Wet, dry or semi-moist. Feed-mill special or gourmet feast. Pet-food choices seem endless, with stores offering a dizzying array of alternatives.

Selection becomes simpler when you remember that marketing efforts are actually focused on you and not on your pet. After all, your dog doesn’t really care if meal time looks like stew or is shaped like chicken legs.

What matters is the dietary quality, which takes into account not only nutritional content, but the origin of the ingredients and how they are formulated. Other important factors in choosing a diet include your pet’s activity level and stage of life, with youngsters and seniors having special nutritional requirements.

So your best bet is to discuss various pet food choices with your vet. He or she will steer you toward what’s good for your furry friend, not the marketer’s bottom line.