Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- If it's good for you, it's good for them.

That's what some experts believe when it comes to feeding your four-legged friends. Choosing the right ingredients in their meals can mean adding years to their lives. Becoming a label reader is crucial to your pet's health. Choosing food that is low in carbohydrates and high in protein could mean less trips to the doctor's office, which is why you should avoid treating your pets from the dinner table. Human food tends to have a lot of carbs.

"Eating a french fry for us is not too bad, but a french fry for a 20-pound dog is an enormous amount of calories," said Dayna Kennedy, a manger at UPAWS.

Many of our Facebook viewers said they avoid giving their pets chocolate, onions, grapes or raisins. It turns out that's a good thing.

Choosing the right dog food is also important. On Facebook, Donna Lee Nelson-Hilborn wrote, "The cheaper the dog food, the less nutrition it has. Like having a child, the dog must be fed appropriately."

"You really do get what you pay for in pet foods," said Dr. Tim Hunt, a veterinarian. "Cheap foods are built cheaply for a reason; they might not be very digestible for the animal."

Another myth:  all breeds have different needs. While the calorie intake is different for every pet, the composition isn't, experts said.

"We should feed a senior dog the same diet as we would a middle-aged dog or a puppy. They really do thrive on the same food throughout their life," Dr. Hunt said.