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FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Pet Food Labels

By Krista Albers-Smith, LVT

With all the different pet foods available today, how do you figure out which food is the best for your pet? You can look at the packaging, but how can you cut through all the advertising information and jargon to find what you really need? We are here to try to help you make the best decision for your furry family member.

To help narrow down your food options, you need to be looking for the appropriate life stage of food. Pet foods are broken down most broadly into growth, adult, and “all life stages,” and many food companies classify their food as kitten/puppy, adult, and senior formulas. Feeding your pet for the appropriate life stage can help maintain a healthy weight and ensure they are getting adequate nutrients. Kitten food, for example, has more calcium to support bone development and is formulated to support lactating mothers. Feeding this food to an adult cat could cause weight gain because fully grown cats do not need to be eating a diet designed for a growing kitten. These large categories are sometimes broken down into different formulas. Large breed puppy foods are a great example because they are designed to ensure large breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Great Danes, grow at a healthy, consistent rate and are more nutrient dense because they have higher nutrient requirements than a small dog like a Yorkie. Small breeds can also have access to “small bites” formulas to ensure the kibble pieces are not too big for them.

Once you’ve identified the appropriate food category, you can look for the Association of American Feed Control Standards’ (AAFCO) statement. The AAFCO is a non-profit organization that establishes food recommendations for both large and small animals to minimize the risk of malnutrition. Not every brand has this statement, and those that do have gone through feeding trials to meet the AAFCO’s minimum standards. The AAFCO statement will be found on the food package and read as: “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [Brand X Food] provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult [cats or dogs].”

One important group of pet foods that does not have an AAFCO statement is therapeutic diets. These diets are specifically created in a way that cannot meet AAFCO standards due to deficient or excessive levels of nutrients. Diets that support pets with chronic kidney disease are prime examples of this; because they contain phosphorus at a lower level than the AAFCO recommends, it cannot have the AAFCO statement of the bag. This does not mean that therapeutic diets should not be used. It only means that they should be used in specific cases and under the direction of a veterinarian.

So how much should you be feeding your pet? If your pet is at a healthy weight, it is generally best to follow the feeding instructions on the bag.  If your pet is underweight or overweight, talk with your veterinarian about how much you should be feeding. It is important to use a standard measuring cup or a gram scale to ensure the proper amount is being fed. Using something other than a measuring cup can cause your pet to get too much food, causing weight gain and potential health issues related to obesity.

Still confused about how to choose the best food for your cat or dog? Pet food manufacturers have customer service staff that you can call and ask questions. Here are a few questions from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) that can help steer you in the right direction.

1. Does your company employ a full-time qualified nutritionist (PhD in animal nutrition or board-certified by the American or European specialty veterinary colleges)?
2. Who formulates the diets and what are the credentials of the individual(s)?
3. Where does food production and manufacturing take place?
4. How does your company substantiate “complete and balanced” claims? If formulation method is used, are the foods analyzed to determine nutrient profile?
5. What quality control measures do you have in place?
6. Do you have a complete nutrient profile (“typical analysis”) available for your products?
7. Do you have any product research (published in peer reviewed journals or elsewhere) available to review?

You are always welcome to call our clinic and talk with one of our veterinary professionals about your concerns and questions. We have knowledge of nutritional requirements and would be happy to help you choose the best food for your pet.

Link to guidelines with this information: GNC_Guidelines_120421 (wsava.org)