How to Rate Quality of Dry Dog Feed

Deciding what brand of dry dog food is the best for your dog is no longer a simple matter. There are many brands to choose from, with the statement "complete and balanced" being common among them. The prices of different brands vary greatly, from under $10 to as much as $40 for the same bag weight. The quality can also vary, even among similarly-priced food. The following factors should be considered to rate quality of dry dog food:

Things You'll Need

  • Ingredients list on dog food bag
  • Guaranteed analysis on dog food bag
  • Date code on dog food bag
  • Feeding instructions on dog food bag
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Instructions

  1. Ingredients

    • 1

      Check the ingredients label for high-quality animal proteins. Ideally, the first ingredient should be whole meat, such as chicken, lamb, beef, turkey, or salmon. Named animal meal, including chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal, or beef meal should be the second or third ingredient listed. Labels that state "animal meal" could have different meanings and should be avoided.

    • 2

      Check the ingredients label for by-products. It is difficult to verify the quality of by-products, therefore it is best not to buy dry dog food containing much of them.

    • 3

      Do not buy foods that read "animal fats" on the label. Fats should be identified by the species it comes from so quality can be assessed.

    • 4

      Look on the ingredients label for whole grains and vegetables rather than fragments and by-products. Vegetable fragments and grain by-products are only acceptable if there is only one of each listed. The further up on the ingredients list fragments and by-products are, the lower the quality of the food.

    • 5

      Non-nutritional ingredients, such as artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives are not healthy for dogs. Natural preservatives, including rosemary, vitamin A, and vitamin C are better choices.

    Other Considerations

    • 6

      Compare the percentages of protein and fat on the "guaranteed analysis." You may be surprised to see that one brand has 42 percent protein and 22 percent fat, and another contains 21 percent protein and 4 percent fat, yet both are labeled as "complete and balanced."

    • 7

      Look for a date code on the bag to ensure the food you are buying is fresh.

    • 8

      Read the feeding instructions on each bag of dog food you are considering. The better the quality of the food, the less the dog needs to consume daily.