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Address

The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA), Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6NH

Email

info@pfma.org.uk

Pet care

  1. Pet care
Pet care

Pet Care

 

At the PFMA we believe that the food you feed your pet has the single greatest effect on their quality of life. PFMA has over 80 pet food manufacturer members and represents over 90% of the pet food market.  Members have to adhere to strict legislation and therefore provide nourishing wet, dry, or raw diets for your pets. In this section you will find information for new pet owners, but also knowledge and tips even for experienced pet owners. Placing pets at the heart of everything we do


Pet Care Advice for New Pet Owners Whether you choose to buy, adopt or rescue, welcoming a new pet into your home is always an exciting time. Choosing the perfect name, purchasing the necessary accessories and spending time bonding with them - there's nothing that quite compares! If you are a new pet owner, there is also a lot to learn about your pet and how to care for them. PFMA has lots of information and resources available to enable you to give your pet the best possible care, from the word go. The Animal Welfare Act (2006), includes legislation for pet owners and confirms a legal duty of care to meet the ‘Five Welfare Needs’. Owners and keepers are responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. These include the need: for a suitable environment (place to live) for a suitable diet to exhibit normal behaviour patterns to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable) to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease We also have detailed advice and guidance on the dietary needs of your pet, produced alongside nutrition experts. At PFMA, our main area of expertise is diet and nutrition, but in this section we also include information about 'ideal home' and 'other needs'.

PFMA Healthy Weight Hub.. During 2019, the PFMA Obesity Report found that 74% of vets agree that obesity levels in pets has increased in the UK. It is incredibly important to understand how much you should feed your pet - taking into account both complete food and any complimentary treats. You should also be aware of the recommended levels of exercise your pet should be getting on a daily basis. It has been proven that not only is chronic disease delayed in pets who are of optimum weight but preventing pets from becoming obese can also extend their lives. A 14-year study has shown that dogs fed to lean condition from early puppyhood throughout life can enjoy up to 2 more healthy, active years

See the full range of PFMA Educational Posters ideal for displaying at veterinary practices and pet shops.


Before choosing a pet, you should research which type suits your family, lifestyle and environment – it’s very important to make sure that you have the right kind of pet. Just as important is researching the seller before you visit, so you can be sure who’s the person behind the pet. Have a look at the PDSA advice pages and advice from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Petfished campaign on how to responsibly purchase a pet.

References

1) PFMA Obesity Report (2019) https://www.pfma.org.uk/_assets/docs/White%20Papers/PFMA-Obesity-Report-2019.pdf

2) Kealy, Richard D., et al. "Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 220.9 (2002): 1315-1320.
 

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