| e any grocery store or pet food store to buy Dog | | | | needs to be on a dog food label. It serves as a |
| Food and you will agree that trying to decide on | | | | general guide as to what the percentages of the |
| what is best for your dog is an exhausting task. | | | | main nutrients and other items are in the total |
| Scanning the shelves of products available, you are | | | | makeup of the product. At the bare minimum, the |
| bombarded by foods extolling different health | | | | guaranteed analysis must consist of the following: |
| benefits as well as a huge range of prices. The pet | | | | # Minimum Percentage of Protein |
| food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and pet | | | | # Minimum Percentage of Fat |
| food manufacturers are eagerly marketing for every | | | | # Maximum Percentage of Fiber |
| dollar. Not only are they marketing us to death, but | | | | # Maximum Percentage of Moisture |
| also developing new products to put in front of us. | | | | Go ahead and look at your label at this point. See it |
| Those products include “dry”, | | | | there? Good. Now, if you have a can of dog food |
| “canned”, “semi-moist” | | | | and a package of dry dog food at your disposal, |
| and health targeted products such as | | | | take a look at both labels. After careful analysis you |
| “senior”, “premium” | | | | might want to ask, "Hey Michael, I notice when |
| and “gourmet. | | | | looking at both labels that the dry dog food has way |
| So which food is best for your dog? Finding that out | | | | more nutrients. I thought canned food had way more |
| takes time and research. The truth is, the best dog | | | | protein...what gives?" |
| food is the one that meets your dog’s | | | | Keep this in mind, as I have noticed this as well, that |
| nutritional requirements, which vary based upon the | | | | the amounts of protein and other nutrients stated on |
| dog’s age, breed, body weight, genetics, and | | | | the labels appear to be less for canned versus dry, |
| amount of activity… and one that fits within | | | | but looks are deceiving. The reason? Differences in |
| your budget. It is definitely worth consulting a | | | | moisture content. Canned dog food, on average, |
| veterinarian to get the best advice and nutrition plan | | | | consists of 75% water, while dry dog food contains |
| for your dog. But for those of you that want to | | | | about 10%. So to make a true comparison of the |
| take matters in your own hands, you will find detailed | | | | nutrient levels, we need to put both types on the |
| below the most important things you will need to | | | | same playing field. To do this, we will be converting |
| know. | | | | both products to dry matter. |
| Dog Food Labels | | | | To convert the nutrients, we need to dust off our |
| Susan Powter comes to mind when thinking about | | | | calculators that we last used in high school, in order |
| food labels. Remember this iconic infomercial star with | | | | to perform a little math. (And you said to your math |
| the coined phrase "Stop the Insanity"? Her gospel | | | | teacher, "I'll never use this in the real world!"), But I |
| about nutrition and the importance of studying the | | | | digress. Here's the formula we will be using: % |
| ingredients on the side of the packaging to distinguish | | | | Guarantee divided by % Dry Matter multiplied by 100 |
| the various elements and how each plays its role in | | | | Example In one corner, we have a canned dog food |
| overall nutrition, was novel at that time. It seems | | | | that has a guaranteed analysis consisting of 9% |
| that this was the beginning of the mass movement | | | | protein, 6% fat, 1.5% fiber and 78% moisture. In the |
| to better nutrition, label reading and choosing | | | | other corner, we have a dry dog food that has a |
| products more carefully. | | | | guaranteed analysis consisting of 24% protein, 14.5% |
| With all the recent pet food recalls, millions of dog | | | | fat, 4% fiber and 10% moisture. |
| owners have extended this scrutiny to selecting a | | | | # Dry matter of canned: 100 - 78 = 22 |
| dog food. But we can't pull from the Susan Powter | | | | # Dry matter of dry: 100 - 10 = 90 |
| gospel for this, because dog foods are manufactured | | | | # Now we can do our calculations |
| under a series of different standards and regulations, | | | | Canned Dog Food |
| put forth by the AAFCO ( The Association of | | | | # Protein: 9 / 22 x 100 = 40.9% |
| American Feed Control Officials ). There are special | | | | # Fat: 6 / 22 x 100 = 27% |
| labeling requirements that require all dog foods to | | | | # Fiber: 1.5 / 22 x 100 = 6.8% |
| have certain information on the label. So, in order that | | | | Dry Dog Food |
| we can all make a proper choice for our dogs, we | | | | # Protein: 24 / 90 x 100 = 26.6% |
| must know how to read and understand the dog | | | | # Fat: 14.5 / 90 x 100 = 16.1% |
| food label. | | | | # Fiber: 4 / 90 x 100 = 4.4% |
| The AAFCO puts out an official publication, on a | | | | So after were done, do you notice the protein? The |
| yearly basis, detailing special requirements for dog | | | | canned dog food actually has 14% more protein. |
| food. Among all the different requirements, they | | | | Nutritional Adequacy Statement |
| request all dog food manufacturers to adhere to label | | | | You've seen it on the labels..."Complete", "Balanced", |
| regulations and must include on the package the | | | | "For All Lifestages", among others. But how are these |
| following: | | | | claims substantiated? What rules are in place to |
| # Product Name | | | | regulate such verbage? The answer is set forth, |
| # Guaranteed Analysis | | | | once again, by the AAFCO. |
| # Nutritional Adequacy Statement | | | | The Nutritional Adequacy Statement is required and is |
