Purchasing the best diet for your pet is a confusing and difficult task.  We want optimal nutrition and we want to stay within our budget.  Every pet food claims to be the best and there are about a thousand brands available!  Yikes!!!  Which pet food should you choose?

The first and most important rule is You Get What You Pay For.  The second rule is that the more that you know, the better choice you can make,  and that is the aim of this handout.

There are four major types of commercially available pet foods.  These include:

1)      Generic

2)      Private Label 

3)      "Popular brands" marketed in grocery and feed stores

4)      "Premium brands" marketed in veterinary clinics and pet stores.

Generic food manufacturers use the least expensive ingredients, and may or may not:

1)      be formulated the feed to meet the animal's needs 

2)      be considered the detrimental effects of nutrient excesses or toxic substances that may be present

3)      be considered the digestibility and variability of the nutrients in the ingredients that they use

4)      conduct feeding trials to substantiate their claims

5)      provide adequate quality control.

Private label pet foods are usually marketed by chain stores under their house brand name.  These pet foods are produced by pet food manufacturers (often the same ones that produce generic feeds) on a least-cost basis according to the specifications of the marketing company. There is often little concern for nutrient content and consistency of the product.  These pet foods are labeled "Distributed by ______" or "Manufactured for ______" rather than "Manufactured by _______".

Popular brands of pet foods are most often "variable formula diets".  The ingredients used vary depending upon availability and cost.  These diets usually emphasize the palatability of their diets over optimal nutrition.  There is usually greater quality control of these diets  when compared to generic and private label diets.

The Premium Diets are the cream of the crop.  Their diets are produced from fixed ingredient lists (ingredients do not vary depending upon their cost).  In addition digestibility and consistency of nutrient levels of ingredients are excellent from bag to bag, month to month.

So how do you choose?  Read the label!  There are a few tricks though.  All pet food labels must have the following: 

1)      the product name

2)      the net weight

3)      the guaranteed analysis containing at least the minimum amounts of crude protein and fat and the maximum amounts of moisture and crude fiber

4)      a list of ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight

5)      the name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributer, and

6)      a statement of the nutritional adequacy or purpose of the product. 

Lets look at what each of these things really means.

The guaranteed analysis does not guarantee that the product contains the amount listed: it only
guarantees the tolerances the manufacturer claims the product meets.  This is not a good way to choose between brands of pet food.

The list of ingredients may be helpful, although it has some shortcomings that limit its usefulness in choosing pet foods. The ingredients are supposed to be listed in descending order by weight.  Since it is most often impossible to determine the presence or absence of an ingredient, this regulation is unenforceable.  In addition, remember that if Chicken By-Product Meal is listed first, followed by corn meal, ground corn and flaked corn, there is more corn than chicken!  It is also important to know that the ingredients list does not attest to the quality of the ingredients.

The statement of nutritional adequacy or purpose of the product is your best tool in comparing better quality dog foods.  Since January 1, 1984, regulations have required the labels of all pet foods (except those clearly labeled as a snack or treat, or those intended for use by or under the supervision or direction of a veterinarian) contain a statement indicating that the product is nutritionally adequate or complete for specific life stages of the pet intended to be fed.  Unfortunately, none of the claims need to be proven by feeding trials and, therefore, the claim does not insure nutritional adequacy or quality unless it states that the diet has passed feeding tests according to protocols approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).  An alternative statement which state that the diet is "formulated to meet the national levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles" indicates that the diet has not been tested in feeding trials and, therefore, there is no guarantee that the diet is nutritionally adequate or consistent.  A diet of shoe leather, motor oil, vitamins and minerals will analyze to meet the AAFCO nutritional guide lines but obviously would not be a good diet for a dog or cat.

A word about life stages:  Diets that claim (through AAFCO feeding trials) to be adequate for all life stages are adequate diets for puppies, lactating and gestating mothers and any other dog.  It may be too rich for the average spayed or middle-aged pet.  Feeds should be used according to their labeled purpose, which is found within the statement of nutritional adequacy or purpose.

Finally, no matter how great the diet, if it sits around in the bag for too long, it looses its palatability and nutrition.  Freshness does count!!  If the bag of food has been sitting in a warehouse or on the shelf, you are not getting what you paid for.  Wiseman Animal Hospital carries the entire Science Diet line of dog food.  If you are not completely satisfied with your food purchase, just bring back the unused portion and we will give you a refund or credit your Wiseman Animal Hospital account.

Ask your veterinarian to analyze your pet food label for you.  Just bring your pet food sack or can with you for your next appointment!  We are happy to recommend a diet for your pet.