Latest news with #UmeshKallahalli
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Love Them Like Family, Feed Them Like Cats and Dogs
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 28: Despite growing love and emotional bonding in Indian pet households, pets are still fed like humans -- from the same kitchen, and often the same plate that lacks essential nutrients pets require. Addressing this gap, Mars, Incorporated, a global leader in pet care products and services, has launched 'Feed Them Like Cats and Dogs,' a campaign each for the Pedigree® and Whiskas® brands on raising awareness about the specific nutritional needs of dogs and cats. The message is simple and universal: pets may be family, but their nutrition requirements are biologically different. In the Pedigree® brand film, a pet parent realises that dogs respond to their own natural instincts, especially around food. The Whiskas® brand film captures a quiet bonding moment where the pet parent comes to understand that while we treat cats as part of the family, their nutritional needs are uniquely their own. The campaign has been created by BBDO India and BBDO Guerrero, respectively. The Pedigree® brand film The Whiskas® brand film The campaign is supported by a recent survey conducted among Indian veterinarians, which captured observations on what pets are being fed and the impact this has on their health. According to the findings, nutrition gaps are widespread among pets fed home prepared diets. Most vets recommend complete and balanced packaged pet food as a safer and more consistent option. Many vets report visible improvements in digestion, energy, and coat health when pet parents transition to packaged pet food. Key findings include: Imbalanced pet bowls: 9 in 10 vets say Indian pets lack proper nutrition. * 91% of vets say packaged pet food is the best way to ensure calorie precision and complete nutrition. * 88% of vets agree that home-cooked food is not enough to provide adequate nutrition to pets. * 86% of vets are concerned that feeding human food that lacks essential nutrients, or the right proportion of nutrients leads to nutritional imbalance, and toxicity. * 79% say pet parents are willing to learn -- but lack awareness. Stop feeding from your plate: say Indian vets as pet illnesses surge. * 69% of vets say a common mistake made by Indian pet parents is ignoring veterinary recommendations and giving homemade diets without professional guidance. * 65% of vets recommend feeding packaged pet food instead of human food and avoiding unsafe foods as the top way to ensure healthy feeding at home. Difference is visible: benefits of switching to packaged pet food. * 70% of vets noted better weight control in pets. * 66% saw increased energy in pets. * 61% observed fewer digestive issues in pets. Dr. Umesh Kallahalli, Senior Veterinarian & Small Animal Consultant, Bangalore, said, "We regularly treat pets affected not by lack of care, but by habits driven by emotion rather than nutritional understanding. Pet parents today are more attentive, more involved, and more loving than ever. However, home-cooked food, no matter how wholesome it seems, does not provide what pets truly need, unless formulated by a qualified veterinary nutritionist. We see the effects every day -- fatigue, weak immunity, dull coats, and digestive issues. These are not signs of neglect; they are signs of misinformed love. That is what makes campaigns like these on feeding the right nutrition to pets by Mars an imperative for a country like India." Salil Murthy, Managing Director, Mars Petcare India, said, "We are seeing a generational shift in how India relates to pets. They are companions at the heart of the family, but this emotional closeness has also created blind spots especially with respect to pet nutrition. Feeding choices by pet parents in India are often guided by sentiment, not science. Our campaign is helping pet parents bring the two together and shift the narrative from emotional feeding to informed feeding. As market leaders, we believe it is our responsibility to educate pet parents on what feeding right truly means and counter the common misconceptions regarding pet nutrition." Ayesha Huda, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Petcare India, said, "India needs a step change in how we think about pet nutrition. Despite rising pet ownership and growing affection towards pets, over 90% of Indian pet parents still feed home-cooked food--unaware that it lacks all the essential nutrients pets need to live a healthy, happy life. It is time to shift from emotional feeding to evidence-based care. Backed by Mars 90 years of global nutritional expertise in pet care, the Pedigree® and Whiskas® brands ensure complete and balanced nutrition when fed as recommended." The high decibel campaign will be visible across pet stores, ecommerce platforms, social media, digital platforms, veterinary clinics, retail environments and the distribution network of Mars. It invites Indian pet parents to reflect on what goes into the bowl -- and whether it truly reflects what their pet needs, to lead a healthier life. The Pedigree® and Whiskas® brands are scientifically formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition tailored to the unique needs of dogs and cats. Developed with experts at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, it ensures pets receive the right nourishment every day, in every bowl. ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As an approximately $55bn family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M & M's®, SNICKERS® and BEN'S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles--Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom--inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.
