What to pay attention to in dog food
Our experts recommend using the following criteria as a guide. Your veterinarian can also help you determine the most appropriate food for your dog.
AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement: This is the most important factor in determining whether a dog food is healthy or not. The label of every food you give your dog must state that it meets the nutritional standards set by AAFCO. This means the food is “complete and balanced” for the dog’s life stage. You can find more information about these standards and definitions at the end of this article.
Guaranteed analysis: Here you will find the percentages of the most important nutrients in food: protein, fat, fiber and moisture. You may also find other nutrients listed in the guaranteed analysis, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids. Shepherd says it’s worth checking whether the brand routinely tests its finished product to make sure it meets standards. You can usually find this information on a brand’s website. The foods in this guide are moderate to high protein (AAFCO minimums are 22.5% for puppies and 18% for adults) and low to moderate fat (AAFCO minimums are 8.5% for puppies and 5.5% for adults ) contains.
Ingredients list: The first thing to look for is animal protein sources. You’ll find these at the top of all the foods featured in this guide. Whole meat is ideal but tends to be quite heavy due to its water content. In kibble, this water is removed, so the meat content may not be as high as it seems. There’s no need to write off meat dishes that are usually made from animal parts that people don’t eat. If these are high quality, they can be excellent sources of protein and may even contain more protein than whole meat. Meat byproducts don’t have to be a deal breaker, either. They are processed to eliminate harmful pathogens and are safe and nutritious, according to AAFCO.
Healthy extras: Swanson says some foods contain extra ingredients aimed at supporting healthy skin, coat and joints. Examples include long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA, often obtained from marine-based oils or meals), glucosamine, chondroitin, green-lipped mussel, and additional vitamins (vitamin A, biotin) and minerals (zinc, copper). . Probiotics, prebiotics, and yeast can also benefit a puppy’s immature gastrointestinal tract, and probiotics may help increase overall immunity in older dogs.
Calorie content: Dogs can start to gain weight if they consume too many calories. This can cause health problems, so look at the calorie content listed in kilocalories (kcal) on the nutrition label. If your dog is not very active, he will need fewer calories, and if your dog is super active, he will need more calorie-dense meals. It’s really important to help your dog be satisfied with his food, and increasing the amount can also help. Ideally, you want your dog to eat the most amount of food possible while maintaining his ideal daily calorie range. Check out this calorie calculator from the Pet Nutrition Alliance to determine how many calories your dog needs. Foods that provide this balance scored higher in our selection process. As always, your veterinarian can help you figure out if you’re feeding your dog the right amount of calories.
Feeding trials: If a food has gone through feeding trials as well as laboratory analysis of the food’s components, this is a big plus. “Nutritional testing is expensive to do, and foods verified through nutritional testing are made by companies that devote a lot of resources to quality control,” Shepherd says. If the nutritional adequacy statement on the label says something like: “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures prove this.” [product] Provides complete and balanced nutrition for [life stage],” means that the food has been proven through feeding trials to be palatable, digestible, and able to nourish pets over time.
Expert formulations: It’s important to consider who decides what goes into food. Shepherd says you want to look for companies that have a PhD-level nutritionist on staff who has experience with canine nutrition. The brand should also employ food scientists who collaborate with nutritionists. For this guide, we prioritized brands that have a dedicated nutritionist on staff to align with WSAVA recommendations.
Next level ingredients: Despite marketing messages, human-grade, organic, wild-caught or cage-free aren’t necessarily healthier for your pet. But if you care about the welfare of the animals you and your pets eat, these ingredients are a plus. Unlike farmed fish, wild-caught fish are not treated with antibiotics or medications, so they may be better for your dog, too. You’ll also find some foods that contain meat and eggs from cage-free chickens and turkeys.