Sometimes it is maddening these days to pick a pet food brand that fits your pets lifestyle. There are so many choices and the labels are not only confusing, but they can be misleading. Knowing the ins and outs of pet food labels will make for a more pleasant shopping experience.
There are two sections to a label: the information panel and the main display panel. The main display panel contains 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. However, if it is worded as ‘beef’, it must contain 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!
Pet foods can sound like they are going to meet your pets nutritional requirements, but the only way you can be sure is to look for a statement on the bag from the AAFCO stating that the food has passed their feeding trials.
The next section 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 all is well, you may be better off sticking with what you are currently using. Any pet nutritional information or concerns can be answered by a qualified veterinarian based on your specific pets needs.
Another important aspect of feed ing a pet is how you serve them their food. elevated dog bowls can be an excellent choice, especially for larger breeds. There are several 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 tend to keep the germs around to make for a hazardous eating situation for your pet. It is important to wash your pet bowls frequently to avoid health hazards. You can avoid this by trying to keep an extra set of bowls so that your pet always has a clean eating environment. Look into pet supplies online for a wide selection and free shipping.
Tags: Aafco, Beef Flavor, Best Food, Brand Name, Fats, Feed Control Officials, Food Brand, Information Panel, Ingredient Statement, Ins And Outs, Nutritional Information, Percentages, Pet Food Labels, Pet Foods, Pets, Product Manufacturer, Protein, Proteins, Shopping Experience, veterinarian
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