How To Read DogFood Labels
We want the best for our dogs, but with pet food labels that are so complicated and misleading, it’s difficult to know what’s truly in their diet. Let’s take a look at how to read pet food labels so you can make informed decisions about your pet’s health.
This article will help you understand some of the vocabulary, gain a better knowledge of what’s in your pet’s food, and figure out what the manufacturers are attempting to hide behind clever wording. We’ll try to explain how to read a pet food label so you can get the healthiest food for your dog. Let’s start at the beginning:
Product Name
The product name is more than just smart marketing. The name itself will give you a hint as to what the ingredients are. Because so many pet owners base their purchasing decisions on a single ingredient, manufacturers will aim to emphasise that element in the product name. It’s all in the language, though.
Quantity
The amount of food in the container is indicated by the quantity specified on the label. This can be done with a weight scale, a liquid measure, or a count. The density of products might vary (think wet food vs. dry food, for example). Do a cost-per-ounce or cost-per-pound comparison if you truly want to know how much a product costs.
Guaranteed Analysis
If particular assurances are required, such as that the meal is low-fat, the maximum and minimum percentages of the item must be guaranteed. If a product claims to contain vitamin or mineral supplements, the amount delivered must be guaranteed.
Ingredients
On the dog food label, the ingredients are stated in descending order of amount based on weight. As a result, high-water-content proteins like chicken, beef, and lamb are frequently mentioned before dry ingredients like grains, vitamins, and minerals.
Feeding Directions
Feeding instructions must be included to show how much weight and volume of food to provide per animal’s weight. The feeding guidance, on the other hand, is merely meant to be a beginning point. It’s vital for your pet’s health that you keep an eye on his physical state and adjust the food amount as needed, following your veterinarian’s advice.
Manufacturer’s Details
The manufacturer’s name and phone number should be printed on the package label. We recommend calling the manufacturers to learn more about their products, such as the manufacturing location, real nutrient content, calories, and palatability of the food.
