Understanding Dog Food Labels
Make informed decisions about your dog's nutrition
Order Matters
Ingredients are listed by weight in descending order
Chicken, Brown Rice, Sweet Potatoes...
Real meat as first ingredient indicates high protein content
Corn, Wheat Gluten, Meat By-products...
Suggests lower quality protein sources and fillers
Meat Sources
Understanding different meat ingredients
Named Meats
- Chicken
- Beef
- Lamb
High - clearly identified source
Meat Meals
- Chicken Meal
- Beef Meal
Good - concentrated protein source
By-products
- Meat By-products
- Poultry By-products
Lower - undefined source and parts
Common Fillers
Identifying less nutritious ingredients
- Corn and wheat gluten
- Artificial preservatives
- Anonymous meat products
- Artificial colors and flavors
Common Misconceptions
Grain-free is always better
Not necessarily. Many dogs can digest grains well, and grain-free isn't automatically healthier.
Choose based on your dog's specific needs and health conditions.
By-products are always bad
Some by-products can be nutritious organ meats
Quality depends on the specific source and processing methods.
Higher protein is always better
Protein needs vary by age, size, and activity level
Consult your vet for appropriate protein levels for your dog.
Need Nutritional Advice?
Consult with a veterinary nutritionist for personalized feeding recommendations