Turkey and Chicken Dog Food: By labeling it” Turkey and Chicken Dog Food”, and nothing else, you can be relatively certain that this product is made up of 95% turkey and chicken combined, with the chicken content being slightly less than the turkey, since turkey is listed as the first ingredient.

A food having this name doesn’t even have chicken in the top three ingredients!

• Chicken Flavor Dog Food: The word “flavor” is the key to this one.
• Dog Food with Chicken: A food listed as “with” anything is required to contain only 3% of that ingredient. Dog food “with” chicken, or “with” beef, must contain only 3% of chicken or beef.

DOG FOOD LABELS – GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

• The “Guaranteed Analysis” on the dog food label at the back of the bag is a chart that lists the percentages of various ingredients contained in that food (see an example below). The percentages listed for protein, fat, and fiber are measurements of the food in its current state. However, because different foods have varying amounts of moisture, you can only reasonably compare dog foods ”on a dry matter basis”.
• Please note that the moisture content can range anywhere from as little as 6% for dry foods to as much as 80% for canned foods. and it’s obvious that canned food contains more moisture than dry kibble. It’s hard to know which food contains the most protein, fat or fiber before converting both to a dry matter basis. As you see, the moisture accounts for 10% of the food. So, we see that the dry matter content is (100% – 10% = ) 90% of the food.
• Now compare the new protein level of 28% on a dry matter basis to other dog foods after converting the other labels in the same manner. Your dog food may have 28% protein on a dry matter basis, but what is the source of that protein? Pet foods must list ingredients in order of weight and the first five ingredients will usually make up the majority of the pet food formula. Look for meat as one of the first ingredients on a pet food label. Dog food manufacturers are known to routinely combine multiple protein sources to provide for all the amino acids required for a healthy life.
• There are more and more dog care givers who are now searching for dog foods that use only human grade ingredients without any animal “by-products”. Additionally, dry dog foods require preservatives to prevent spoilage and deterioration of essential nutrients.

Here’s an example of the guaranteed analysis section of a pet food label:

Once you learn how to read a label, you gain a great deal of information about the food you are feeding your dog. As with human food labels, dog food labels are strictly regulated by the federal government, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture, and must follow stringent guidelines. Dog food labels are typically divided into several separate sections: the principal product display and information about the food.

DOG FOOD LABELS DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS

Principal Product Display – Dog Food Product Name

This area of the label includes the brand name of the food along with the specific food or formula contained in the bag or can. In order to be able to call a product “Beef Dog Food,” at least 95 percent must be the named meat, not counting the moisture content. If the food’s name has a combination of meats, such as “Beef and Lamb,” the two products together must be 95 percent of the product with the first ingredient listed more plentiful.

Dog food product names now have a newly approved rule; they can use the word “with” in the food names ie: “Dog Food with Chicken,” since the word “chicken” is followed with the word “with,” that particular food must have at least three percent of the ingredients as chicken. “Chicken Dog Food” is completely different than “Dog Food with Chicken.”

Information Section Of Dog Food Labels

This section of the label is the most important when you compare different dog foods analyze and decide what nutrients are in the food.

Dog Food Ingredients

If your dog needs a diet low in protein, look for a product having carbohydrates listed in the top four or five ingredients. Alternatively, if your dog requires a diet that’s high in protein, look for a food with the first two ingredients as meat products.

Guaranteed Analysis

Listed in this area of the label are the amounts of each ingredient that’s contained in the food. When comparing one dog food to another, you must consider “moisture content”. All of the ingredients should be compared on a dry matter basis. Feeding Instructions

The product will list how much of the food to feed daily. If the dog food follows the guidelines set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the label will include a section stating that the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for a particular life stage.

The Treatment and Diagnosis

All dog breeds are often affected by allergies, such as dermatitis or other allergic reactions, from parasite bites. Another one that is less frequently met is the dog food allergy, that usually occurs with dogs around two to seven years.

How is the Dog Food Allergy Developed?

Dog food allergies develop slowly and in time your pet may show a negative reaction to certain ingredients. If your pet has never encountered problems with a particular kind of food and unexpectedly develops a reaction, it is most likely due to food allergies. A clear-cut distinction must be made between dog food allergies and the fact that sometimes, something in the food causes diarrhea or stomach aches.

How can I Diagnose the Dog Food Allergy?

To diagnose dog food allergy is a serious task because it is not a very common allergy and because its effects are similar to other kinds of allergies. If in three months time, the dog’s state of health has gotten better, than surely, the former dog food is to be blamed for the allergies. How can I Treat the Dog Food Allergy?

Your dog may also become allergic to the new food as well. Usually, it can be problematic to find and treat a dog food allergy.

Dog Food Allergy Advice

Food allergies are caused by an immune system reacting inappropriately to the present food that is being ingested. Dogs also suffer other symptoms due to actual allergies rather than intolerance. The dog food allergies can include such afflictions as itchy skin, which is a common problem. An obvious food allergy will show up soon after switching or changing your dog’s food.

Removing the recently introduced new food should take care of this problem. Adding only one new food at a time over a period of many weeks will help define which foods your dog can tolerate. If your dog’s allergies suddenly start even though no new foods have been introduced, then it may become more difficult to find the cause of the allergy.

Put your dog on a diet consisting of foods to which he has never previously eaten. If you have fed a chicken based dog food, then you can try another protein based kibble. Many foods for dogs with allergies are completely grain free, because grains are a known allergy causing ingredient for many dogs.

You see, dog food for puppies is regulated in a different way than human food is. Consider Making Your Own. So, you may want to consider making your own dog food for puppies instead of purchasing commercial puppy food. This way you’ll really know what went into your puppy food instead of just guessing.

Making your own food can also help you make sure that your puppy eats healthy food that will keep him in great health and prepare him for a long and healthy life together with you. There are many great recipes that you can try to make your own dog food for your puppy.

The Best Dog Food For Puppies

The problem is that those dog food companies are not actually concerned with the health and welfare of your new puppy, they are concerned about making money and keeping their stockholders happy. Here is the real truth behind the dog food for puppies that you find on the shelves.

Dog food is not regulated the same way that people food is regulated. For example, if you see on the package that it says chemical free, or no chemicals added it actually is telling you that there were no chemicals added to the puppy food after it entered the processing plant.