There is a raging debate regarding the sort of food that you should feed your dog or puppy. Dietary requirements are just as important for our pets as they are for families. While many argue for premium pet foods, others argue that any old dog food would do. An alternative view held by pet owners is that all food must be home-made or raw, such as food found in nature, and that commercial diets aren't satisfactory. I do not hold this belief. In general, most popular urinary or healthy dog foods are nutritionally complete, balanced and perfect for your puppy or dog.
The truth is that dog and puppy products have come a long way. Since dogs consume the same thing each day, scientists and nutritionists have been able to discover the correct amount of each food ingredient. Today's dog products have over 42 components in the exact proportion needed. The challenge is determining how to select from the many brands available in the typical super store or discount store.
The Front Label
The key to dog food selection is being able to decipher the label. The standard label is divided into two sections. The front of the label provides basic information regarding what's in the bag or can. For example, the label would say something like Lamb, Beef or Chicken Dog Food. The front label is where food companies do their marketing, which makes interpretation confusing. As an example, a food called "Chicken Dog Food" or "Chicken for Dogs" means these products contain 95% of that ingredient. Note that moisture comprises up to 70% of any meat product. Because of this, even though meat is listed as the primary ingredient, it might not be the most important source of protein. As an alternative look at all of the ingredients including those with a lower moisture level such as soy meal.
Other words like dinner indicate that the stated ingredients comprise 25% of the total. As an example, a dog chicken dinner would be 25% meat. If the label claims Dog Food with Beef, then beef is only 3%of all ingredients. The word flavor has a similar connotation. As you can clearly see, the manufacturers description is critical to determining what you are purchasing.
The Back Label
The back label lists the percentage of each ingredient and certification information. The back or ingredient label states information such as:
1. manufacturer and contact information
2. ingredient list
3. feeding recommendations
4. ingredient analysis
5. nutritive adequacy
To be sure that your selection meets even an absolute minimum set of needs, the label must state that the food has A.A.F.C.O. approval. Think of this as being the same as the proper daily allowance found on human food products. This statement will also indicate if the food is intended for a specific pet life stage such as Adult, Puppy or Senior. In the ingredient list itself the manufacturer must indicate the minimum levels of each ingredient. Note that it isn't simple to compare dry and canned foods due to the larger water content in canned foods. If you'd like to compare, multiply the canned ingredient levels by 4x or 5x to get an estimate of the way the same ingredient would appear in a dry food.
Expensive or Cheap Pet Foods, Does it Matter
The bottom line is that if a food is A.A.F.C.O labeled, and if your dog or puppy is thriving, your selection of food does not matter. Our advice is to buy the cheapest food you could find from a reputable company, including products found in wholesale super stores.
The truth is that dog and puppy products have come a long way. Since dogs consume the same thing each day, scientists and nutritionists have been able to discover the correct amount of each food ingredient. Today's dog products have over 42 components in the exact proportion needed. The challenge is determining how to select from the many brands available in the typical super store or discount store.
The Front Label
The key to dog food selection is being able to decipher the label. The standard label is divided into two sections. The front of the label provides basic information regarding what's in the bag or can. For example, the label would say something like Lamb, Beef or Chicken Dog Food. The front label is where food companies do their marketing, which makes interpretation confusing. As an example, a food called "Chicken Dog Food" or "Chicken for Dogs" means these products contain 95% of that ingredient. Note that moisture comprises up to 70% of any meat product. Because of this, even though meat is listed as the primary ingredient, it might not be the most important source of protein. As an alternative look at all of the ingredients including those with a lower moisture level such as soy meal.
Other words like dinner indicate that the stated ingredients comprise 25% of the total. As an example, a dog chicken dinner would be 25% meat. If the label claims Dog Food with Beef, then beef is only 3%of all ingredients. The word flavor has a similar connotation. As you can clearly see, the manufacturers description is critical to determining what you are purchasing.
The Back Label
The back label lists the percentage of each ingredient and certification information. The back or ingredient label states information such as:
1. manufacturer and contact information
2. ingredient list
3. feeding recommendations
4. ingredient analysis
5. nutritive adequacy
To be sure that your selection meets even an absolute minimum set of needs, the label must state that the food has A.A.F.C.O. approval. Think of this as being the same as the proper daily allowance found on human food products. This statement will also indicate if the food is intended for a specific pet life stage such as Adult, Puppy or Senior. In the ingredient list itself the manufacturer must indicate the minimum levels of each ingredient. Note that it isn't simple to compare dry and canned foods due to the larger water content in canned foods. If you'd like to compare, multiply the canned ingredient levels by 4x or 5x to get an estimate of the way the same ingredient would appear in a dry food.
Expensive or Cheap Pet Foods, Does it Matter
The bottom line is that if a food is A.A.F.C.O labeled, and if your dog or puppy is thriving, your selection of food does not matter. Our advice is to buy the cheapest food you could find from a reputable company, including products found in wholesale super stores.
About the Author:
Cathy Doggins is the editor of many pet health articles such as dog care and health. In addition to writing about what dogs should eat, She's a publisher, editor and well known speaker on canine care issues. When not speaking or writing about dogs, Cathy can be found at her local shelter, and playing with her dogs, cats and many other pets.
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