What's Really in Your Dog's Food?

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.