Browse all of the grocery store or pet food store to buy dog food and you will agree with me that the test to decide what is best for your dog is a tiring task. Scanning shelves of products available, you are bombarded by foods extolling different health benefits as well as many of the prices. Pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and pet food manufacturers eager for each marketing dollar. Not only are they marketing us to death, but also for new products to put before us. These products are “dry”, “boxes”, “semi-moist” and health targeted products such as “seniors”, “Premium” and “Gourmet. So it is best food for your dog? Do you think the time has come, and research. The truth is, is one of the best dog food that your dog’s nutritional needs, which vary depending on the dogs age, race, weight, genetics and activity level is equivalent. . . and the one that suits your budget. It is definitely worth consulting a veterinarian, the best advice and nutrition plan for your dog. But for those who want to take up the service, here are the most important things you need to know, can be found in detail. Dog Food labels Susan Powter comes to mind when it comes to food labels. Remember this iconic infomercial star, the words “Stop coined madness”? Her gospel about nutrition and the importance to investigate the ingredients side of the packaging to distinguish the different elements and how nutrition plays a role in the overall strategy for a new back then. It seems that this was the beginning of a mass movement to better nutrition, label reading and choosing products more carefully. For all the latest pet food recalls of millions of dog owners has been extended to this range of control dog food. But we can not from the Susan Powter gospel for this train, because the food is produced in a number of different standards and regulations that are furthest from the AAFCO (Association of American feed control officials). There are special labeling requirements that all food available for dogs to certain information on the label. Alright, we all have the right choice for our dogs, we must know how to read and understand the dog food label. AAFCO is an official publication of each year, specifying the specific requirements for dog food. Of all the different requirements, they will require to comply with all the dog food packaging manufacturer, and containing elements of the label must include the following information: Product # # Guaranteed Analysis Nutritional suitability Statement # # Feeding Directions Name Game When shopping for dog food, which is the first thing to get around? Product name, of course. We have all walked the walk and pet products, as seen jumping out of our own. . . calls us. Bold, and fancy fonts such descriptions as “chicken”, “all life stages”, “Duck Entrée”, “95% of beef”, “Natural Dog Food”. But what do these descriptions really? Is it just fancy marketing? AAFCO has created rules which require how these ingredients can be used in the product name. 95% rule # Applies to most canned dog food, mainly meat, poultry or fish. # Specifies that at least 95% of the dog food label ingredients, excluding water and is treated with preservatives. # Counting water, the product must still consist of 70% of the product. # If the name is a combination of ingredients, the two together is 95% identical. # The rule only applies to ingredients of animal origin, so grains and vegetables can not be used as part of the 95% rule. So, if the product was “Beef and Brown Rice” is still produced 95% of beef. 25% or “Dinner” Rule # This rule applies to many canned and dry dog food. # If the above ingredients or combination of ingredients on the label consists of 25% or more (but less than 95%) without adequate water treatment. # You must have a descriptive term such as “Dinner,” “platter,” Entrée “or the” formula “. # If more than one ingredient is in the name, they are both connected to a total of 25%, each component is equal to or greater than 3%. 3% or “‘Rule # Originally, this procedure must contain only ingredients that are outside of the packaging of the product name. # It allows manufacturers to tag the smaller parts. # The active substance shall be not less than 3% added. # The rule now allows manufacturers the concept of “together”, as used in the product name. Be careful reading of the dog food label because “Beef Dog Food” and “Dog Food with Beef” are not the same. The first 95% must be beef, but the second requires only 3%. Flavor of Article # Percentage of ingredients is not required. # The word “flavor” on the label must be the same font and color will appear in the ingredient name. # Flavor of the ingredient may be relevant, but more often than not, it is another substance, such as “Theme”, “product”, “stock” or “broth”. Guaranteed Analysis Guaranteed Analysis is the next component to be a dog food label. It acts as a general guide, which is part of the key nutrients and