Selecting the proper diet for your companion pet can help ensure a happy, healthy life for your dog or cat. But did you know that your pet's health and well being can be tarnished by improper handling and storage once you bring the pet food home? Even the most stringent manufacturing requirements can be diminished by improper care at home.

Propet, a leading pet food manufacturer and retailer of Performance Plus®, Pro Balanced®, Pro-Pet®, Big Red® and Li'l Red® dog and cat foods, offers the following tips to selecting and caring for your pet's food.

Ensure the diet meets the requirement of your pet!

All pet foods are required to have an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement displayed in the Ingredient and Analysis section of the bag. Pet foods can be formulated to meet a nutrient profile or have passed a feeding trial, and are designed to provide all the nutrition required to maintain your pet for life stage indicated in the AAFCO statement. There are several nutrient profiles - including products for puppies, performance, adult/maintenance, dogs and of course one for growth and reproduction.

Snacks and Treats

While pets who look at you with those soulful eyes can be irresistible when it comes to begging for a treat, snacks and treats are generally not designed to provide your pet with complete and balanced nutrition. Snacks and treats should be fed in conjunction with a complete and balanced diet. While an occasional treat is fine, snacks, treats and table scraps used in excess may unbalance a pet's diet.

Packaging and Storage

When selecting a product off the shelves, make sure the bag is intact and secure: not torn, broken, dirty or damaged. All pet food should have a code date or provide a best if used by date - ask your local retailer to explain the date code if you have any questions.

Once you have brought the product home, store the food in a dry, tightly sealed glass, metal or rigid plastic container. Improper storage increases the risk of loss palatability and nutritional value. Do not store the food near stoves, hot water pipes or heating ducts as heat and moisture can cause food to lose its quality more rapidly. Be on the alert for insect infestation, which can occur in any home. Discard the pet food if it is moldy or smells different than when you first brought it home, or if it becomes infested.

Money-Back Guarantees

Look for pet food manufacturers who stand by their pet food with a money back guarantee.