Dog's Help

Like most of the other things various kinds of pet foods are also available in the market. There are numerous brands and numerous types on sale. Thus, it becomes really important for you to read the dog food labels correctly so that you know what you are picking up for your dog.

Here are a few things that you must keep in mind while reading dog labels. They would help you read the labels more accurately and thus pick up the right dog food.

* In U.S., pet food labeling is regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), on a federal and state-by-state basis. The guidelines issued by AAFCO include only the minimum requirements and the pet food producers are all likely to used appealing language to attract the customers and grant a better market image to their product. Sometimes, they may might use words that may not be their in the guidelines and thus mislead the customers. Therefore, you have to be very cautious.

* Make a note of the moisture levels. Canned foods are sure to have higher moisture levels as compared to dry kibble. But it may not contain as much proteins. You can not access the nutrient value of any food unless have converted the label to dry matter basis. Moisture levels present in dog foods could range from 6 percent to 80 percent.

* Look for the ingredients of the dog food carefully. The ingredients must be listed in the order of weight. The initial five ingredients would form the major part of the dog food. Meat has to be your top most priority. See whether it forms a part of the first five ingredients on the pet food label or not. Then look for grains like corn, whole wheat, barley and rice. They are very important to provide the right amount of fiber and texture to the kibble. The come the proteins. The amino acids present in proteins may or may not match with the requirements of your pet. So, the pet food that you choose must have various types of proteins that may be mixed to provide the correct balance.

* Do not refrain yourself from buying dog foods that contain animal by-products. For the simple reason that animal by-products are rich in amino acids and nutrients, they are always a good pick. Similarly, do not avoid foods that have preservatives as they are important to maintain the dog food in good and healthy condition.

If you follow the above mentioned tips, you would land up getting the best food for your dog for sure!