other elements of the total composition. An absolute minimum, ensuring the analysis must consist of the following: # Minimum Percentage of Protein # Minimum Fat Maximum # of fiber # The maximum percentage of moisture Come and see the label at this point. See this? Very good. Well, if you pack dog food and dry dog food Here is a look at the two labels. After careful analysis, you might ask, “Hey Michael, I noticed that both labels that the dry dog food has more nutrients. I was canning, more protein … what happened?” Remember, if I have not noticed that the protein and other nutrients on the label seem less appropriate as compared to doses of dry, but looks are deceiving. Why? Differences in moisture content. Dog food, on average, are 75% water, while the dog food contains about 10%. So to make a correct comparison of nutrients, we have both taken the same playing field. To this end, we will not change as the dry matter. To convert the nutrients we need to dust off our computers that we use as a secondary school to do a little math. (And did you say your math teacher: “I have never used them in the real world!”), But I digress. Here is the formula we are using:% Guarantee divided by the dry weight multiplied by 100% For example, in one corner we have a dog food that is guaranteed analysis consisting of 9% protein, 6% fat, 1 5% glass and 78% humidity. In another corner, we have a dog food that guaranteed analysis consisting of 24% protein, 14 have. 5% fat, 4% fiber and 10% humidity. # Preserved by dry weight: 100-78 = 22 # Dry matter of dry: 100-10 = 90 # Now we can do our calculations Dog Food # Protein: 22.9 x 100 = 40 9% # Fat: 22.6 x 100 = 27% # Fiber: 1 6 8 x 100 = 22.5% Dog Food # Protein: 24/90 x 100 = 26th 6% # Fat: 14 5 / 90 x 1 100 = 16% # Fiber: 4 / 90 4 x 100 = 4% So after that, ready when you get protein? Canned dog food actually 14% more protein. Nutrition Physiology fitness Statement You have to see it on labels. . . ‘Full’, ‘balanced’, ‘Life For All Day “, among others. But how are these claims justified? What rules are in place to regulate such verbage? The answer is fixed, the AAFCO again. Nutritional adequacy statement is needed, and is one of the most important aspects of a dog food label. This statement confirms to us that the product meets all the nutritional requirements of dogs. So, what is a reasonable nutrition and nutritional adequacy? You need one of two ways: Calculations # Method is formulated at the level of nutrients in dog food ingredients, including the offer to comply with the profile # It is believed that the average amount of nutrients on the nutrient content of ingredients or results of laboratory tests using standard chemical analysis. # If it meets the AAFCO profiles set out the conditions for the label statement is as follows: “(name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional value of the fixed planes AAFCO (Dog), the nutrient profiles of foods (in certain stages of life).” Feeding experiments # Product (or a similar product made from the same company) has been tested in dogs with strict guidelines and to ensure proper nutrition # If it meets the requirements of the profile established by AAFCO, the label’s statement resulted as follows: “if AAFCO feed tests show that the (product name) gives a complete and balanced nutrition for (specific life stage). Nutritional adequacy statement is a declaration of life in the platform (s) is suitable for dog food. Two profiles are used. Below is a definition of each and additional information on other profiles: # Growth / Lactation – which is a product designed for growing puppies, pregnant or lactating women as dogs. # Support – suitable for all adult dogs of normal activity is not repeating, but possibly not growing, reproducing, or hard working dog enough. # Terms like “Senior” or “Formulated for Large Breed Adults” means the dog food meets the requirements of maintenance of the profile, but no more. # This product, which is not attached to the two profiles must satisfy in order to “This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding,” except where it is conspicuously identified as a snack or treatment. Feeding Guidelines Feeding guidelines are very broad, to say the least. At least they should give the song such as “feed ___ cups per ___ pounds.” However, keep in mind that these instructions are very rough estimates. Most people feed their dogs too much. In fact, 25% of all dogs are overweight. . . Cause problems such as: Diabetes # # Arthritis # Heart and liver disease # Bladder You should treat the guidelines for the place to start. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog as much food and feed. They understand that nutritional needs are different, and knowing your dog, feeding schedule, they may depend on several factors, including the proposed basis: Age # # Weight # Breed # Genetics # Activity Level


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