{"id":14680,"date":"2024-10-09T08:43:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T15:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/?p=14680"},"modified":"2026-10-30T06:39:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T13:39:47","slug":"how-to-read-dog-food-labels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/how-to-read-dog-food-labels","title":{"rendered":"How to Read Dog Food Labels"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"14680\" class=\"elementor elementor-14680\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d0bbb0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"31d0bbb0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a2296fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a2296fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We all love choices, but wow, the dog food selection can be overwhelming! There seems to be no end to dry kibble brands, canned food, raw or fresh food, dog food for a specific life stage, or <a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/breed-specific-dog-food.html\">breed-specific food<\/a>. Dog food labels seem to be a puzzle all in itself.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>No wonder pet parents often ask veterinarians, \u201cWhat should I feed my dog?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>You know you want a high-quality food that meets your dog\u2019s nutritional needs and helps your floof thrive. But reading dog food labels can feel like trying to understand a foreign language.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can make sense of the dog food label.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-dog-food-labels-tell-you-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Dog Food Labels Tell You\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:image {\"id\":14558,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"wp-image-14558\" src=\"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ff-pf-display-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"packages of fresh dog food\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ff-pf-display-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ff-pf-display-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ff-pf-display-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ff-pf-display.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Pet owners probably realize a dog food label offers a snapshot of the food\u2019s nutritional profile. The label is more than just a list of food ingredients. You\u2019ll see carbohydrates, protein, fat breakdown, and calorie content, along with the Guaranteed Analysis and nutritional requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Across the front of the package is the product name describing what\u2019s inside the package.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>For example, \u201cchicken and white rice\u201d or \u201cbeef and sweet potatoes.\u201d But here\u2019s an important point: the product name is more than a descriptor. It\u2019s a clue to how much chicken or beef is in the package.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>You might see \u201cchicken for dogs,\u201d \u201cchicken dinner for dogs,\u201d or\u00a0 \u201cdog food with chicken.\u201d If you don\u2019t know better, you\u2019d think they mean the same thing, but they don\u2019t. Not in the pet food land. Instead, these distinctions represent the amount of chicken (or other ingredient) in the dog food.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve heard of rules like the 95% rule or the 25% rule, that references how much of the product name is in the dog food. These rules come from The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafco.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-describedby=\"audioeye_new_window_message\">Association of American Feed Control Officials<\/a> (AAFCO), which oversees pet food guidelines.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} --><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-the-95-rule\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 95% Rule<\/h3>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how it works.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 95% rule means the dog food must have a minimum of 95% chicken. A product that lists \u201cChicken for dogs\u201d on the label has the highest protein count. The AAFCO says the last 5% can be other ingredients, vitamins, and minerals.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 25% rule means the dog food must have a minimum of 25% chicken. Look for \u201cChicken dinner for dogs\u201d or any dog food with the words \u201cdinner,\u201d \u201centree,\u201d or \u201cplatter.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Product names that use \u201cwith\u201d have a minimum amount of protein. Think, \u201cdog food with chicken.\u201d The AAFCO says such a product only needs 3% of chicken, and the other ingredients can be byproducts, fish or meat meal, and artificial preservatives.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>At the lowest end of the nutrition scale would be the \u201cflavored\u201d products labeled chicken \u201cflavored\u201d or beef \u201cflavored.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>That product name tells you a lot! You\u2019ll never look at them the same way. Once you understand the significance of the product name, you can move quickly to the rest of the dog food label.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-assess-the-food-ingredients-list\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Assess the Food Ingredients List<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:image {\"id\":14216,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"793\" class=\"wp-image-14216\" src=\"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Duchess-O.-SD-Shoot-6-1000x793-66f3a1ea-d13a-4f5a-97f1-0bda0d524a96.jpg\" alt=\"homemade dog food for weight gain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Duchess-O.