How to Buy Pet Food Online (5 Tips for New Owners)
Have you ever wished you could take the hassle out of buying pet food?
The easiest way to buy pet food is to order online and have it shipped to your house. If you're a multi-pet household, this saves you from constantly having to haul heavy bags of kibble.
Depending on where you order from, you may even be able to schedule recurrent deliveries. If you're looking for a great way to stock up on pet food, this is the perfect option.
Here's an overview of how to buy pet food online.
1. Check Customer Reviews
When you're ready to buy anything over the internet, it's always good to read customer reviews. They can be a great way to find out what you need to know without hours of research.
If you sense that the reviews may be fake, dig down a few pages. This way, you're more likely to avoid any that might be dishonest.
For best results, pay attention to genuine, organic reviews and avoid any that manufacturer's websites promote.
2. Comparison Shop
Veterinary care is expensive. One of the best ways to avoid it is to feed your fur-babies healthy, nutritious food.
All pet food brands have their pros and cons. If you're on a tight budget, you may feel tempted to go with the least expensive brands you can find.
But be careful- the cheap brands can cause health issues like obesity, kidney failure, diabetes, bladder stones, and other ailments.
When you're comparing food prices, remember that there's a trade-off between cost and quality.
3. Buy Pet Food Local and in Bulk
Buying online doesn't mean you're limited to ordering pet food from a large retailer. Many neighborhood stores offer online and bulk shopping, so when you're there, ask about it.
One advantage of shopping locally for pet food is the customer service. You can talk to the store owners and request the unique foods and pet care products you and your pets prefer.
If you're in charge of multiple pets, it makes sense to buy in bulk and feed in bulk. If you'd like to know more about bulk feeding options, click here for more information.
4. Check With Your Vet
Labels on products for humans can be confusing. Unfortunately, this is also true for pet food labels.
Sometimes the labels on pet food packaging can be highly mysterious. For example, what is "protein from whole stillage"?!
If you don't know what an ingredient is, be sure to call your vet and ask what they recommend. The last thing you want to do is feed your precious pet family member something that will land them in the pet hospital.
5. Watch Out for Scams & Bad Ingredients
When you buy food for dogs and cats, beware of off-brands unless you are confident about their quality. Do your research on any brand you're not familiar with.
It's also smart to keep an eye on food ingredients by checking them periodically. Pet food is not regulated like human food, so the manufacturers may change their recipes before you even realize it.
Sometimes sad news stories surface about pets who were killed by bad pet food. Don't let your fur-baby be a statistic!
Give Online Ordering a Try
If you're hesitant to buy pet food online, give it a try. Using this guide will help you avoid common pitfalls with online buying.
For more tips on raising a happy and healthy dog, check out the rest of our blog.
