Understanding Dog Nutrition Labels: What Really Matters

If you want the best for your dog, you’ll want to have each dog food label explained to a tee. After all, it displays the nutritional value of the meal, as well as a couple of other key factors that can be relevant for your furry friend’s eating habits. 

It’s all the more of a problem when it comes to buying food, as it can be somewhat confusing trying to read labels without having at least some knowledge on the matter. 

But don't worry, Pawy experts are here to help! We’ll explain everything you need to know about the labels, what they stand for, and how to read them to pick a tailored meal for your pet.

How to Read Pet Food Labels Step-by-Step

Before we show you how to read pet food labels, it’s vital to explain how they are devised in the first place. 

First of all, it depends on your region. In Europe, the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) provides guidance and regulations on how these labels should be formatted. However, the equivalent body in the US is the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which leads to slight discrepancies. 

Our team and experienced Swiss veterinarians mainly use the European format for our fresh food packaging.

Here’s an overview of the key steps necessary for properly understanding it:

1. Learn about guaranteed analysis: When trying to feed your dog healthy food, it’s crucial to read the "guaranteed analysis" section of the label, which mainly refers to essential nutrients. For instance, it shows the minimum percentage of crude protein and fat in the food. On a side note, you might also get to read about the maximum percentages of crude fibre and moisture, and that minimum/maximum difference is what confuses pet owners the most.

2. Check the ingredients order: Moving on, if you look at the basic ingredient list, you will see that they are usually ordered by weight.

3. Pay extra attention to detailed descriptions: For instance, dry kibble may include some items designated as "by-products", which are processed foods that you wouldn’t be comfortable eating yourself. That's why it’s important to steer clear of those if you only want what’s best for your pet. On the other hand, terms "natural" or "grain-free" are a good sign. The latter can be especially important if your dog is allergic to things like corn, rice, or wheat, so you can go for a painless and healthier option.

What to Look for in Healthy Dog Food

We encourage you to always look at the ingredient list for dog food, especially when it comes to fresh food. This way, you’ll be able to tell if the supplier company truly uses fresh or processed ingredients. Feel free to check all the fresh dog food ingredients on our Pawy packages, as we’re always 100% transparent about them.

On that note, here are some dog nutrition facts. The first thing you should look for is a natural and healthy source of crude protein. Our Pawy meals are the perfect representation of that, as you’ll see labels like "complete and balanced" for natural sources of protein like beef or fish. 

In contrast, you should avoid any food items with mentions of soy, corn, wheat, and any processed ingredients.

Naturally, you’ll want to ensure that the label fits the AAFCO or FEDIAF standards. That means the food you’re buying aligns with those institutions' rigorous standards. 

Aside from the ingredient list and guaranteed analysis, a trustworthy label should also indicate life stage. This is very important, since we prepare different meals for puppies, adults, and senior dogs. Going with an option matching your pet’s lifecycle phase will have a positive effect on its health and metabolism.

For overweight dogs, you should monitor the calorie content to ensure it’s not too much.

Plus, you might find some manufacturer-specific food guidelines or general information like the brand’s address. All these help you make an informed decision when choosing the perfect meal for your dog.

Common Label Tricks to Avoid

Even pet owners who are well-versed in the matter might end up getting scammed by shady dog food companies.

For that purpose, we’ve created a list of tips you can use to avoid such tricks:

• Fancy language: Some pet food companies try to make their product stand out with extravagant marketing expressions that don’t really have anything to do with the food itself. For instance, you should steer clear of brands advertising their food products as "premium" or "holistic". The same goes for terms like "homestyle" and similar.

• Portion vs total package: Many pet food companies tend to misrepresent their portions by sneakily advertising the weight of the entire package as that of a single portion. Also, they sometimes design packages in a certain way to make them appear fuller. It’s a common deceptive technique that’s easy to see through once you start paying attention. 

• The meaning behind "complete and balanced": Finally, the term "complete and balanced" has been used in the dog food world for years, and it simply stands for an all-around option. It indicates that every nutrient is used in just the right amount, as specified by the regulatory guidelines and the ingredient list. In an ideal scenario, it should mean that the meal can be used as the one and only diet item.

Conclusion

Ultimately, pet food labelling is more important than it may appear to be, and it’s essential to always read it to make an educated decision and get just the right nutrients for your dog. 

That’s why Pawy’s food packages are always completely transparent about this. You’ll find a label including a complete list of all ingredients and their nutritional values on each package. 

Our expert nutritionists and veterinarians always stand by the recommendations set by FEDIAF. Don’t take our word for it; get in touch for a free quote today and see for yourself.