News18
3 days ago
- Health
- News18
Love Them Like Family, Feed Them Like Cats and Dogs
Agency: PTI Last Updated: • Mars launches new PEDIGREE® and WHISKAS® brand films to raise awareness on the nutritional needs of dogs and cats in India. • New Research shows that 9 in 10 vets say Indian pets lack proper nutrition. • The campaign delivers a simple but powerful message: while pets are family, their biological and nutritional needs are quite different. New Delhi, July 28, 2025 — Despite growing love and emotional bonding in Indian pet households, pets are still fed like humans — from the same kitchen, and often the same plate that lacks essential nutrients pets require. Addressing this gap, Mars, Incorporated, a global leader in pet care products and services, has launched 'Feed Them Like Cats and Dogs,' a campaign each for the Pedigree® and Whiskas® brands on raising awareness about the specific nutritional needs of dogs and cats. The message is simple and universal: pets may be family, but their nutrition requirements are biologically different. In the Pedigree® brand film, a pet parent realises that dogs respond to their own natural instincts, especially around food. The Whiskas® brand film captures a quiet bonding moment where the pet parent comes to understand that while we treat cats as part of the family, their nutritional needs are uniquely their own. The campaign has been created by BBDO India and BBDO Guerrero, respectively. Imbalanced pet bowls: 9 in 10 vets say Indian pets lack proper nutrition. • 91% of vets say packaged pet food is the best way to ensure calorie precision and complete nutrition. • 88% of vets agree that home-cooked food is not enough to provide adequate nutrition to pets. • 86% of vets are concerned that feeding human food that lacks essential nutrients, or the right proportion of nutrients leads to nutritional imbalance, and toxicity. • 79% say pet parents are willing to learn — but lack awareness. Stop feeding from your plate: say Indian vets as pet illnesses surge. • 69% of vets say a common mistake made by Indian pet parents is ignoring veterinary recommendations and giving homemade diets without professional guidance. • 65% of vets recommend feeding packaged pet food instead of human food and avoiding unsafe foods as the top way to ensure healthy feeding at home. Difference is visible: benefits of switching to packaged pet food. • 70% of vets noted better weight control in pets. • 66% saw increased energy in pets. • 61% observed fewer digestive issues in pets. Dr. Umesh Kallahalli, Senior Veterinarian & Small Animal Consultant, Bangalore, said, 'We regularly treat pets affected not by lack of care, but by habits driven by emotion rather than nutritional understanding. Pet parents today are more attentive, more involved, and more loving than ever. However, home-cooked food, no matter how wholesome it seems, does not provide what pets truly need, unless formulated by a qualified veterinary nutritionist. We see the effects every day — fatigue, weak immunity, dull coats, and digestive issues. These are not signs of neglect; they are signs of misinformed love. That is what makes campaigns like these on feeding the right nutrition to pets by Mars an imperative for a country like India." Salil Murthy, Managing Director, Mars Petcare India, said, 'We are seeing a generational shift in how India relates to pets. They are companions at the heart of the family, but this emotional closeness has also created blind spots especially with respect to pet nutrition. Feeding choices by pet parents in India are often guided by sentiment, not science. Our campaign is helping pet parents bring the two together and shift the narrative from emotional feeding to informed feeding. As market leaders, we believe it is our responsibility to educate pet parents on what feeding right truly means and counter the common misconceptions regarding pet nutrition." Ayesha Huda, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Petcare India, said, 'India needs a step change in how we think about pet nutrition. Despite rising pet ownership and growing affection towards pets, over 90% of Indian pet parents still feed home-cooked food—unaware that it lacks all the essential nutrients pets need to live a healthy, happy life. It is time to shift from emotional feeding to evidence-based care. Backed by Mars 90 years of global nutritional expertise in pet care, the Pedigree® and Whiskas® brands ensure complete and balanced nutrition when fed as recommended." The high decibel campaign will be visible across pet stores, ecommerce platforms, social media, digital platforms, veterinary clinics, retail environments and the distribution network of Mars. It invites Indian pet parents to reflect on what goes into the bowl — and whether it truly reflects what their pet needs, to lead a healthier life. The Pedigree® and Whiskas® brands are scientifically formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition tailored to the unique needs of dogs and cats. Developed with experts at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, it ensures pets receive the right nourishment every day, in every bowl. Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As an approximately $55bn family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M's®, SNICKERS® and BEN'S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom—inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet. top videos View all For more information about Mars, please visit Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 17:00 IST News agency-feeds Love Them Like Family, Feed Them Like Cats and Dogs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Should you let your dog sleep on your bed? We ask a vet
