Your pet’s food should not be a mystery. If you don’t recognize the ingredients, or they don’t specify where they come from, it warrants caution. For example, what is “meat meal”? From what animal source? Even slaughterhouse waste is “meat”, but not necessarily a good source.
Pet foods have come a long way especially in the last 10 or 15 years. When the alarm rang about some usafe pet food ingredients from China killing beloved pets, people started to wake up and pay more attention to what they were feeding their pets and what was really in dog food. Some companies have become fully transparent, offering the buyer to look up the ingredients sources in every bag they buy. Some companies even opened their own plants to be able to have full control of the manufacturing process. It can be daunting to research pet foods, but in can be very enlightening, too.
I am not offering expert advice, just raising some frequently mentioned points that are well worth your time to look further into. A great deal of information can be found out there about pet food, some good, some bad. You can look up what certain descriptions such as organic, natural, and human grade, really mean. Plenty of sites review dog foods, but not always reliably. When researching pet food and their ingredients, look at the sources of that information. The most knowledgeable on the subject are animal nutritionists. Talk to your vet about your concerns, and if you still have questions, refer to a nutritionist specializing in this field.
According to PetMD, “A diet that meets – basic nutritional needs is referred to as “complete and balanced,” which should be indicated on the label as the Nutritional Adequacy Statement by the Association of American of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). You can also read up on the AAFCO and how they work.
(See one example at the bottom of this article.)
From American College of Veterinary Nutrion: “Many of the terms used to describe pet foods on labels and in advertising materials are not legally defined. For example, there is no regulatory meaning for the terms “holistic,” “premium,” “super-premium,” or “gourmet.” Thus, a product described by these terms is not held up to any standard higher than would be required for any other pet food on the market, and should not be interpreted as meaning the product is necessarily of higher quality or greater nutritional value.”
Here are a few helpful things to consider when shopping for pet food.
Look at the first three items in the ingredient list. This will show if the food is real meat based, byproduct based or a vegetable filler based. Meat in the top three items should name the kind of meat it is. A named animal “meal”, such as fish meal or beef meal, is not necessarily a bad thing. Protein is an essential part of your furbaby’s diet, so knowing where that protein comes from is important. Adequate protein is needed for puppies to grow and develop, and for all dogs to maintain muscle, fur, nails by feeding their bodies on the cellular level. Essential amino acids that make up protein have to be obtained from food, so a nutritious diet is essential. Some say the first 5 ingredients are the most important, some say the first 8. You be the judge.
That being said, the percentage of protein listed on the label is also worth noting. It has become common in recent years to have high protein levels in foods, well over 35 percent or more. Unless your dog is a working dog, active in trials, agility, field work, search and rescue or some other athletic job, there probably isn’t a need for such high protein levels. This would be a good question to ask your vet or an animal nutritionist.
In an article by NBC News, the ingredient list will also list things that you should avoid. Any artificial color, sugar, salts, and chemical “preservatives like propylene glycol, BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin” should be avoided.
https://www.nbcnews.com/shopping/home-and-kitchen/best-dog-food-n1189551
Pet food is a 38 billion dollar industry. It’s complicated and competitive. Therefore, advertising, fancy words and pretty pictures on the bag, are meaningless. Take those with a grain of salt, and look up the food in multiple places, then make your own decision on whether that food works for your dog or not so much.
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/pet-food-labels-general#Ingredient
Quote from Pet Food Industry magazine, https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/10-debunking-pet-food-myths-and-misconceptions/post/9864-ancient-grains-pet-food-lessons-industry-missed-or-ignored
“Keep in mind, many of these are the same companies that previously bashed traditional grains (i.e., corn, wheat, rice, sorghum and barley). Since these companies have launched ancient grain foods, they also have chosen to remain silent or not provide a reason for their “grain-friendly” formulas, which leaves consumers and retailers with many unanswered questions: If grains were bad before, then why are ancient grains better? Was there something wrong with their grain-free formulas? If so, then why is it a line extension versus a product replacement?”
https://www.petfoodindustry.com/
Read about strangely vague and inconsistent AAFCO labeling practices here:
A glossary of ingredients can be found here:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/pet-food-ingredient-and-label-guide#Glossary
From PetMD:
“If you ever have a question about the ingredients in cat food or dog food, do not hesitate to do a little homework. Some pet food manufacturers have very descriptive websites with lists of commonly used ingredients and descriptions, but if you cannot find the information there, contact the manufacturer. A responsible pet food manufacturer should provide you with the ingredient information, including the source and why it is included in their formulation.“
So in the end, you are the best judge as to what works best for your pet. Does he have any health issues to consider, like diabetes, heart problems, obesity, digestive issues, etc? Does he maintain his weight? Are his stools firm and well formed? Does he get an upset tummy or gas? Does he like the taste and enjoy mealtime?
You are in charge of making your pet’s health the best it can be. Their lives are short enough as it is, why not try your best to give them one as long and as healthy as possible?
For The Love of Dogs 