-SD-Shoot-6-1000x793-66f3a1ea-d13a-4f5a-97f1-0bda0d524a96.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Duchess-O.-SD-Shoot-6-1000x793-66f3a1ea-d13a-4f5a-97f1-0bda0d524a96-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Duchess-O.-SD-Shoot-6-1000x793-66f3a1ea-d13a-4f5a-97f1-0bda0d524a96-768x609.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>You see a list of food ingredients when reading a dog food label. The first thing to know about the ingredients list is the ingredients are in descending order.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>This means the first ingredient is always the most important one. In high-quality pet food, you\u2019ll see named protein as the first or second ingredient. Water might be the first ingredient, especially in canned food, since liquid is heavy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>As you go down the list, the ingredients come in smaller and smaller increments.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Some dog foods include meal, which is ground and powdered ingredients. Meal can add more protein to a pet food, but it\u2019s of higher quality when it\u2019s a named ingredient. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/what-is-chicken-meal.html\">chicken meal<\/a> is higher quality than meat meal.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Meal is made by cooking down chicken, meat, or fish at a high heat to remove moisture and fat. Then it\u2019s dried and ground. It makes for a high-protein ingredient.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Some dog food brand names include byproducts in their food. Technically, these are secondary products like the liver, kidneys, and other materials. It\u2019s all edible, and dogs seem to love them. Meat byproducts like organ meats are nutritious and good protein sources, especially when they are USDA-approved\/human-grade.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Of course, you might choose to feed your dog a nutritious balance of whole <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/shop\/products\/daily-meals\/\">human foods designed for dogs<\/a>. Then, it\u2019s pretty simple to know what your dog\u2019s eating.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s move on to the Nutritional Adequacy Statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-nutritional-adequacy-statement-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nutritional Adequacy Statement\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The Nutritional Adequacy Statement is a label on the packaging. They provide nutrient profiles to outline the minimum requirements for dog food based on specific life stages such as puppyhood, pregnancy, or adult maintenance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>When you see a brand name pet food that claims to be a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/animal-veterinary\/animal-health-literacy\/complete-and-balanced-pet-food\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-describedby=\"audioeye_new_window_message\">complete and balanced diet<\/a>,\u201d that means the food has met the AFFCO standards for the minimum nutritional requirements for adult maintenance. Here are some<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/research.html\"> questions<\/a> you can ask about your pet food.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Meeting AAFCO&#8217;s minimum nutrient standards is a low bar \u2014 it tells you a food won&#8217;t cause obvious deficiencies, but it says nothing about how well those nutrients are absorbed or whether the food supports long-term health,&#8221; said JustFoodForDogs&#8217; Dr. Vincent Michels, DVM.<br \/>&#8220;And the feeding trial requirement? Just eight dogs over 26 weeks. That&#8217;s not nearly enough to detect the kinds of chronic issues \u2014 like heart, kidney or coat problems \u2014 that can take years to surface. Labels can technically check every box and still leave a lot to be desired.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>While many pet foods are labeled for different life stages, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there\u2019s little evidence senior dogs need special food. This means \u201csenior\u201d dog food meets the <a href=\"https:\/\/vcahospitals.com\/know-your-pet\/feeding-mature-and-senior-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-describedby=\"audioeye_new_window_message\">nutritional requirements <\/a>for adult maintenance. It is a good idea to keep your senior dog a healthy weight and not let them loll about munching on snacks and piling on the pounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Nutrient profiles display the minimum and maximum nutrients required for each life stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>What about the Guaranteed Analysis?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-s-guaranteed-analysis-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Guaranteed Analysis?\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:image {\"id\":14693,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"408\" class=\"wp-image-14693\" src=\"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-09-at-11.39.56\u202fAM.jpg\" alt=\"ga label\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-09-at-11.39.56\u202fAM.jpg 600w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-09-at-11.39.56\u202fAM-300x204.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Example of Guaranteed Analysis label<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The Guaranteed Analysis provides information on the nutritional value of the food.