Most of us automatically assume that as long as we purchase commercially prepared food for our dogs, and stay away from table food and scraps, that we are doing the right thing, but how do we really know what ingredients that dog food has been made from? Sure, you read the label, but do really understand what the information on the label means? In this article, you will find information that will help you learn how to read those dog food labels, so that you will be able to make better food choices for your dog in the future.

The first thing you should know when you look at the list of ingredients on a package of dog food is that the ingredients are listed according to their bulk amount. For example, if meat is listed first on the label, then you know that this dog food contains primarily meat. Not to say that is necessarily the one you should choose, but it isn’t a bad start. You can usually judge the quality of a commercial dog food by the first four ingredients listed on the label, but again, you shouldn’t skip over the remaining ingredients, just in case your dog has any allergies to dyes or preservatives. Since dogs are primarily carnivores, their bodies need plenty of protein, so a dog food that lists meat as the first ingredient is definitely one to pay attention to. If a dog food lists meat as one of the first four main ingredients, you know that it has been made from organs, meat, fat, and skin of an animal, and it should tell you on the label what type of animal that meat came from.

Any dog food that is made from animal by-products, listed in the first few ingredients on the label, has been made from using hair, feathers, hooves, teeth, or horns of animals, and provides your dog with very little nutritional value. Most vets and breeders will tell you to stay away from any commercial dog food that has animal by-products listed anywhere on the label.

Dog food that has meal listed as one of the main ingredients doesn’t offer much for your dog either. It may be more filling than some of the other options, but it isn’t very nutritional. Meal is produced by taking leftover animal products, boiling them in a big vat, drying them out, and then using a grinder to turn them into a fine powder. The process helps destroy any possible bacteria that may be on the meat, but it also takes away much of the nutritional value as well. While this dog food is better for your dog than that made from by-products, it still isn’t a great choice.

Many commercial dog foods today are not made with your dog’s best interests in mind, so as a loving dog owner, you owe it to your pet to take the time to learn how to read labels, and look for the best ingredients for your dog. Even if the food is a little more expensive, it is still well worth it if it means your dog will be healthier and happier, isn’t it?

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

This article may be reprinted as long as it’s reprinted in its entirety including the signature line.