| # Feeding Directions | | | | one of the most important aspects of a dog food |
| The Name Game | | | | label. This statement assures us that a product |
| When shopping for dog food, what is the first thing | | | | meets all of a dog's nutritional requirements. So how |
| you look at? The product name, of course. We've all | | | | is a dog food substantiated for nutritional adequacy? |
| walked down the pet food aisle and seen the | | | | They must use one of two ways: |
| product names jump out as us...calling us. Displayed in | | | | Calculations |
| bold type and fancy fonts such descriptions as "With | | | | # The method whereby the dog food contains |
| Chicken", "All Life Stages", "Duck Entree", "95% | | | | ingredients formulated to provide levels of nutrients |
| Beef", "Natural Dog Food". But what do these | | | | that meet an established profile |
| descriptions really mean? Is it just fancy marketing? | | | | # Calculations estimate the amount of nutrients |
| The AAFCO has set forth rules that dictate how | | | | either by an average nutrient content of ingredients |
| ingredients can be used in a product name. | | | | or results of laboratory tests using standard chemical |
| 95% Rule | | | | analysis. |
| # Applies to most canned dog food that consists | | | | # If it meets the profile set by the AAFCO, the label |
| mostly of meat, poultry or fish. | | | | will carry a statement as follows: "(Name of product) |
| # Specifies that at least 95% of the dog food must | | | | is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established |
| be the named ingredient on the label, not counting | | | | by the AAFCO (Dog) Food Nutrient Profiles for |
| water and preservatives added for processing. | | | | (specific life stage)." |
| # Counting water, the product must still consist of | | | | Feeding Trials |
| 70% of the product. | | | | # The product (or a similar product made by the |
| # If the name consists of a combination of | | | | same company) has been tested in dogs under strict |
| ingredients, the two combined must equal 95%. | | | | guidelines and found to provide proper nutrition |
| # The rule only applies to ingredients of animal origin, | | | | # If it meets the profile set by the AAFCO, the label |
| so grains and vegetables cannot be used as part of | | | | will carry a statement as follows: "Animal feeding |
| the 95% rule. So if the product name was "Beef and | | | | tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that |
| Brown Rice", the product would still have to consist | | | | (name of product) provides complete and balanced |
| of 95% beef. | | | | nutrition for (specific life stage)." |
| 25% or "Dinner" Rule | | | | The Nutritional Adequacy Statement will also include a |
| # This rule applies to many canned as well as dry | | | | statement about which life stage(s) the dog food is |
| dog foods. | | | | suitable for. Two profiles are used. Below is a |
| # If the named ingredient, or a combination of | | | | definition of each and additional information about |
| ingredients, found on the label consists of 25% of | | | | other profiles: |
| the weight (but less than 95%) excluding water for | | | | # Growth/Lactation - A product intended for growing |
| sufficient processing. | | | | puppies, for pregnant dogs or lactating females. |
| # The name must include a descriptive term, such as | | | | # Maintenance - Suitable for any adult, |
| "Dinner", "Platter", "Entree", or "Formula". | | | | non-reproducing dog of normal activity level, but may |
| # If more than one ingredient is in the name, they | | | | not be sufficient for a growing, reproducing, or hard |
| must both total 25% combined, with each named | | | | working dog. |
| ingredient equalling or exceeding 3%. | | | | # Terms like "Senior" or "Formulated for Large Breed |
| 3% or "With" Rule | | | | Adults" means the dog food meets the requirements |
| # Originally, this rule was intended to apply only to | | | | for the Maintenance profile, but nothing more. |
| ingredients highlighted on the package, outside of the | | | | # A product that doesn't fit within the two profiles |
| product name. | | | | above must state that "This product is intended for |
| # It allows manufacturers to highlight minor | | | | intermittent or supplemental feeding," except if it is |
| ingredients. | | | | conspicuously identified as a snack or treat. |
| # The ingredient must have at least 3% added. | | | | Feeding Guidelines |
| # The rule now allows manufacturers to use the | | | | Feeding guidelines are very broad, to say the least. |
| term "With" in the product name. | | | | At a minimum, they should include instruction like |
| Be careful when reading the dog food label because | | | | "Feed ___ Cups Per ___ Pounds." But keep in mind |
| "Beef Dog Food" and "Dog Food with Beef" are not | | | | that these instructions are very rough estimates. |
| the same. The first must have 95% beef, whereas | | | | Most people feed their dogs way too much. In fact, |
| the latter only needs 3%. | | | | 25% of all dog's are overweight...causing problems |
| Flavor Rule | | | | such as: |
| # A percentage of any one ingredient isn't required. | | | | # Diabetes |
| # The word "Flavor" must appear on the label in the | | | | # Arthritis |
| same font size and color as the ingredient name. | | | | # Heart and Liver Problems |
| # The flavor might be the corresponding ingredient, | | | | # Bladder Cancer |
| but more often than not, it's another substance such | | | | You should treat the guidelines as a place to start. |
| as "meal", "by-product", a "stock" or a "broth". | | | | Talk with your veterinarian about your dog food and |
| Guaranteed Analysis | | | | how much to feed. |
| The guaranteed analysis is the next component that | | | | |