Choosing high quality dog food is vital in ensuring the health and well being of our pets.
However, reading the labels in small print can prove to be a challenge.
Here, you will find steps on what you should look out for when choosing dog food.
Step 1 - Don't Let Yourself Be Drawn In By Marketing And Advertising Schemes True, these labels are regulated, but only to a certain point.
These manufacturers will do everything in their power to entice you to buy their product.
Step 2 - First Look For The "Guaranteed Analysis" By reading the information provided on the "Guaranteed Analysis", you get to see if the product meets the nutritional requirements of your dog.
This requirement varies depending on your dog's breed and daily activities.
Step 3 - Look For Moisture Levels On The "Guaranteed Analysis" Moisture levels range from as low as 6% to as high as 80%.
Obviously, canned food contains more moisture compared to dry food.
Step 4 - Calculate The Dry Matter Percentage For example, if the moisture levels are at 10%, then the dry matter is at 90%.
Just subtract the moisture levels from 100%, and you get the dry matter percentage.
Step 5 - Find Out The Fat, Fiber, And Protein Percentages Let's say the protein level on a label is at 26%.
Divide this by the 90% dry matter and you get 28%.
Do the same with the fat and fiber percentages.
Step 6 - Compare Your Findings With Other Dog Food Products Do the same kind of calculations with other products, and compare each one.
Look for the most ideal requirements.
Step 7 - Do Not Make These Numbers Your Only Basis For Comparison Let's go back to our protein percentage.
It may be at 28%, but consider the source.
A lot of these manufacturers use chicken feet and beaks, which are not nutritious at all.
Step 8 - Carefully Read The Ingredients Used Protein is an essential need of your pets.
However, even though an ingredient is rich in protein, it may not be the right type of protein for your dog.
Remember, your dog needs specific types of amino acids produced by specific types of protein.
Not all are the same.
Step 9 - Remember That Dog Food Manufacturers Have Been Known To Manipulate The Information On Their Labels Some manufacturers will list down the components of an ingredient individually to make it hard for you to notice a hazardous ingredient.
This tactic is only one of the tactics used by manufacturers.
Step 10 - Some Preservatives Are Actually Good For Your Dog When it comes to dog food, avoid preservatives such as BHT, BHA, sugar, artificial coloring, and other animal byproducts.
The preservatives you should look for are internal organs and liver.
These are a good source of amino acids for your dogs.
Furthermore, they prevent the degradation and spoilage of the essential nutrients.
Use these 10 steps as a guide and begin reading your dog food labels.
You will be amazed at what some commercial dog food giants put in their food and call in organic or nutritious.
Become an educated consumer and your dog will reap the rewards.
However, reading the labels in small print can prove to be a challenge.
Here, you will find steps on what you should look out for when choosing dog food.
Step 1 - Don't Let Yourself Be Drawn In By Marketing And Advertising Schemes True, these labels are regulated, but only to a certain point.
These manufacturers will do everything in their power to entice you to buy their product.
Step 2 - First Look For The "Guaranteed Analysis" By reading the information provided on the "Guaranteed Analysis", you get to see if the product meets the nutritional requirements of your dog.
This requirement varies depending on your dog's breed and daily activities.
Step 3 - Look For Moisture Levels On The "Guaranteed Analysis" Moisture levels range from as low as 6% to as high as 80%.
Obviously, canned food contains more moisture compared to dry food.
Step 4 - Calculate The Dry Matter Percentage For example, if the moisture levels are at 10%, then the dry matter is at 90%.
Just subtract the moisture levels from 100%, and you get the dry matter percentage.
Step 5 - Find Out The Fat, Fiber, And Protein Percentages Let's say the protein level on a label is at 26%.
Divide this by the 90% dry matter and you get 28%.
Do the same with the fat and fiber percentages.
Step 6 - Compare Your Findings With Other Dog Food Products Do the same kind of calculations with other products, and compare each one.
Look for the most ideal requirements.
Step 7 - Do Not Make These Numbers Your Only Basis For Comparison Let's go back to our protein percentage.
It may be at 28%, but consider the source.
A lot of these manufacturers use chicken feet and beaks, which are not nutritious at all.
Step 8 - Carefully Read The Ingredients Used Protein is an essential need of your pets.
However, even though an ingredient is rich in protein, it may not be the right type of protein for your dog.
Remember, your dog needs specific types of amino acids produced by specific types of protein.
Not all are the same.
Step 9 - Remember That Dog Food Manufacturers Have Been Known To Manipulate The Information On Their Labels Some manufacturers will list down the components of an ingredient individually to make it hard for you to notice a hazardous ingredient.
This tactic is only one of the tactics used by manufacturers.
Step 10 - Some Preservatives Are Actually Good For Your Dog When it comes to dog food, avoid preservatives such as BHT, BHA, sugar, artificial coloring, and other animal byproducts.
The preservatives you should look for are internal organs and liver.
These are a good source of amino acids for your dogs.
Furthermore, they prevent the degradation and spoilage of the essential nutrients.
Use these 10 steps as a guide and begin reading your dog food labels.
You will be amazed at what some commercial dog food giants put in their food and call in organic or nutritious.
Become an educated consumer and your dog will reap the rewards.