The Skinny on Food Labels

Uncovering the truth behind the packaging

Labs LOVE to eat (almost as much, if not more, as they love to swim and fetch). So, obesity can be a problem. Also, larger dogs with deep chests are prone to something called bloat (break up feedings and don't allow a dog to self-feed to help prevent this). So, nutrition is a big concern for me.

My philosophy on Labs and food is this: it is better that your puppy grows SLOWER (to allow the hips to form properly, reducing chance for hip displasia and similar problems). I feed both my dogs with an all-stage growth formula and supplement with vitamins disguised as treats. I also monitor the dogs' weight with a "healthy hug".

Basically, about every other week go behind your dog and hug his middle. If you feel reibs easily, the dog it too skinny. If you can't feel individual ribs, your dog has excess weight. If you can, with some pressure, count the ribs, your dog is just right. I don't really go by what the bag says to feed them because it varies based on activity level and the treats I feed them. So, with that said, onto the labels. This is what I have learned:

Look for claims made on the bag that say if feeding trials have been done, Look for the AAFCO mark (remember, the FDA only requires certain MINIMUM standards be met). All food will have a "guaranteed analysis" on the bag. You can't compare dry food to wet (remember dry food also helps clean teeth) because of the water content. I have read if you want to compare them, multiply the percentages on the wet food by 4.

I like a food with lower fat (Kira tends to get chunky if I let her). Remember, even puppies should not be allowed to get rolly-polly.

FDA Name Regulations:

If the label says:

"Meat" Dog Food (i.e. beef and liver dog food) the meat product(s) in the name must make up at least 95% of the ingredients

"Meat" Dinner (Other included terms are Meal, Nuggets, Entree, Platter, Formula) - We've all heard "Premium Beef Nuggets" - this means that the 1st meat named on the ingredient list must make up 25% of the food

Dog or Cat Food with "Name" (i.e. "Dog Food with Fish") any time you see ..."with..ingredient" that ingredient must make up only 3% of the food (I can think of foods that say "with bacon" or "with cheese")

How do they trick us????

Well, believe it or not, the FDA does not regulate words like "Premium" on the packaging - so just ignore it

The put lots of endorsements from other organizations (but the only ones that guarantee anything about nutrition for sure are the FDA and AAFCO)

They count on us not knowing the FDA rules. They say Lamb Meal (now we know that means it just has to be 25% lamb) and get it on as the main ingredient (which, most people know is the highest % ingredient) by adding a couple different kinds of grains (this lowers each kind's overall % but the combined percentage of grain is probably higher than that of meat)

With all this said, I try to pick foods in the mid-price range - I also pick lamb because my dogs prefer it (many prefer beef)

However, I do not recommend an all-vegetarian diet. Like us, dogs are omnivores and need a varied diet. However, I do feed my dog ruffage (vegetables - carrots make a great snack, especially for a pudgy Lab)

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