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Saturday, 7/5/2008 Dog
Food Standards
The dog
food industry is very large and profitable. Because of total sales
volume, an inexpensive ingredient might be substituted for a costlier
one in order to save money. While this is not necessarily a bad thing,
you have to be selective to make sure your dog is getting all the
nutrients needed. This is especially true for puppies.
Dog food
may be labeled as complete and balanced if it meets the standards set
by the Association of American
Feed Control Officials. These standards were formulated by panels of canine and feline nutrition experts.
Dog food is certified by meeting published standards for
content, or by passing feeding
trials. Keep in mind that the standards set only minimums and
maximums. Commercial foods are designed to be adequate for the average
dog.
Dog Food Checklist
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Look for
an AAFCO guarantee on the label, preferably one that
references feeding tests rather than nutrient
profiles.
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In general, avoid
dog foods that rely on by-products as the sole
source of protein. These consist of organs and parts
either not desired or condemned for human consumption.
-
Look for a
named meat or meal (something like
beef, lamb, chicken, etc., instead of the generic term meat) as the
main
ingredient.
-
Feed your
dog light, senior, or special formula foods, only under advice from a
veterinarian.
-
Check the expiration date to ensure freshness.
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When you open a bag of dry
dog food, check to see if there is a
rancid odor. If so, return it for an exchange or refund.
-
Store dry
dog food in a sealed container and keep in a cool, dry place. Canned food is best
removed from the can and refrigerated in a glass or ceramic container.
-
If the
dog food label says something like Beef Dog Food, 95% of the product
must be the named ingredients. A product with a combination such as
Beef and Liver for Dogs must contain 95% beef and liver, and there
must be more beef than liver because beef is named first.
-
When
there is a qualifying term such as dinner, entree, formula, platter,
or nuggets on the label, ingredients named on the label must comprise
at least 25% of the product. If two ingredients are named, the two
ingredients must total 25% and there must be more of the first
ingredient than the second.
-
Dog food
may be labeled with the word "Flavored" (as in Turkey Flavored), even
if it does not contain such ingredients, as long as there is a
sufficiently detectable amount of flavor.
Guidelines for Feeding Your
Dog
-
Change brands or flavors of dry food every three to four months to
avoid deficiencies or excesses of ingredients.
-
Watch for subtle changes in your
dog’s skin, coat, appetite, energy level, mood, itchiness,
body weight, etc. If problems occur, try a different food. If changing
foods does not help, or your dog becomes visibly ill, consult your veterinarian
at once.
-
If your
dog is on a prescription diet, check with
your veterinarian periodically to make sure
the diet is still correct.
-
It is usually preferable to feed one or two meals per day rather
than leaving food out all the time. Check with your veterinarian about
recommendations for your dog.
-
Feed your
dog some canned food because if generally contains more animal protein
and less grain than dry foods.
-
Consider making some of your
dog’s food yourself. There are
many excellent books, articles, and websites available for more
detailed guidelines on ingredients, proportions, and preparations.
This will allow you to control ingredients and quality. |
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