Choosing the Right Pet Food: A Canadian and Clinical Perspective

cat and dog sitting by food bowl looking up at camera

At Westway Animal Clinic, we are proudly independently family owned and operated, committed to providing care that is consistent, and transparent. Our mission is to prevent disease or reduce its impact by partnering with pet parents to detect risks early and take proactive action. Nutrition is one of the most important decisions you make for your pet every day, and we’re here to help you make informed choices.

Yes, we are Canadian—and we are proud to be. We believe in supporting Canadian businesses and products, and that includes what we choose for our pets, because they are family. But we also believe that quality, transparency, and safety come first when it comes to your pet’s nutrition. It’s important to look at the facts and guiding principles that ensure not only where the food is made, but how it’s formulated, sourced, and supported by science.

Let’s dive into it together.

What Makes a Pet Food “Good”

Following the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Committee guidelines, here are key principles we use when evaluating pet foods:

✅ Is it nutritionally complete?

Look for a clear The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement indicating the diet is complete and balanced for your pet’s life stage (e.g., growth, adult maintenance).

✅ Who formulates the diet?

Companies should employ a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or PhD in animal nutrition to oversee recipe development.

✅ Are quality controls in place?

The company should test ingredients, analyze final product nutrient levels, and ensure food safety through rigorous internal procedures.

✅ Is there supporting research?

Prefer brands that conduct feeding trials or publish nutritional research in peer-reviewed journal

As highlighted in a Tufts Petfoodology article, it’s important to understand that “veterinarian-recommended” claims on pet food packages are not regulated and do not mean the diet has been endorsed or evaluated by veterinary nutritionists. Always verify what “recommended” really means, and rely on brands with transparent nutritional information, scientific backing, and qualified formulation teams.

Canadian Pet Food: Facts and Limitations

Despite strong national pride in Canadian-made products, here are the facts:

Canada does not regulate nutritional content in pet food—only labeling and marketing.
There is no national recall system for pet food; it relies on voluntary manufacturer compliance.
Most “Canadian” pet foods rely on globally sourced ingredients, especially vitamin and mineral premixes, which are not produced in Canada.

This doesn’t mean Canadian foods are bad—but transparency and proper formulation are more important than geographic origin.

Reading a Pet Food Label: What to Look For

Choosing a Canadian pet food brand is not always simple. That’s why we encourage all pet parents to go beyond the front of the bag and take a closer look at the label. Here’s what matters most:

1. ✅ Nutrition Adequacy Statement

Look for a statement confirming the food is “complete and balanced” for your pet’s life stage (e.g., growth, adult maintenance).
Check if it was validated through feeding trials or formulated to meet AAFCO standards.
Avoid diets labeled as “intermittent,” “short-term,” or “complementary” unless used under veterinary supervision.
Ensure the diet matches your pet’s individual needs — especially if they are growing, reproducing, or managing health conditions.

2. 🔢 Calories Per Gram or Serving

Pet obesity is a growing concern. Knowing the caloric content per cup or kilogram helps prevent overfeeding.
In Canada, calorie counts are not required by law — but reputable brands often include them or provide them on request.

3. ☎️ Contact Information

Look for a phone number or website so you can reach the company directly.
Trusted brands will provide typical nutrient profiles and have customer support ready to assist you.

4. 🏭 Who Makes the Food?

“Made by” indicates the company manufactures its own food.
“Made for” or “Distributed by” means the food may be manufactured by a third party. Transparency matters — ask who is actually making the diet.

Grain-Free Diets & Heart Disease: What You Should Know

According to Veterinary Partner, grain-free diets, particularly those high in legumes like peas and lentils, have been linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM):

Some dogs developed DCM without genetic predisposition.
Major veterinary brands (Hill’s, Royal Canin, Purina) have not been implicated.

We recommend avoiding boutique grain-free diets unless clinically indicated and supervised.

3 different size bowls filled with pet food

What We Recommend

We encourage:

Products that follow AAFCO standards
Avoiding grain-free unless indicated
Seeking veterinary guidance for therapeutic diets
Evaluating labels beyond marketing claims

Westway Animal Clinic always focuses on the continuous improvement of pets’ lives and strive to create an everlasting connection between pets and their families. If you’re unsure which food is best for your pet, we’re happy to help. Contact Westway Animal Clinic to schedule a nutrition consult today! Call (416) 243-3200 or book an appointment online.

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Disclaimer

Westway Animal Clinic provides pet nutrition recommendations based on individual patient needs, professional guidelines from the AAHA and WSAVA Nutrition Guidelines, and available peer-reviewed literature. We understand that choosing the right pet food—especially a Canadian-made one—is not always a simple decision. That’s why we emphasize looking at the facts and following guiding principles before selecting a product for your pet’s long-term health.

We use AI-supported tools to assist in sourcing and cross-referencing data, including pet food company disclosures, ingredient analysis, and store locators. Ingredient sourcing information and transparency ratings have been compiled using public data from veterinary publications, corporate disclosures, and consumer tools. These technologies help support our goal of making data-informed recommendations—but they do not replace our professional clinical judgment.

Every pet is unique—nutrition decisions should be personalized, proactive, and made in collaboration with your veterinary team.

About Us

We exist to focus on the continuous improvement of pets' lives and to create an everlasting connection between pets and their family