- In canned and raw foods, look for a specifically named meat, poultry, or fish protein (such as “chicken” or “duck”) as the first ingredient. Dogs and cats prefer to be fed with more meat, as they would eat in nature.
- In dry kibble foods, look for a single-source meat, poultry or fish protein meal (such as “chicken meal” or “duck meal”) as the first ingredient. Since ingredients on a pet food label are listed in order of descending weight, “chicken meal” (which is already dried) as the first ingredient on a kibble bag is more desirable than “chicken” (which is mostly water). In other words, kibble made with a single-source meal as the first ingredient suggests the food has higher total meat content than a kibble made with fresh meat as the first ingredient.
- Wholesome fruits and vegetables (like “cranberries” and “spinach”) will provide healthy antioxidants, vitamins, and other important nutrients.
- Some whole and hearty grains (such as “brown rice” or “oatmeal”), which provide carbohydrates and fiber.
- Natural preservatives (such as “mixed tocopherols” and “citric acid”) are preferred over chemical preservatives.
- A statement that the food has passed AAFCO feeding trials.
Things to avoid:
- Low quality grains (such as “corn”, “wheat”, “soy” or "brewers rice") used for protein are indicative of a lower quality food as these ingredients are much less experience than desirable meat proteins.
- Glutens and gluten meals (such as “wheat gluten” and “corn gluten meal”), which are inexpensive substitutes for meat protein, and might be imported products that could be less desirable for pets.
- Generically named proteins and protein meals (such as “poultry” or “meat meal” or "by-products" or "animal"). Ingredients like these can include by-products and other various animal parts that you wouldn’t want to feed your special dog or cat.
- Generic fat sources (such as “animal fat”), which could contain fat from any type of animal.
- Foods with too much grain. Dogs and cats thrive on foods made with more meat, not grain! (If your pet has any grain allergies, it’s best to avoid grains altogether.)
- Chemical preservatives (like “BHA” and “BHT”) and artificial coloring (such as “caramel color”). These are unnecessary artificial additives.
Definitions:
Dry weight: Food with no moisture present. Dry dog food in a bag usually has about 10 percent moisture and canned food has about 74 percent moisture.
Meat by-products: Pet grade meat by-products consist of organs and parts either not desired, or condemned, for human consumption. This can include bones, blood, intestines, lungs, ligaments, heads, feet, and feathers.
Corn: Corn products are difficult for dogs to digest.
Food Fragments: Lower cost by-products of another food manufacturing process. Examples include wheat bran and brewer's rice (a waste product of the alcohol industry).
Meat and bone meal: "Meat and bone meal" and "beef and bone meal" are inexpensive sources of animal protein. The protein in a meal containing a large amount of bone may be poorly digestible and fail to provide adequate nutrition.
Animal Fat: Animal fat is a "generic" fat source that is most often made up of rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too rancid or deemed inedible for humans. Look for a named fat source, such as poultry or chicken fat, that is naturally preserved.
Chemical Preservatives: Chemical preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used as a less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are potentially cancer-causing agents. The long term build-up of these chemicals (that may be eaten every day for the life of your pet!) have not been thouroughly studied and may ultimately be harmful.
Sweeteners: Sweeteners such as corn syrup, sugar, and cane molasses are usually added to lower quality foods to increase their appeal. Dietary sugars can aggravate health problems, including diabetes.
Beef Tallow: A low quality fat product.
Citric Acid: natural preservative
Brewers Rice: small milled fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. It is a processed rice product that is missing many of the nutrients contained in whole ground rice and brown rice thus reducing the quality.
Animal fats: are rendered tissue fats that can be obtained from a variety of animals.
