Nutrition

Nutrition

Pet food labels only tell part of the nutritional story

Pet food labels provide basic and limited information.  
http://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/pet-food-lables-part-of-nutritional-story-puppy.html 
 
It always shocks me how many clients have been misinformed about pet nutrition and how many are unaware of what an AAFCO statement is or that it even exists. There are several dog and cat foods on the market today --- some good -- some not so good. So how do you know which is which? I think it starts with an understanding of terms and statements written on the bag of food. Everyone always jumps to the ingredients panel on the side. Don't miss understand - ingredients are crucial to food - without ingredients there would be no food to eat. But its how those ingredients are put together that makes the difference. Also do you know if you food has been tested on dogs or cats to see how they perform? There is more to pet food labels than meets the eye. Science diet has a great link - just explaining all about labels. I have provided the link above and basically provided the cliff notes version below.
 
Pet food labels provide basic and limited information. The labels focus on ingredients, nutrient levels and  a statement by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which verifies the testing method for nutrient guidelines.

Nutrient Needs

• Your dog's nutrient needs can vary with:
  • Age
  • Activity, lifestyle or special needs
  • Reproductive status
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Breed 
• Excess fat = diabetes and heart, joint or respiratory disease.
• Excess protein = liver or kidney disease. 
• Excess calcium = urinary bladder stones and skeletal disease.

Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis can be confusing and somewhat misleading. It provides minimum and maximum levels of some of the nutrients, four of which are required on every label. Those required nutrients are:

• Protein (shown as a minimum %)
• Fat (shown as a minimum %)
• Fiber (shown as a maximum %)
• Moisture (shown as a maximum %)

The minimum amount guarantee provides the lowest amount of the nutrient in the food, not the actual amount. For example, the minimum fat guarantee may be 8 percent, but legally the product can contain 15 percent fat or more. Similarly, a product with a maximum guarantee of 5 percent fiber may actually contain only 1 percent.

Nutritional Adequacy Statement or "AAFCO Statement"
Every pet food label must contain a statement and validation of nutritional adequacy. AAFCO regulations allow two basic methods for pet food manufacturers to substantiate claims.

Formulation Method — Requires the manufacturer to formulate the food to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for dogs and cats.

• This method is less time consuming and less expensive because feeding trials with pets are not required, only a calculation of the nutrient levels.
• An example of an AAFCO statement using the formulation method would be: "Brand ABC Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Cat Food Profiles for maintenance of adult cats." 
•  
• FIY - MOST FOODS ARE FORMULATION METHOD  !!!!!!!!!!!!
•  
• Feeding Trial Method — Requires the manufacturer perform an AAFCO-protocol feeding trial using the food as the sole source of nutrition.
• Gold Standard or preferred method.
• Documents the pets' performance when fed the food.
• An example of an AAFCO statement using the feeding trial method would be: "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Brand X Dog Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs." 

 

Understanding Terms: Natural, Organic, Holistic, Human Grade

• "Natural" has been legally defined and requires a pet food to consist of only natural ingredients without chemical alterations, except for vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients.
• "Organic" has been legally defined for human foods by the USDA. Pet food companies can currently use the term "organic" if they follow the same rules as applied to human foods. Note that natural and organic are not interchangeable terms.
• "Holistic" has no legal definition and is unregulated with regard to pet food. Any pet food could use the term "holistic" in marketing their product. The term currently has no meaning in pet food.

We Choose Science Diet at Munford Animal Hospital because they meet Feeding trial Method standards and The term "clinically proven" on a package means the claim must be supported by two clinical studies. All Science Diet dry dog foods contain clinically proven antioxidants. Many Hills Prescription diets are clinically proven to support dogs with various health conditions.

 

If you have any questions about nutrition , please come talk to us we have science diet but there are several other foods that meet these standards and we will be happy to go over them. Bring us your bag of dog or cat food! We will be happy to go through the labels with you and discuss what is best for your pet. We will look at age, health, weight, etc and make a medical decision about the best nutrition for your pet. The appropriate food can make all the difference in your pets life!