and many enjoy sleeping with family members. Their diets have certainly changed.

In reviewing the pet spending trends in 2022, one of the largest increases was in the premium pet food category. Pet parents are demanding fresh, human-grade food for their furry family members. Some feel that the deeper emotional bonds developed during Covid helped create this increased demand.

Looking ahead to 2023 inflation will be a challenge for many people as they struggle to feed all members of their families. In selecting quality food for the canine members of your family, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the choices and overly influenced by marketing terms such as gourmet, premium or holistic. Also, more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better quality. According to the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Human-grade and human-quality are also marketing terms with no legal definition. Their website is a valuable resource to learn more about pet food and safety. www.aafco.org

Hedgehogs will eat one-half of its body weight in one night. True or False There are about 17 species of hedgehogs.

Answers on Page 49

Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets.

Hedgehog spikes are like porcupine quills and are barbed and poisonous. True or False

Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal and forage at night. True or False Hedgehogs are omnivores and feast on earthworms, slugs, caterpillars, berries, small frogs and bird eggs.

The average hedgehog lives for 2 to 3 years.

Hedgehogs have poor eyesight and depend mainly on their sense of smell to find food and sense danger.

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