For many pet parents, their furry companions are more than just pets — they're family. Whether it's celebrating birthdays, planning vacations around them, or even sharing a bed, dogs have carved a deeply emotional space in households. But that last bit — letting your dog sleep on your bed — remains a much-debated topic among pet parents. According to Dr Umesh Kallahalli, Small Animal Consultant at Mars Petcare India, the answer isn't a one-size-fits-all. 'It's a personal choice,' he explains, 'but it also depends on your dog's health, hygiene, and behavioural patterns.' In homes where dogs are well-groomed, well-behaved, and emotionally secure, co-sleeping can be a beautiful way to strengthen the human-animal bond. 'Sharing your bed with a dog can actually provide emotional comfort for both pet and parent,' says Dr Kallahalli. In fact, the Mars Global Pet Parent Survey found that nearly half of Indian pet parents report feeling fully satisfied with pet parenthood. One of the top reasons? Stress reduction. 'Dogs offer emotional security. Their presence in bed can lower anxiety and help people sleep better,' adds Dr Kallahalli. Many pet parents even report that the rhythmic breathing or snuggling of their dog helps lull them to sleep, making bedtime a more comforting experience. However, not every dog is suited for co-sleeping. If your dog exhibits behavioural issues like resource guarding, restlessness, or becomes overly territorial about your bed, it might be healthier — for both of you — to establish a separate sleep space. Dr Kallahalli warns, 'If your dog disrupts your sleep or reacts aggressively when asked to move, it's better to have them sleep in their own designated area.' He also points out the importance of hygiene and allergies. 'If someone in the home has respiratory conditions or skin sensitivities, sleeping with a pet could aggravate these issues,' he says. Ultimately, what matters most is ensuring that your pet has a safe, consistent, and comfortable place to sleep — whether that's your bed or their own. 'Every household is different. The goal is to respect both your dog's emotional needs and your own health and rest,' Dr Kallahalli concludes. So, the next time your pup hops onto the bed and curls up beside you, remember — it's okay, as long as it works for everyone involved.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ever wondered what's really in your pet's bowl? We tell you why reading labels matter
India's pet care industry is booming — but without clear label literacy, pet parents may be feeding more confusion than nutrition. From premium kibble to grain-free options, and organic treats to vet-recommended formulas, the choices can be overwhelming for even the most seasoned pet parents. Yet, amid this abundance, a critical aspect often gets overlooked– the fine print on the label. Without clear label literacy, pet parents may be unknowingly choosing products that prioritise marketing over nutrition. Here's how to read a pet food label, bust common myths, and make the best choices for your furry family member. As India's cities grow quieter, its homes grow livelier — with paws. From bustling metros to small towns, pet ownership has skyrocketed in recent years, driven largely by young millennial and Gen Z families. With that comes a heightened sense of responsibility, emotional investment, and an entirely new question: What are we really feeding our pets? In India's still-maturing pet care ecosystem, pet food labels have become a frontline tool for making informed choices but many pet parents either don't know how to read them or are misled by vague marketing terms. The regulation gap and a push for change India currently lacks a formal, unified regulatory framework for pet food. This means there's no mandate for ingredient declarations, nutritional adequacy standards, or clear label guidelines. Recognising this urgency, industry players are actively collaborating with industry bodies to advocate for science-backed, enforceable standards to ensure pet nutrition in India is safe, consistent, and credible. 'As this movement toward transparency gains momentum, the responsibility of understanding pet food also shifts toward consumers — especially new pet parents who often feel overwhelmed by choices. Dr. Umesh Kallahalli, Senior Veterinarian at Mars Petcare. 'We've been actively advocating for pet parents to read and understand pet food labels,' adds Dr. Umesh Kallahalli, Senior Veterinarian associated with Mars Petcare. 'It empowers them to make informed, responsible choices. Labels tell a story — whether the food meets nutritional standards, and if the formulation has the backing of veterinary science.' It's not just experts — pet parents are noticing the difference. Salil Murthy, Managing Director, Mars Petcare India A Delhi-based dog mom, says: 'My golden retriever had digestive issues until I started reading labels carefully. I now choose food with clearly listed nutrients. It's made a visible difference in his energy and coat.' Mumbai resident and cat parent shares: 'I always thought homemade meals were better until my vet explained what a balanced diet really means. Label reading helped me switch to the right kind of food.' How to read a pet food label: 6 smart steps Before diving into the label, remember: Every country follows its own pet food regulatory code. If a product is made in the U.S., it follows U.S. norms. If it's made in Europe, it complies with European laws. However, India currently lacks formal pet food regulations. So don't get confused or misled by unfamiliar terminology. What Indian pet parents should focus on is whether the product is safe, nutritionally complete, scientifically backed, and most importantly — whether it works for your pet's specific needs. With that in mind, here are six steps to read the label right: 1. Look for 'Complete & Balanced' Nutrition: Brands that provide complete and balanced meals are ensuring your pet gets all essential nutrients. 2. Transparency is key. Check feeding guidelines: Clear dosage instructions based on your pet's weight and age are a sign of accountability. 3. Read the nutritional panel: Protein and fat content impact everything from digestion to skin and coat health. 4. Look for brand transparency: Reputable brands mention where the product is manufactured. Myth vs. Fact: Busting pet food label myths Myth 1: 'If it says 'natural', it must be better.' Fact: Always check the actual ingredients to check if it's 'Natural'. Myth 2: 'Homemade food is always healthier.' Fact: Homemade meals often lack balance unless vet-formulated. Packaged foods are often more complete. Myth 3: 'If my pet eats it happily, it must be good.' Fact: Taste doesn't always mean health. Palatable food can still lack essential nutrients. Setting the standard for the future In the absence of regulation, Mars Petcare is leading by example — simplifying labels, avoiding ambiguous claims, and educating consumers on ingredient transparency. Other progressive brands are beginning to follow suit. 'This isn't just about better products,' says Salil. 'It's about a better future for pets in India — one label at a time.' As India's pet care market grows, so must consumer literacy. Because feeding a pet isn't just an act of care — it's a conscious choice. And the first step is reading the label right.
