petMD Survey Reveals 90% Of Dog Owners Do Not Understand Proper Pet Nutrition

MIAMI, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- petMD.com, the largest global source of pet health information, in partnership with Hill's Pet Nutrition, a leader in pet nutrition, recently surveyed over 1,000 dog owners to better understand their perceptions of proper pet nutrition. The survey revealed that 90% of dog owners do not know what proper nutrition is for their dogs. Although 88% say they know what to look for on a dog food label, only 10% know the recommended proportions of key nutrients.

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"Pets require a very specific balance of key nutrients in order to lead happy, healthy lives," said Dr. Jennifer Coates, a practicing veterinarian and petMD Spokesperson. "What may surprise many dog owners is that carbohydrates should make up around half of a dog's daily diet. Like they do for people, complex carbohydrates give pets energy, make them feel full longer and help keep their blood sugar levels steady."

The petMD survey also revealed that 94% of dog owners are interested in information regarding properly balanced nutrition for their pets and overall pet health, with 69% stating they would like assistance in making better food choices for their dogs.

"People utilize tools to understand proper human nutrition, but those tools didn't exist for pets until now," said Nicolas Chereque, petMD Founder. "We saw the need to bring dog nutrition to life in a way that makes sense to people by putting it in more human terms, so we partnered with Hill's Pet Nutrition to develop interactive tools that will do just that."

To further educate pet owners on proper dog nutrition, petMD has launched a Dog Nutrition Center on petMD.com in partnership with Hill's Pet Nutrition. On the Nutrition Center, dog owners can find detailed nutrition information and tools including:

• MyBowl for dogs - A first of its kind interactive tool designed to put dog nutrition in terms people can understand
• Nutrition Articles and Slideshows
• "Nutrition Nuggets" Dog Nutrition Blog by Dr. Jennifer Coates
• Dog Nutrition Quizzes and FAQ

"The Dog Nutrition Center on petMD.com is a great place for dog owners to learn all they need to know to ensure their dogs are eating a balanced diet," says Coates. "By following a few simple tips and guidelines, dog owners can enhance their pet's health and help prevent a number of pet diseases that can be caused by poor nutrition."  

About petMD

petMD is a leading online resource focused solely on the health and well-being of pets. The site maintains the world's largest pet health library, written and approved by a network of trusted veterinarians. petMD was founded to inspire pet owners to provide an ever-increasing quality of life for their pets and to connect pet owners with pet experts and other animal lovers. petMD is a subsidiary of the Pet360 family of brands, which also includes www.PetFoodDirect.com – the most complete pet food and supply retailer online, and www.NationalPetPharmacy.com– a fully certified, full-service pet pharmacy delivering pet meds, vitamins and comprehensive pet health and wellness products.

About Hill's Pet Nutrition

Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. manufactures Hill's® Prescription Diet® brand pet foods, therapeutic pet foods available only through veterinarians, and Hill's® Science Diet® brand pet foods sold through veterinarians and finer pet specialty stores. Founded more than 60 years ago with a unique commitment to pet nutrition and well-being, Hill's is committed to its mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Hill's produces high-quality, great-tasting pet foods owners can trust and give to their canine and feline companions as part of a veterinary health care team recommendation. This ultimately improves patient health and the health of the practice. For more information about Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., and Hill's Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition™ visit HillsPet.com.

Contact:
Kelly Lange
610-234-4114
[email protected]

SOURCE petMD.com