UNDERSTANDING DOG FOOD LABELS

 

To take the guess-work out of canine nutrition, recommendations for the daily nutrient intake for proper growth and maintenance of dogs is outlined by the National Research Council's Nutrient Requirements of Dogs (NRC). The latest NRC publication provides a guideline for the manufacturing of good-quality commercial brand dog foods. However, dog food labels are misleading because although many of them claim to meet or exceed NRC recommendations for nutrients, the quality and thus the digestibility (bioavailability) of these nutrients are often undetermined in these dog foods. Therefore, a more reliable assurance of nutritional quality is given by labels that state that the food has passed American Association of Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) feeding trials.
Proteins contain essential amino acids, which are the building blocks for growth and repair of the body. The average dog requires a minimum of 22% protein in dry dog food for basic maintenance; higher levels are required in pregnant or lactating bitches. Unlike fat, very little excess protein is stored by the body. Most excess protein is degraded and excreted by the kidneys. (Therefore, feeding expensive, high-protein performance dog foods to the average dog is equivalent to "urinating"-away money!)

Increase in nutritional skeletal diseases has closely paralleled the increase of high calorie, high protein diets in growing puppies. Besides producing a source of energy, protein intake directly effects growth rate. However, a direct relationship between high protein and bone disorders has not been clinically demonstrated. Rather, the correlation between high protein diets and skeletal diseases may lie in other related factors. For example, it has been clinically demonstrated that when puppies at risk for developing hip dysplasia were allowed to eat ad lib, they had a greater incidence of hip dysplasia than littermates who were placed on maintenance diets. Since protein content increases palatability, protein rich dog foods encourage an increase in food consumption. Therefore, puppies fed higher protein diets that are not limited in regard to the amount of food they consume are more prone to rapid growth phases and consequently skeletal disorders.

