Cracking the Code on Dog Food Labels

In my last blog post, I discussed the need to closely examine commercial dog food labels when deciding which brand and specific product(s) to feed your dog.  My leading recommendation was to select a dog food that contains a protein (meat) as one of its major ingredients.

In today’s post, I’ll elaborate on this topic as well as direct your attention to some other items to look for as you evaluate dog food.   

A meat (protein) such as chicken, beef or lamb should be listed as one of the first ingredients.  This reflects the requirement by pet food manufacturers to list ingredients in order of their weight.  Under most circumstances, products with meat listed in the top 5 are better choices than those that do not.  This is because the first five ingredients typically make up the majority of the product, and when a meat is included, the protein content is apt to be higher. 

Try to avoid products that list corn-based ingredients in the top 5 items.  While grains such as corn and corn meal are often touted by the pet food industry as furnishing essential energy for a dog, this is not completely accurate.  A more precise explanation for their use is that as carbohydrates, they serve an important role in turning the food into kibble form.  As you might also suspect, including carbohydrates such as corn is relatively inexpensive.  They act as filler calories and for the pet food manufacturer hold down their production costs.

Be mindful of the sources of protein listed on the label.  Meats and meat by-products do not necessarily provide the same quality of nutrition.  Some meat by-products include items like hooves, feathers, beaks, eyes, fur, bone and skin (essentially anything remaining from the butchery); while these are sources of protein, they are not good sources of protein for your dog.

Finally, if preservatives are present, look for Vitamin E and/or C as opposed to chemical preservatives.  Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are also good ingredients for their anti-inflammatory value and offer protection from kidney and heart disease.  No artificial food coloring should be present.

In closing, what started as visits to local pet supply stores in La Jolla to survey the kinds of dog food currently available for purchase, quickly transformed into a much deeper and meaningful attempt to understand good canine nutrition.  I look forward to conducting my pet care business and using my blog in ways that go beyond standard dog walking and pet sitting topics.  It’s part of my larger effort to be an educational resource and advocate of good pet care practices.