Leading dog food brands fail to be explicit in their labelling, a new study reveals
Research into 20 leading dog food brands examines nutritional values and finds they fail to list salt and carbohydrate levels.
Pet insurance provider, Everypaw, supported by Veterinary Consultant Dr Eric Jackson, found that nearly a third (30%) of food brands didn’t label any information on the salt levels in foods ‘ with many stipulating ‘no added salt’ on the label.
When looking at the total percentage of fats, nearly half (45%) omitted the quantities of carbohydrates contained in products.
Dr Eric says: ‘Carbohydrates are the best source of energy, and should make up three times more of your dog’s diet than fats, whereas too much salt can cause hypertension, kidney problems and heart disease ‘ with many brands neglecting to reveal the proper amounts, it can be difficult to monitor what your dog is consuming.
Dr Eric continues: ‘More than 40% of dogs are considered to be overweight or obese by vets and being aware of the nutrients in their food is key for a healthy and happy life’.
The research looked at the nutritional value of some of the best-selling dog food alongside popular raw, natural and grain-free pet food.
When examining wet foods, one of the brands researched was largely made up of moisture (78%), leaving just 22% of nutritional value made up of protein, carbohydrates and fats.
Protein should make up around 15-30% of an adult dog’s diet, but protein content of the brands researched varied widely, from lows of 6% to highs of 28%.
Dr Eric continues: ‘Pet foods offering high meat content can contain a considerable amount of protein which may not be suitable for your dog if they have kidney or liver issues. It’s important to seek advice from your vet, contact the brand or carry out a dry matter basis test (DMB) if you’re unsure’.
According to the Food Standards Agency Animal Feed Regulation, pet foods with more than one group of nutritional characteristics for the same purpose can be defined in one group ‘ meaning protein, fats and carbohydrates can all come under one nutritional term.
For further information and advice on working out nutritional values, head to Everypaw’s dog food feeding guide.