Dietary fatty acids are critical for growth, reproduction, and maintenance of healthy skin and coat. Additionally, fat plays a role in inflammation and immune regulation. A minimum of 5% fat in dry dog food is recommended, however, most commercial dog foods contain about 10% fat. Because working dogs (TRULY WORKING, PULLING SLEDS, SEARCH & RESCUE ETC.) may require up to twice as many calories as the average dog and because fat contains twice as many calories per weight as protein, fatty acid supplements are sometimes used to increase caloric intake without the need to increase amount of food intake. However, use of fat supplements beyond caloric needs can cause obesity, flatulence, and degeneration of red blood cells and the heart. Therefore, fat supplementation should be used under the direction of a veterinarian only.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS Processing and storage of pet food usually leads to a reduction in essential vitamins and minerals. Therefore, most manufacturers of commercial dog foods address this issue by overcompensating the vitamin and mineral content prior to processing. Nowadays, most good quality dog foods contain a proper balance of vitamins and minerals and healthy dogs rarely require supplementation. Before this practice began, many pet owners adopted the practice of supplementing their dogs' diets. Because old practices die hard, some pet owners and breeders continue to supplement already-balanced diets. Interestingly, over supplementation may contribute to increase in correlation between skeletal disorders and increased use of high protein, as previously discussed. Since most high-protein diets have complete vitamin and mineral nutrition, continued use of diet supplementation may be a primary contributor to skeletal disorders. The most common abuse of supplementation involves calcium and vitamin D.
SMALLER, MORE FREQUENT FEEDINGS ARE BETTER Feeding smaller portions more frequently is an important factor both in terms of nutritional intake and to avoid potential gastrointestinal complications. Bloat, a condition in which the stomach becomes distended due to excess food consumption, excess water intake, or build up of gas is a common problem among puppies who are fed too much food at one feeding. This condition, however, can also afflict adult dogs, particularly deep-chested breeds of which Labradors are considered to be a part. Dogs who develop bloat and who are allowed to exercise are further at risk to a serious and often fatal condition known as gastric volvulus and torsion in which the distended stomach actually flips over cutting off its own vital blood supply. It is for this reason that dogs should not be allowed to drink large volumes of water or exercise immediately after eating.
Association of American Feed Control Officials
Dog foods labeled as 'complete and balanced' must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. In 1995, the AAFCO's Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee revised their Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
There are now two separate nutrient profiles for dogs - one for growth (puppies) and one for adult maintenance. Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time because of concern that overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods.
The levels of nutrients in the table below are expressed on a 'dry matter' (DM) basis. On most pet food labels, the levels listed in the guaranteed analysis are expressed on an 'as fed' basis. To convert 'as fed' to 'dry matter' a simple conversion is necessary. If a dry food has 10% moisture we know that it has 90% dry matter. So we look at the label and check the protein level. That reads 20%. Next, we divide the 20 percent protein by the 90% dry matter and we get 22%, which is the amount of protein on a dry matter basis. Does this make sense so far? Good. Now let us compare this to canned food that has 80% moisture. We know that with 80% moisture we have 20% dry matter. The label shows 5% protein. So we take the 5% and divide it by 20% and we get 25% protein on a dry matter basis. So the canned food has more protein per pound on a dry matter basis after all the water is taken out. We can do the same for fat, fiber, etc.
AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profilesa
Nutrient Units
DM Basis Growth and Reproduction
Minimum Adult Maintenance
Minimum Maximum
Protein
% 22.0 18.0 -
Arginine % 0.62 0.51 -
Histidine % 0.22 0.18 -
Isoleucine % 0.45 0.37 -
Leucine % 0.72 0.59 -
Lysine % 0.77 0.63 -
Methionine-cystine % 0.53 0.43 -
Phenylalanine-tyrosine % 0.89 0.73 -
Threonine % 0.58 0.48 -
Tryptophan % 0.20 0.16 -
Valine % 0.48 0.39 -
Fatb
% 8.0 5.0 -
Linoleic acid % 1.0 1.0 -
Minerals
Calcium
% 1.0 0.6 2.5
Phosphorous
% 0.8 0.5 1.6
Ca:P ratio 1:1 1:1 2:1
Potassium
% 0.6 0.6 -
Sodium
% 0.3 0.06 -
Chloride (Cl)
% 0.45 0.09 -
Magnesium
% 0.04 0.04 0.3
Ironc
mg/kg 80.0 80.0 3,000.0
Copperd
mg/kg 7.3 7.3 250.0
Manganese
mg/kg 5.0 5.0 -
Zinc
mg/kg 120.0 120.0 1,000.0
Iodine
mg/kg 1.5 1.5 50.0
Selenium
mg/kg 0.11 0.11 2.0
Vitamins
Vitamin A
IU/kg 5,000.0 5,000.0 250,000.0
Vitamin D
IU/kg 500.0 500.0 5,000.0
Vitamin E
IU/kg 50.0 50.0 1,000.0
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)e
mg/kg 1.0 1.0 -
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
mg/kg 2.2 2.2 -
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
mg/kg 10.0 10.0 -
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
mg/kg 11.4 11.4 -
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
mg/kg 1.0 1.0 -
Folic Acid
mg/kg 0.18 0.18 -
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
µg/kg 22.0 22.0 -
Choline g/kg 1.2 1.2 -

a Presumes an energy density of 3.5 kcal ME/g DM (metabolizable energy/gram dry matter), as determined in accordance with Regulation PF9, which is based on the 'modified Atwater' values of 3.5, 8.5, and 3.5 kcal/g for protein, fat, and carbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract, NFE), respectively. Rations greater than 4.0 kcal/g should be corrected for energy density; rations less than 3.5 kcal/g should not be corrected for energy. Rations of low-energy density should not be considered adequate for growth or reproductive needs based on comparison to the Profiles alone.
b Although a true requirement for fat per se has not been established, the minimum level was based on recognition of fat as a source of essential fatty acids, as a carrier of fat-soluble vitamins, to enhance palatability, and to supply an adequate caloric density.
c Because of very poor bioavailability, iron from carbonate or oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level.
d Because of very poor bioavailability, copper from oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level.
e Because processing may destroy up to 90 percent of the thiamin in the diet, allowance in formulation should be made to ensure the minimum nutrient level is met after processing.