Read the dog food labels to find the right fit for your pet
I'd gone to the store to buy my dog some treats and was wandering through the dog food aisles. With all of the new brands and various formulated diets, I wondered if there wasn't a newer and better food on the shelf than one I give my dog now. So I started looking.
There was puppy food, formulated for the special nutritional needs of a puppy; adult maintenance foods; and many foods formulated for dogs who need special diets for allergies or weight control. All around good nutrition was what I was looking for, so reading the labels was the place to start.
Pet food labeling is regulated at the federal and state levels. The USFDA has standards for all types of animal feed at the federal and state levels, requiring proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, the manufacturer's address and proper listing of ingredients.
AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), petfood.aafco.org, notes a pet food label has eight required items.
• Brand and product name: Addresses the use of ingredient names in the product name. How ingredients may be included in the product name depends on the percentage of that ingredient in the product and the use of certain descriptors. Importantly, there are different rules for Beef Recipe Dog Food, Beef Dog Food, Dog Food with Beef and Beef Flavor Dog Food.
• Name of species: Denotes the species for which the food is intended. It must be conspicuously designated in words on the principle display panel, but may be included in the product name, such as Beef Dog Food or Salmon Treats for Cats.
• Quantity statement: This is the net weight or net volume and must be expressed in the correct units and placed on the lower third of the principle display panel. Both pound/ounce and metric units must be used for net weight or volume.
• Ingredient statement: Ingredients must be listed in order of predominance by weight. The ingredient making up the highest percentage of the total weight as it goes into the product is listed first. Ingredients used in the product must be GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) approved food additives, or otherwise sanctioned for use in animal feeds.
• Guaranteed analysis: This part of the label lists the percentage of each of the nutrients in the food. Minimum percents of crude protein and crude fat and the maximum percent of crude fiber and moisture are always required. "Crude" refers to the analysis method rather than the quality of the nutrient.
• The Nutritional Adequacy Statement: Indicates the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage such as growth, reproduction, adult maintenance or a combination, or intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Your veterinarian may recommend or stock foods to help maintain your dog's wellness through special diets or good nutrition.
• Feeding directions: All pet foods labeled as complete and balanced for any or all life stages must include feeding directions that, at a minimum state, "Feed (amount of product) per (weight) of dog/cat." Feeding frequency must also be stated, but is optional for treats as long as they are not complete and balanced and labeled as snacks or treats.
• Name and address of the manufacturer or distributor names the company as guarantor of the product.
I left the store with just the dog treats. There's a lot to this process of picking a dog food. I decided to talk with my veterinarian before I did anything as important as changing my dog's food.
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