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>For example, it lists the minimum and maximum amounts of protein, fiber, fat, and water. You\u2019ll see <a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/what-is-crude-protein-in-dog-food.html\">crude protein<\/a>, crude fat, and crude fiber. \u201cCrude\u201d is a method of measurement like ounces. When you see<a href=\"https:\/\/anlab.ucdavis.edu\/analysis\/FEED\/635\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-describedby=\"audioeye_new_window_message\"> crude fiber<\/a> on a dog food label, a food sample is tested to know how much plant material is in the food.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>A crude fat measurement means how much fat is in the food. This fat can be healthy fats like omega fatty acids and unhealthy fats.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If the pet food says it includes ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids or calcium, you\u2019ll see these listed on the Guaranteed Analysis. Then, you can look at the food ingredients list to see where the omega-3 fatty acids appear in the list. If they\u2019re at the bottom, there\u2019s not a lot of fatty acids.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-feeding-directions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feeding Directions<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The feeding instructions might be the simplest part of the dog food label as it tells you how much to feed based on your pup\u2019s weight. Think of feeding guidelines as just that, rather than rules, because every dog is an individual with different activity levels.<br \/><br \/>Each pet food label includes the calorie count typically expressed as kilocalories per kilogram per serving.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Always ask your veterinarian if you have questions about your dog\u2019s activity level and nutritional requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-type-of-food-does-your-dog-need-to-feel-its-best\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Type of Food Does Your Dog Need to Feel Its Best?<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:image {\"id\":14564,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"wp-image-14564\" src=\"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dog-eating-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"dog eating fresh fod\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dog-eating-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dog-eating-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dog-eating-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dog-eating.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Some pet food companies have researchers on staff who study pet food formulations and pet needs. Some of these researchers uncovered concerns about certain pet foods. For example, this study found that 75% of dry food contains elements of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1080\/24734306.2019.1648636\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-describedby=\"audioeye_new_window_message\">mycotoxin,<\/a> which is a toxic form of mold.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Concerned pet parents can look into pet food manufacturers to better understand the quality of their pet food products and recognize these ten <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/dog-food-myths.html\">dog food <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/dog-food-myths.html\">myth<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/dog-food-myths.html\">s<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If you want to feed your pup high-quality dog food, you could choose a healthy food made from fresh human foods packed with essential nutrients. Take our chicken and white rice recipe. It\u2019s made of human-grade chicken, white rice, spinach, carrots, apples, chicken gizzards, and chicken liver.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-wrap-up-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wrap Up\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Nutrition plays a big part in pet health, and it\u2019s worth learning to read a dog food product label. By now, you\u2019re starting to recognize the nutritional profiles of high-quality pet food.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If you understand the significance of the product name and the elements of the dog food label, you\u2019re in a better position to recognize high-quality pet food benefits on pet health. Now, it\u2019s simpler to choose a balanced dog food packed with essential nutrients for every life stage to keep your pet healthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all love choices, but wow, the dog food selection can be overwhelming! There seems to be no end to dry kibble brands, canned food, raw or fresh food, dog food for a specific life stage, or breed-specific food. Dog food labels seem to be a puzzle all in itself. No wonder pet parents often [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":14691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_jffd_show_updated":"","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":"{\"authors\":[280,289],\"author_categories\":{\"280\":\"1\",\"289\":\"3\"},\"fallback_author_user\":\"14\",\"ppma_author_box_select\":\"\",\"selected_authors\":[{\"id\":280,\"display_name\":\"JustFoodForDogs\",\"is_guest\":0,\"category_id\":\"1\"},{\"id\":289,\"display_name\":\"Angela Beal, DVM\",\"is_guest\":0,\"category_id\":\"3\"}]}"},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[280,289],"class_list":["post-14680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.8 (Yoast SEO v28.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Read Dog Food Labels | JustFoodforDogs Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Confused by dog food labels? Learn how to read dog food labels for high-quality nutrition that keeps your dog thriving.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/how-to-read-dog-food-labels\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Read Dog Food Labels\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Confused by dog food labels? 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