How to Read a Dog Food Label

The life-stage statement matters most

Look for a statement that the food is complete and balanced for your dog's life stage. That single line tells you more than the front-of-pack marketing.

Ingredients are listed by weight before cooking

That makes ingredient order a weaker signal than most people assume. Fresh meat contains a lot of water, which is removed during processing.

Guaranteed analysis

Compare products on a dry-matter basis if you are comparing wet and dry food. Otherwise you are mostly comparing water content.

When to ask your veterinarian

Food selection for allergies, chronic illness, gastrointestinal disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis or weight loss under medical supervision is a veterinary conversation, not a website one.