Food is the pet expense most owners overpay for without realizing it, and the marketing around it is built to keep things that way. This section covers how to read labels, compare price per calorie rather than price per bag, judge when premium formulas actually earn their cost, and pick treats that support training and dental health without wrecking a monthly budget. As a licensed independent comparison broker (NPN #17028173) with first-hand underwriting knowledge from our years as a pet insurance provider, we know which diet claims hold up when a health issue lands on a vet's desk, and which ones don't.