Pet Food 101: Decoding Labels and Serving Sizes

Hello one and all, and welcome back to another wondrous writing by me! Whinny, the Official Clinic Mouse of Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic and Companion Animal Care. Dr. Speziok is our dog and cat vet, and I don’t know if I’ve ever heard her get through an appointment in our exam rooms without discussing diet in one way or another.

Pet food can be a hot topic, and there’s apparently lots of opinions on the FaceMouse and InstaCheese about how dogs and cats “should” be fed. It’s true, diet is one of the most important factors in overall health, and dogs and cats rely on their human staff—err, companions—to provide that food. Contrary to popular internet belief, your pet dogs and cats are not wild animals, and generally aren’t hunting for themselves. So, you go to the store and buy their food for them, which I think means you’d better understand a bit of what you’re buying!

Whinny’s Wisdom: Dogs diverged from wolves between 30-40,000 years ago! They have not only changed their size and behavior, but their dietary needs as well. Dogs have evolved alongside humans, which means as you lot learned to cook, they evolved to eat cooked food.

Understanding Pet Food Labels

When it comes to feeding our pets, one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects is understanding pet food labels. These labels contain vital information that helps us ensure our furry friends receive balanced and nutritious meals. Key terms to look for include protein, fat, fiber, and moisture, each of which plays a crucial role in a pet’s diet.

Protein is essential for growth and repair of tissues in the body,

Fat provides energy,

Fiber aids digestion, and

Moisture helps keep pets hydrated.

Interpreting the ingredient list and guaranteed analysis can be tricky. It’s also important to understand that the ingredient list is not a recipe, but a summary of what’s included in the food, listed by weight. While the order can give some indication of the primary ingredients, it doesn’t directly tell you the nutritional value. Ingredients like meat by-products are not inherently bad and can be valuable sources of nutrition. The guaranteed analysis section of the label is where you find the minimum or maximum levels of key nutrients like protein and fat, which helps you gauge the nutritional profile of the food. By understanding these labels, you can make more informed choices that contribute to your pet’s overall health and well-being.

When you pick up a bag or can of food in the store, the first thing to confirm is that it is even appropriate as a sole diet for your pet. If it is, it will have an AAFCO label. AAFCO is the Association of American Feed Control Officials. This group is not a regulatory agency, but is a council made up of researchers, veterinarians, and government officials. They use the latest science to set standards for minimums and maximums of nutrients for pet foods.

For a manufacturer to be able to put an AAFCO label on their prodcut, they must prove it meets AAFCO’s nutrient profile standards and is complete and balanced. There are two methods to evaluate whether a food meets these standards:

• Nutrient Content Analysis: a laboratory analyzed a small sample of the food to verify it meets AAFCO’s standards. If it does, the label will read “[Product Name] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.”
• AAFCO-Compliant Feeding Trial: this method includes feeding trials with real dogs to demonstrate the food’s nutritional values in addition to the above laboratory analysis. If this method was used, the label will read “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [Product Name] provides complete and balanced nutrition.”

Both statements are considered by the FDA to guarantee the food is complete and balanced, but if there’s any question, foods that have gone through a feeding trial probably have a bit more merit. AAFCO labels are voluntary and are not required for a bag of food to be on the shelf, so check for them as the first step to evaluating food.

Feeding Guide

Feeding guidelines on pet food packaging are not arbitrary numbers; they are carefully calculated based on a pet’s age, weight, and activity level to ensure they receive the correct amounts of essential nutrients, vitamins, and amino acids. These recommended daily allowances are designed to meet the nutritional needs of your pet at different life stages. For example, a growing puppy requires different nutrient levels compared to an adult or senior dog. Feeding less or more of an adult food is not the same as feeding a puppy food. Starting with these guidelines is crucial for maintaining your pet’s health, but remember that each animal is an individual, so amounts should be tailored to them.

You humans tend to prefer your four legged friends on the fluffy side, as opposed to the athletic side, so the daily feeding recommendations lean high (horse people, I know you feel me on this!). If your pet is gaining weight on a food, cutting back by 10-15% can be acceptable, but if you’re finding yourself feeding way less (or way more) than the bag recommends, we have a problem. Underfeeding may result in nutrient deficiencies, while overfeeding can cause obesity and related conditions. It’s important to understand that the recommended amount is set to provide a balanced diet, ensuring they get the right mix of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Always measure your pet’s food accurately, and pay attention to what calories they are getting that are not in their bowl.

Some Reminders

Veterinarians are not “bought” by pet food companies.

Veterinarians are not “bought” by pet food companies.

[Do I need to squeak it a third time?]

Large pet food companies—Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina—are recommended by veterinarians (including our docs!) because they work. Those companies have had many years to put research and money into creating healthy food for your pets. Purina, as an example, has 8 veterinarians on their leadership team. These larger, more experienced companies also tend to have better quality testing then smaller boutique companies.

Dogs and cats do not need to switch up their food regularly, as a general rule. In fact, changing foods can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Most dogs and cats do much better on the same food and same flavor and appreciate the consistency. Many dogs (usually the cute, small, fluffy ones) are really good at training their people (YOU) to switch their food or flavor all the time, but that is manipulation! A healthy pet will not starve themselves. If your pet is refusing food they’ve previously eaten well, and they are otherwise their normal selves with no vomiting or diarrhea or lethargy, then offer that food repeatedly, picking it back up after 20 minutes if they haven’t eaten it. If you always add a treat topper or switch the food when they refuse, then congratulations, you’ve been trained!

I could go on and on about diet, and maybe I will, let us know if you want more nutrition blogs (oh! what about an artisanal cheese article…), but I’ll cut myself off here for now (food pun intended!)

In good health and yummy food,

~Whinny

P.S. Not sure if your dog or cat is on an appropriate diet, or is even at a good body condition score? Make sure you ask Dr. Speziok about it when you are in for your next exam! Or when she comes by your house, because she does house calls for dogs and cats, too. That’s right, nothing but top shelf around here!