Pet food labels pack a lot of required information into a small space, and it is not always obvious which parts matter most. State feed regulators work from standards modeled on those from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and the FDA explains how the “complete and balanced” claim on a package is defined. Reading the label in a consistent order makes comparisons easier and keeps marketing language from crowding out the required facts.
Five Checks Before You Buy
- Nutritional adequacy. Look for a “complete and balanced” statement. According to the FDA, a complete and balanced claim must be supported by meeting an AAFCO nutrient profile or a feeding trial using AAFCO procedures. Check the intended use: food labelled for intermittent or supplementary feeding is not intended to be the sole diet. (FDA: complete and balanced pet food)
- Life stage. The adequacy statement names a life stage, such as growth, adult maintenance, or all life stages. Check that the stated life stage fits your dog. Ask your veterinarian about growth, expected adult size, or a medical dietary need.
- Calories and feeding directions. AAFCO’s guidance on reading labels notes that labels include calorie content and feeding directions. The calorie statement lets you compare energy density between products, and the feeding directions give a starting amount that you adjust to your own dog. (AAFCO: reading labels)
- Moisture in the guaranteed analysis. The guaranteed analysis reports minimums and maximums rather than exact values. Moisture is listed as well, and canned food is largely water, so those percentages cannot be compared directly with dry food. Convert the nutrients to a dry-matter basis to compare two products fairly.
- Manufacturer contact details. The label should identify the manufacturer or distributor and provide a way to reach them. Keep that information handy for questions about ingredients, lot codes, or recalls.
These checks do not identify a “best” food. They show whether a label answers basic questions about adequacy, life-stage fit, calories, comparable nutrient content, and who stands behind the product.
Use our dog food finder to start with your dog’s life stage and build a label-reading checklist.
Sources
General educational information, not a personalised feeding plan. Speak to your veterinarian about an individual health concern.