Selecting the proper pet food can be challenging when you aren’t sure what to look for and may feel overwhelmed by all of the options. You also need to ensure you’re feeding your pet the right amount of the food that you buy since overfeeding can lead to more health issues.

According to experts from an emergency vet clinic in Edgewater, NJ, being health-conscious and caring about your pet’s nutrition requires understanding what they are eating. The guide below will help you understand ingredients and nutrition claims so that you can make the best decision for your pet(s).

Necessary Labeling

The primary components for pet food are established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most states also utilize labeling regulations that are established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

Under the AAFCO, a pet food label must have nine components: the product name, ingredients, analysis, nutritional adequacy, feeding guidelines, species category, manufacturer information, calorie content, and net quantity.

Understanding Ingredient Lists

Order of Ingredients

Ingredients are usually listed on a pet food label by the order of weight, with the heaviest ingredient listed first. Even though you may see something like a meat or protein first on the label, this can be misleading because of the water content that’s included. When it’s cooked, the meat may consist of a smaller percentage of the overall food content.

Identifying Primary Ingredients

The list of ingredients in pet food doesn’t specify the contributions to each nutrient. For example, the ingredient “chicken” may also include the flesh, bone, and skin of the chicken.

The first five ingredients of your pet’s food usually make up the majority of the formula and are the most crucial in terms of macronutrients. Complete, balanced nutrition requires over 45 nutrients for your pet. You must consider that labels are going to be long when offering all of these vitamins, minerals, and other vital dog supplements. There may be more than 20 individual ingredients, but only about 3 to 5 percent makeup.

Recognizing Fillers and Additives

You must recognize things like additives and fillers when looking at a label. Many of these additives contain things to bulk up the food but offer very little nutritional value. Things like corn, soy, rice, and wheat are considered fillers.

Grain-based fillers are often where you see additives in pet foods. Whole grains aren’t considered fillers. Meat by-products or meal like corn meal, rice meal, etc., are not necessarily fillers but are less nutritionally dense for proteins. Ingredients that state “animal by-product” are very vague and often a low-quality filler.

Nutrition Claims

Complete and Balanced Claims

Many pet food labels include claims that they are “complete” and “balanced.” Complete nutrition indicates a specific formula that can be fed solely to maintain life, with no need for anything extra for your pet besides water. Balanced nutrition is usually applied to have all the required nutrients in a proper amount based on the recommendations of authorities in animal nutrition.

Special Dietary Claims

You may see special dietary terms listed on the label, including claims like "grain-free," "organic," "natural," and "limited ingredient." Grain-free means that products don’t contain grains like wheat, corn, or rice, which can benefit pets with allergies or sensitivities.

When you see things like “natural” or “organic” on the label, these indicate specifically that the product doesn’t contain chemically synthetic ingredients except vitamins and minerals. Organic claims must meet the USDA standards for human food, meaning they must have a minimum of 70% organic content.

Deciphering Guaranteed Analysis

Understanding Percentages

The guaranteed analysis section on your pet food label lists the minimum percentages of protein and fat and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture. These are the nutritional composition of the diet, so if you know your pet needs certain nutrients, this can indicate a rough estimate of quantity.

“Crude” indicates the methods used to determine nutrient concentrations or quality. You may see other percentages like calcium, phosphorus, taurine, and ash, depending on if you own a dog or a cat.

Comparing Wet and Dry Foods

The guaranteed analysis may be challenging to compare when looking between wet and dry foods since they have various moisture content. The concentrations are higher in dry foods because the majority of wet canned foods consist of water, so the nutrients are more diluted in those pet foods.

Recognizing Nutritional Adequacy Statement

The Nutrition Statement on a pet food label is a declaration of adequacy according to AAFCO’s guidelines. It tells you whether the product can be fed as a complete diet, a treat, or intermittently only. It also indicates things like specified breeds for the food or age.

Life Stage Targeting

Understanding the importance of feeding according to life stage (puppy/kitten, adult, senior) and activity level is indicated in your pet food labels. These can be broken down by body weight and life stage. It’s necessary to know that these are guidelines only, and you should continue to monitor your pet’s weight and activity level so that your veterinarian can adjust accordingly.

AAFCO Standards

The role of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in setting nutritional standards is based on a variety of factors. Statements usually look like this: “[Name of product] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for [specific life stage].” or it could look like this: “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [name of product] provides complete and balanced nutrition for [specific life stage].”

Reading Feeding Guidelines

Portion Sizes

Feeding guidelines suggest using an 8-ounce cup to indicate “one cup” of food and pouring it into the bowl or container where your pet will eat. You can also use a measuring cup or put a line in your pet’s container to keep track.

In some cases, feeding the recommended level indicated in the guidelines can still be too much for your pet due to its activity level. It can result in health issues such as obesity. These are estimates, so you want to check and monitor how your pet is handling the amount(s).

Allergies and Sensitivities

Identifying Common Allergens

The most common food allergens pets can have are proteins containing dairy, beef, chicken, soy, or wheat gluten. If you witness your pet having a reaction or showcasing symptoms like itchy skin, an infection, or problems with digestion, you should contact your vet for medication and avoid foods that contain those ingredients once they are identified.

Choosing Hypoallergenic Foods

Pay close attention to the ingredient list on all pet food packaging to see if there’s anything your pet is sensitive or allergic to, and strive for more high-quality ingredients with no additives, preservatives, or fillers. Your veterinarian can also provide recommendations for hypoallergenic foods that will not cause your pet to react.

Misleading Marketing and Buzzwords

When analyzing pet food labels and advertising, distinguish between marketing tactics and genuinely beneficial nutritional claims. Whatever the most popular pet food on the market, it doesn’t mean it’s the best for your pet’s needs.

Claims are key marketing tools, and using buzzwords to draw in new customers from the competition may bring a brand a stronger value proposition. However, it is the brand’s responsibility to ensure that they can back up each and every claim they make if they are “superior” to others in the industry.

Take Care of Your Pet’s Nutrition

Pet food labels give you, as a pet parent, the ability to make a more informed decision, but you can only do that with some help in understanding what each aspect of that label means. While it can be overwhelming to look at and read those labels or distinguish the marketing claims, it’s essential to ask questions and learn the specifics to nourish and love your pet with their nutrition more efficiently!