Most of us spend a fair amount of time trying our best to understand exactly what goes into our packaged foods, but do we do the same for our four-legged family members? If you’re a little guilty of not reading pet food labels, here’s a crash course on what you need to know:
Pet food labels checklist
Ingredients are listed in order of weight
In general, pet food labels feature ingredient lists that are listed according to their weight. It’s good if ingredients feature meats in the top two lines since this means the food contains adequate amounts of protein.
Specific proteins
Ingredients like “meat” or “poultry” almost always indicates that animal offcuts have been used in the recipe whereas specific mentions like “chicken” and “tuna” indicates the use of real protein, not by-products. Your pet’s food should also be free from preservatives and colourants, but that kind of goes without saying.
Seek out the Omegas
Omega 3 and 6 can be found in most pet foods, but it’s important to look for pet foods that contain extra Omega 3 from high-quality fish sources. Domestic pets can’t process Omega 3 if it comes from sources lime sunflower, coconut and canola oils, but they can process the fish-derived kind.
Make sure the recipe has been analysed
Most respectable pet food brands come with the assurance of Guaranteed Analysis, and it’s something you need to pay attention to in pet food labels. In most cases, pet food brands are required to guarantee minimum percentages of crude values including protein, fat, fibre and moisture in their recipes. The term crude refers to chemical analysis and not the actual percentages in the food but can be used to help compare brands.
Feeding directions are important, even if you’ve been a pet owner all your life!
The feeding direction at the back of pet food products should be used as rough guidelines for feeding your pet. Obviously, other aspects like your pet’s breed, activity levels and temperament also come into play when determining how much and when to feed them.
Final word
Remember that our market is literally saturated with an abundance of great pet food options. From Lukono to Eukanuba and everything in between, everyone has their own idea of what’s best for their fur kid. But to be perfectly honest, there’s no such thing as the perfect brand. Don’t be afraid to switch up your pet’s food if and when the need calls for it. Some pets need higher fat and protein than others, and as your pet ages, his or her nutritional needs will probably also mature and change. It’s always best to consult with your vet before making any dietary changes to your pet’s routine as it can negatively impact their wellbeing.
