Have you ever picked up a bag of pet food, looked at the ingredient list, and wondered what those ingredients mean? You're not alone. Pet food labels are often filled with words that make it difficult to know whether you're choosing a high-quality food or one loaded with fillers and highly processed ingredients.

Understanding ingredient labels is one of the most important things you can do for your dog's or cat's health. The ingredient list provides valuable clues about the overall quality of the food, so learning how to read that list can help you make better choices and avoid ingredients that may not support your pet’s health.

Why Ingredient Lists Matter

The first several ingredients usually tell you the most about the quality of the food. I generally recommend looking for clearly identified animal proteins followed by wholesome, recognizable ingredients.

What You'll Learn in This Guide
This article explains many of the ingredients commonly found in dog and cat foods, what they are and why manufacturers use them. My goal is to help you understand what you're feeding your pet.

A

Animal Digest

Animal digest is a flavoring additive made by breaking down animal tissues into a concentrated liquid or powder that is sprayed onto pet food to improve taste. The animal source is often not identified. 

Animal Fat

Animal fat is a generic term that does not identify which animal the fat came from. While fat is an important part of a pet's diet, I recommend foods that clearly list the source, such as chicken fat or salmon oil, so pet owners know exactly what they are feeding.

Artificial Colors

Artificial colors are added to make pet food look more appealing to people. Dogs and cats do not choose food based on bright colors, so there is little nutritional value in adding artificial coloring.

B

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)

BHA is a synthetic preservative used to keep fats from becoming rancid and extend shelf life. Some laboratory animal studies have raised concerns about possible health effects when large amounts were consumed over long periods. Because of these findings, many pet owners choose foods preserved with natural alternatives.

BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

BHT is another synthetic preservative used for the same purpose as BHA. 

Brewers Rice

Brewer’s rice consists of small fragments of rice left after milling. It provides carbohydrates but is not the same as whole brown or white rice and offers less nutritional value.

C

Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a thickening agent derived from seaweed that is commonly found in canned foods. In some cases, carrageenan can cause gut inflammation.

‍Cellulose

Cellulose is a form of plant fiber often added to increase the fiber content or reduce calories. I prefer recommending natural fiber sources such as pumpkin or sweet potato.

Corn

Corn is an inexpensive carbohydrate source used in many commercial pet foods. 

Corn Gluten Meal

Corn gluten meal is a concentrated plant protein that increases the protein percentage and is used as an inexpensive substitute for animal protein.

E

Ethoxyquin

Ethoxyquin is a synthetic preservative developed to prevent fats from spoiling. 

M

Meat By-Products

Meat by-products can include parts of mammals other than skeletal muscle, including certain organs and other tissues. The source of the animal is not always identified.

Meat Meal

Meat meal is made by rendering animal tissues into a concentrated protein ingredient. The animal source is often not identified.

N

Natural Flavors

Natural flavors are added to improve the taste of pet food, but the exact ingredients used are often not identified.

P

‍Poultry By-Products

Poultry by-products may include parts of the bird other than muscle meat, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and certain internal organs. 

Poultry Meal

Poultry meal is a rendered ingredient made from poultry tissues. Because poultry does not identify the species, I prefer ingredients such as chicken meal or turkey meal, where the protein source is clearly listed.

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol is used in some semi-moist pet foods to help retain moisture. It provides no nutritional value.

S

Salt

Salt is added to many pet foods for flavor, preservation, and manufacturing purposes. Some amounts are necessary but many pet foods contain an excessive amount to improve taste.

Soybean Meal
Soybean meal is a plant protein remaining after soybean oil has been extracted. It is an inexpensive source of protein.

Soy Flour
Soy flour is made from ground soybeans and is sometimes used to increase protein content or improve texture. 

Soy Protein Isolate

Soy protein isolate is a highly processed form of soy protein used to increase the protein percentage of a food. 

Sweeteners

Sugar, corn syrup, molasses, and other sweeteners are added to improve flavor. Dogs and cats do not require added sugars in their diets.

W

Wheat

Wheat is used as an inexpensive carbohydrate source in pet foods. I recommend whole grains such as brown rice or oats or grain free.

Wheat Gluten

Wheat gluten is a concentrated plant protein that increases the protein content listed on the label.

Don't Be Fooled by the Front of the Bag

The front of a pet food package is designed to catch your attention. Words like 'premium,' 'holistic,' 'gourmet,' and 'natural' sound good, but they don't tell you anything about the quality of the food. Always read the ingredient list.

Watch for Ingredient Splitting

Some manufacturers separate similar ingredients into several smaller ingredients, so they appear farther down the ingredient list. For example, instead of listing corn as one ingredient, a food may list corn meal, corn flour, and corn gluten meal separately. This can make meat appear to be the main ingredient when corn is the main ingredient. 

Look Beyond the Protein Percentage

A high percentage of protein doesn't always mean a food is rich in animal protein. Plant ingredients like corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, and soy protein isolate can increase the protein level listed on the label. Look for clearly identified animal proteins.

Final Thoughts

Reading pet food labels may seem overwhelming at first, but it becomes much easier with practice. The more you understand the ingredients in your pet's food, the better equipped you'll be to choose a diet that is right for your pet.

Need Help Choosing the Right Food?

If you would like help developing a personalized nutrition and holistic support program for your dog or cat, I would be happy to work with you. Each consultation is tailored to your pet's individual needs and includes practical recommendations you can begin implementing right away.

My goal is simple: to help your pet enjoy the healthiest, happiest life possible through nutrition, education, and natural support.

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