Veterinary teams and pet owners will find a lot of essential and valuable information on pet food labels. They may also contain marketing graphics and statements meant to increase product sales rather than provide nutritional facts. As a result, some of the information, such as unregulated phrases like ‘holistic’ or ‘premium,’ is of little use for nutritional evaluation.
On the Internet, there are many dog food misconceptions and disinformation about pets’ nutrition. It’s easy to filter through it if you follow one basic rule: double-check your sources. Many well-intentioned people make assertions regarding canine nutrition that aren’t backed up by scientific research. Always check to verify if the advice is backed up by a trustworthy source, such as a veterinarian, a canine nutritionist, or a scientific study while conducting research. It’s also never a bad idea to be wary. If something appears to be too good to be true, it usually is.
Here are some useful tips to choose the best food for your pet.
- Is it a complete meal?
Foods should be labeled to reflect whether they provide a “complete” diet that includes all essential elements. It’s also possible that the label will state whether this was determined through life-stage feeding trials or through formulation to meet standards. If providing a therapeutic food, those branded as “short-term,” “intermittent,” or “complementary” should only be offered as a modest component of the meal (10 percent or less) or under veterinarian care.
2. Meet the Nutritional Requirements?
AAFCO and FEDIAF propose nutritional values for healthy dogs and cats at various life phases (reproduction, growth, and adulthood). Diets branded “for all life phases” are designed to promote growth and reproduction.
3. How is Quality Control for the brand?
Diets that follow the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) or the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) nutritional profiles should be OK. To protect the safety of pet animals and their owners, manufacturers and pet food producers should have proper quality assurance. Before, during, and after manufacture, this must include ingredients (food and supplement) validation, final diet nutritional analysis, toxicity, bacteriology, and packaging/shelf-life screens.
4. What is the Serving of the food?
Obesity is becoming more common in pets in many parts of the world. Knowing the calorie content of your pet’s food might assist you to avoid unintentional overfeeding. In the United States, nutritional info is only needed on pet food labels. If it isn’t on the label, you should be able to get it by calling the producer or figuring it from the nutritional profile on the label.
It is entirely up to you to choose the finest dog food for your dog. You are the one who sees your dog daily as the owner. Your dog’s diet is likely operating properly if he has a solid, healthy stool, is physically active, and has a good appetite. Your veterinarian is a vital resource for you. They are more knowledgeable about pet diets than most owners, and they have access to information that most owners do not.
