Dog Food Nutrition Comparison

You are what you eat and so is your dog. Most people know that they need a variety of items from the food pyramid daily in order to stay healthy. Pet owners rarely get any training on how to determine the nutritional value of commercial pet food. Most people feed the dog whatever the vet recommends or the brand that is on sale. Quite a few dog owners invest a lot of money in high-priced dog foods. Unfortunately, a designer price tag does not necessarily mean better nutrition for your pooch.

In addition to clean water, every dog needs protein, fatty acids, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals, according to the National Academies Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources. Like humans, they also need fiber in their diets. An adult dog that weighs 33 lbs. should consume 25 grams of crude protein along with 14 grams of fat daily. A 12-lb. puppy that will weigh 33 lbs. as an adult, needs 56 grams of protein and 21 grams of fat. Dog owners can calculate the requirements for smaller and larger dogs with a proportion formula.

The daily caloric needs of your dog depend on its size and its activity. Indoor couch potatoes do not burn as many calories as working dogs. BANR recommends 296 calories daily for an inactive 10-lb. adult dog, 989 for 50 lbs. and 1,540 for 90 lbs. An active 10-lb. adult dog requires 404 calories daily; a 50-lb. one needs 1,353 and the 90-lb. adult needs 2,100 calories.

Unfortunately, pet food manufacturers do not list the nutrient value of their products in grams of protein. However, they must guarantee that their dog food meets minimum daily nutrient values and does not exceed allowable moisture and fiber maximums, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Reading the labels is the best way to compare the nutritional value of dog food. Since your dog relies on you for its food, you must arm yourself with enough information to understand the ingredients in packaged dog food. Almost all manufacturers use meat or meat by-products, along with grains, like wheat, corn and rice. Beyond that, there are significant differences in the proportion of protein to grain, as well as the amount of fillers. Furthermore, you have to consider and look for potentially harmful chemical additives that do not contribute any nutritional value.

You do not have to stay in your grocery store all day, reading labels to find out which brands of dog food stand out nationally. The law requires that manufacturers list ingredients in descending order of proportion. In addition, the ingredients listed on the label before the first source of fat are the main ingredients in the product. Some brands use more nutritious protein sources, less filler and fewer chemical additives. Look for brands that list the names of the meat used, instead of the generic term meat or meat meal. Avoid dog food that lists corn or any cereal grain first on the list of ingredients. Furthermore, consider and look for potentially harmful chemical additives that do not contribute any nutritional value.

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for making sure that food for humans and their pets is safe to consume. Along with the Dog Food Project, the FDA is a good source of help for deciphering dog food labels. Consumer Search collects dog food reviews and rates brands. Their reviews can help you eliminate brands that don't measure up to national standards.