Does the food meet AAFCO standards?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets standards for pet food manufacturers. The product will carry a statement indicating it is complete and balanced, as well as what life stage it is intended. 4. What does the ingredient list include? Ingredients appear in the proportion in which they occur in the food. For instance, if chicken is first and rice is fourth, that food has a higher proportion of chicken by weight than rice. Take note of how much protein is in the food. Higher-level protein diets generally work well for puppies, pregnant dogs and service animals that may have more physical demands. Older canines additionally need very good quality protein, so look for foods with the actual meat or meal close to the top of the list. 5. How big is the manufacturer? The bigger the company, the more money it has to spend on research and development. “It may also have more stringent quality control measures and be able to offer high-quality foods at reasonable prices,
