Basic Nutrition for Dogs and Cats:
Get the Facts

Optimal nutrition is important for many reasons. Specialists are becoming increasingly aware that a healthy diet will help to build a stronger immune system. Researchers have documented that proper nutrition will help to prevent the development of certain orthopedic diseases in dogs (hip dysplasia, panosteitis, OCD, etc.). Adequate nutrition will also help prevent development or aggravation of chronic conditions, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, as well as gastrointestinal upset (flatulence, vomiting or diarrhea).

It is important to understand that there in not one "ideal" diet - there are many good quality diets to choose from today. In fact, the number of diets available can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, most people inadvertently base their choice on marketing rather than basic nutritional facts. The purpose of this information is to help you evaluate your pet's diet. In the end, you may decide to change to a more suitable diet for your pet. As always, consult your veterinarian with any questions that you may have regarding this important information.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...

AAFCO - Association of American Feed Control Officials: sets the standards for production, label content and nutrient profiles for pet food
Department of Agriculture: regulates the standards noted above

FOOD LABEL

A food label is a legal document which must contain specific criteria (product name, net weight, ingredients, etc.), but is it also an advertisement for the food. It is important to recognize that there is not always truth in advertising.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

THE FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABEL ARE ALWAYS ACCURATE FOR ALL PETS.

FALSE. The label is merely a starting point. If your pet is gaining or losing weight inappropriately, consult your veterinarian to determine the caloric needs for your pet.

GRAINS ARE UNNECESSARY FILLERS.

FALSE. Corn, rice, soy, etc. can be good quality nutrients and should only be avoided in cases of sensitivities to these ingredients. However, we believe they should not be the first ingredient on the label.

ALL PET FOODS MUST BE TESTED BY FEEDING TO DOGS OR CATS PRIOR TO BEING ALLOWED ON THE MARKET.

FALSE. There are no requirements that a diet must be fed to any animal prior to manufacturing and selling the diet to the consumer.

BY-PRODUCTS ARE POOR QUALITY INGREDIENTS AND SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN PET FOOD.

FALSE. The definition of "by-product" is non-skeletal muscle meat and organ meat (liver, kidney and heart) from the human food industry. AAFCO standards prohibit the use of horns, hoofs, etc. While the quality of the by-products may vary, they can be beneficial ingredients in pet foods.
Note: some food companies will list the by-products individually (e.g. duck liver, duck kidney), while others will identify them as by-products (e.g. duck by-products). Either method is acceptable, and conveys the same information. Unfortunately, some companies will advertise that they do not use animal by-products, but will list liver or kidney or heart among the ingredients. Remember that advertising is not always factual, and a company may simply present a product in a manner that sells best to the consumer.

FOOD LABELS THAT IDENTIFY THE DIET AS ORGANIC ARE A RELIABLE INDICATOR THAT THE FOOD IS PREPARED WITHOUT CHEMICALLY SYNTHESIZED INGREDIETS.

FALSE. The descriptors of "organic", "holistic", and "human grade" do not have any legal definition for the pet food industry and are merely marketing terms. Likewise, the terms "gourmet", "premium", and "no fillers" do not have legal definitions. The only legal term that applies to pet food which indicates a diet is free of chemically synthesized ingredients is "natural" (by contrast, it is interesting to note that natural does not have any legal definition for human foods). If a "natural" diet has added vitamins, this must be noted on the label.

TARTAR CONTROL TREATS AND DIETS WILL PREVENT DENTAL DISEASE.

MAYBE. The majority of the foods and treats that claim to control tartar in dogs and cats do not actually have any benefit for prevention of dental disease. Once again, this is a marketing term that does not have any legal definition.

IT IS BETTER TO BUY A DRY FOOD THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN A PRESERVATIVE.

FALSE. Regulations dictate that all dry foods have a preservative added - it may be in the form of Vitamin E, but there must be a preservative. If a dry food advertises that it is "preservative free", the quality of the foodand the manufacturer must be questioned. (Note that this does not apply to canned diets)

ALL OLDER PETS SHOULD BE FED A SENIOR DIET.

MAYBE. The concern with "senior" diets is that there is no legal definition of the term senior, and there are no AAFCO established nutrient profiles for senior diets. Furthermore, senior is a loosely applied term for an older pet: the age that one would consider a pet to be old depends on the breed of the pet. As a rule, if your pet is doing well with the current diet, you may continue with the same diet. However, if your pet is gaining or losing weight, or if there are other health concerns, it is best to speak with your veterinarian.

HIGH PROTEIN FOODS ARE THE BEST.

FALSE. It is nearly impossible to determine the amount of protein in a diet based on a percentage on a food label, as this is information that needs to be translated by a nutritionalist. If a food has the AAFCO certification, it will meet the minimum requirements for protein (along with other ingredients). If the diet has too much protein, the excess will be excreted through the kidneys.

A LAMB DIET IS THE BEST CHOICE TO TREAT FOOD ALLERGIES IN DOGS AND CATS.

MAYBE. Years ago, it was unusual to find lamb in pet foods. Therefore, if a pet had a food allergy or sensitivity, the veterinarian would prescribe lamb since it would be a novel protein for most pets. However, now lamb is a common ingredient in pet foods and treats, so it is no longer a novel ingredient. If a pet has a food allergy / sensitivity, the veterinarian will prescribe a protein that is new to the pet, which may include duck, venison, bison, whitefish, etc. It will be possible for a pet to develop allergies to these ingredients, too, as they become more mainstream.

HOMEMADE DIETS ARE HEALTHIER FOR DOGS AND CATS.

USALLY FALSE. Most home-made diets are adequate for short-term or intermittent feeding; however, most of the diets are not nutritionally balanced for long-term use. If you would like to prepare a home-cooked diet for your pet, you should consult with a veterinary nutritionalist to ensure adequate nutrition for the health of your pet (we can provide telephone and email contacts, as needed).

SUMMARY FOR THE IDEAL DIET

• Complete and balanced diet based on AAFCO feeding trials (or nutrient profiles)
• Well known and reputable company
• Focus on facts, not the marketing
• Meat or meat by-products should be listed as the first ingredients

A good quality diet will have one of two statements on the label regarding nutritional adequacy:

1. "Brand X is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog / Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for growth (or maintenance / all life stages)." This statement indicates that the food does contain the minimum established nutrient values, but does not guarantee that the nutrients are actually digestible or absorbed into the pet's body
2. "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Brand X provides complete and balanced nutrition for growth (or maintenance / all life stages)." This statement indicates that the food has been fed to the appropriate species of animal and has passed testing to assure the nutrients are digested and absorbed by a healthy pet

HOW TO IDENTIFY A GOOD QUALITY FOOD COMPANY

A reputable company will have...

1. ...a full-time nutritionalist on staff
2. ...a department devoted to Research and Development
3. ...their own manufacturing plants
4. ...someone available to answer all of your questions