You may find it hard these days to select a pet food for your pet. The varieties are endless and the labels are not only confusing, but they can be misleading. If you know how pet food labels work, you can make a more educated buying decision the next time you shop for pet food .
Pet food labels have an information panel and a main display panel. The main display panel shows the brand name and product manufacturer. The name of the product and its ingredients are governed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO.
Knowing what the labels mean is important in providing the best food for your pet. If the product name includes things such as ‘beef platter’, ‘beef entree’, ‘beef dinner’, etc. it only has to contain 10% beef. Products that just say beef are required to have %70 beef. Along the same lines, if it is worded ‘with beef’, it need only contain 3% beef and if it says ‘beef flavor’ it may contain less than 1% of the product!
A key to finding high quality food for your particular pet is to be sure to check the bag for the AAFCO statement that tells you this food has passed its feeding trials.
The second part of the label is the information panel, which must include an ingredient statement and a guaranteed analysis. This analysis contains percentages of crude fat, protein, fiber and moisture in the food. While the percentages are listed, this still does not tell you the quality of the crude fats, proteins, etc. The ingredients should also be listed in descending order by weight.
Before you think about changing your pets diet, pay special attention to your pets coat, eyes and his behavior. If he looks healthy, you may not want to upset his system by changing his food. Any pet nutritional information or concerns can be answered by a qualified veterinarian based on your specific pets needs.
Also when considering a new pet food take the time to consider what you will put the food in. elevated dog bowls are considered a smart selection, especially for larger breeds. There are a lot dog bowls and cat bowls to make a selection from, it is up to you to pick the proper feeder for your pet but keep in mind to stay away from plastic containers. They can hold onto germs and create a potentially unhealthy eating situation. Many pet owners opt for having two sets of pet feeding bowls to make sure that one set is always clean. It is so tempting to just keep reusing the same bowl without washing but do not fall into this trap, your pet’s health may depend on it. Look into pet supplies online for a convenient shopping experience and look for free shipping.
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