WAIT! Just what's really in that food your about to feed your best friend? The most important thing for a pet parent to know is how to read a dog food label and truly understand what it means.
WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED ON THE LABEL?
Product Name
Brand Name
Species for which the food is intended (dog, cat, hamster, etc.)
Net Weight
Guaranteed Analysis
Ingredient Statement
Nutritional Adequacy
Feeding Directions
Name and Address of Manufacturer
WHAT DOES THE NAME MEAN?
If the name reads "chicken," "beef," "seafood," etc., then it must contain at least 95% of that item.
If it says "dinner," "entree," "platter," etc., then it must contain 25% of that product.
Saying "with" (chicken, beef, seafood, etc.), means that it needs to contain only 3% of that product.
"Flavor" (chicken flavor, beef flavor, seafood flavor, etc.), means that there is no minimum requirement for that product.
WHAT IS BY-PRODUCT?
The term "by-product" is very broad but includes animal parts like liver, stomach, and kidneys.
Contrary to popular belief, these are pretty nutritious and good for your dog, so don't let the term put you off 100%.
However, watch percentages and make sure that the meat outweighs the by-product.
UNDERSTANDING THE INGREDIENTS
Ingredients must be listed by descending order of weight, but it's important to understand that this is weight BEFORE processing.
Chicken or Beef may be listed as the main ingredient, but when raw, they contain a lot of liquid that is lost in the cooking process.
FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS
To keep your dog in shape, it pays to follow the portion recommendations on the label.
Calories per ounce can vary among different foods, so a cup of one brand might be half the calories of a cup of another.
Keep in mind that every dog is different; be picky in choosing the best type of dog food to fit your dog's special needs.
