betrbowl · Nutrition
Pet food labels contain a lot of information — but knowing which parts actually matter, and what the language really means, turns a confusing list into a genuinely useful tool.
The Ingredient Panel
Ingredients are listed by weight before processing, heaviest first. This is where the story of a food really lives — and where the most important decisions get made.
What to look for
- Named animal proteins in the first 1–3 positions — 'chicken', 'salmon', 'turkey meal', 'lamb'. Named and specific.
- Named fat sources — 'chicken fat', 'salmon oil'. Identifiable and consistent batch to batch.
- Natural preservatives — mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E), rosemary extract, Vitamin C.
- Whole food carbohydrate sources — sweet potato, oats, peas (in moderation).
What to flag
- Generic proteins — 'meat meal', 'poultry meal', 'animal fat'. Source is unknown and quality is unverifiable.
- By-product meals — quality varies enormously and can't be assessed from the label.
- Corn, wheat, soy as primary ingredients — common allergens, often GMO, low digestibility.
- Artificial preservatives — BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin. All linked to health concerns.
- Artificial colours — Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2. No nutritional purpose.
- Added sugars — corn syrup, propylene glycol. No nutritional value.
Fresh chicken is listed high because it's 65–70% water by weight — once cooked, its actual protein contribution drops significantly. Chicken meal, listed lower, is actually more protein-dense because the moisture has been removed. Don't be misled by position alone.
The Guaranteed Analysis
Every pet food must display minimum percentages for protein and fat, and maximum percentages for fiber and moisture. Here's how to use it:
| Field | What It Shows | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Crude Protein (min%) | Minimum protein content | Tells you how much, not where it came from or how digestible it is |
| Crude Fat (min%) | Minimum fat content | Important for energy and coat health |
| Crude Fiber (max%) | Maximum fiber content | Higher fiber usually means more plant material |
| Moisture (max%) | Maximum water content | Critical for comparing wet vs dry food fairly |
| Carbohydrates | Not listed | Calculate: 100% minus protein, fat, fiber, moisture, and ash (~6%) |
Dry Matter Basis — Comparing Wet and Dry
You can't directly compare a kibble label (10% moisture) with a wet food label (78% moisture) — you're comparing different water concentrations. The Dry Matter Basis removes moisture from the equation.
Formula: Divide the nutrient percentage by (100 minus the moisture percentage), then multiply by 100.
Example: Wet food shows 10% protein and 78% moisture. Dry Matter Protein = 10 ÷ (100–78) × 100 = 45.5%. That's significantly higher than the label number suggests — and higher than most kibbles.
AAFCO Statements
Look for a statement that reads something like: 'formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.' This confirms the food meets minimum nutritional standards. Life stage matters — a puppy food, adult food, and senior food have different requirements.
What to look for at betrbowl
Reading labels with us:
Bring in any bag or can and one of our Pet Health Advocates will walk through the ingredient panel with you — no pressure, just information.
What we carry:
Every product on our shelves has passed our Quality Assurance review — named proteins, natural preservatives, no artificial additives.
What we don't carry:
BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, artificial colours, non-specific by-product meals, corn or soy as primary ingredients.
