Understanding what is in your dog's food!

The variety of options in dog food in Australia has grown exponentially in the last 10 years. Standing in the dog food aisle can be very overwhelming, so let's break down how to understand what is in your dog's food to help you make the best choice for your pooch and their diet.  

Compare the ingredients list to the front label.

-Should your pet have an intolerance, allergy or should you be working on an elimination diet, it's important to know that what you are buying, doesn't contain that meat or ingredient.
Just because the front of a packaging is labelled with only one meat, doesn't mean other meats or by-products are not included. This is when you need to refer to the ingredients list (usually on the rear or side packaging). Be sure to go through the entire list to rule out the ingredients that you need to. 
For example, the front of the packaging may indicate the flavour is 'Chicken' however on the rear you may find the ingredients include chicken, chicken by products, beef, beef by products. 
If your pet has severe allergies, you should be sticking to single protein options or going on the advice of your vet for suitable foods. 

Grains and cereals. 

Grains and cereals can be used in some pet foods, they can provide carbohydrates and fibre but can also be overused as cheaper filler options.
For those dogs who are sensitive to grains or gluten, it's important to refer to the ingredients list to know what is in the food you are buying and also how much is in it.
The ingredients list is written in descending order of predominance by weight, with the greatest amount shown first.
Should a grain or cereal be shown in the start of an ingredients list, this is a good indicator of a lower quality, unbalanced food that would require extras be added to offer a complete and balanced diet. 

What are by-products?

You will often come across listings in your pet food ingredients that mention by-products. By-products are the parts of an animal that aren't considered part of the 'primary' meat portion of the animal and are the items that are listed as 'not suitable for human consumption'. These are often organs, bones and trimmings off parts of the meat.
By-products can be very nutritious for a dog and can hold a lot of protein, vitamins and minerals, providing they are in the diet in a balanced way (ie: not just a lot of fatty tissue and no organ). When you consider what a natural diet for a dog in the wild would be, they digest every part of an animal that they hunt so a balanced diet for a dog should include these parts as well. 

What is meat meal?

Meat meal is a product used in animal foods to keep costs low and can result in a low quality food that is low in moisture and nutrients.
Meat meal is made by cooking animal meat and parts (this can include anything from blood, hoof, hair and manure) at a very high temperature (this is where nutrients can be lost) then drying it out to form a meal/powder type substance. 

Understanding packaging: 

Two examples below show one meat shown on front of packaging however when viewing ingredients list on the back, you can see other meats may be used. This could be a risk to any dogs with food allergies to certain meats. 

The example below shows when whole meats/fish are used as the primary and main ingredient in dry food as well as a detailed breakdown of all other ingredients. 

It's best to be as well know ledged as possible when it comes to understanding what is in your dog's food, especially if your dog suffers from any allergies or sensitivities. If you have any questions in regards to your dog's diet or if you are looking for other options, it's best to discuss this with your vet, should you be unsure.