What do they say?
While neither the AAFCO or WSAVA certifies or approves specific brands or products, both help clarify what “good” looks like by setting science-backed standards accepted by pet owners, the veterinary community and governing authorities.
The AAFCO does this by focusing on setting the nutritional standards and label requirements and definitions in the U.S. that dog food companies are required to meet. These standards include things like:
- Nutrient profiles that include the optimal amount of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals to meet a dog’s needs during a specific life stage.
- Nutritional Adequacy Statement, aka the “complete and balanced” claim, showing that a food has met an AAFCO nutrient profile or passed AAFCO-approved feeding trials for the life stage it claims to support
- What information must be on the food label, including the ingredient list, guaranteed analysis, nutritional adequacy statement and feeding directions.
Driven by the mission to raise the level of care for small companion animals around the world, the WSAVA takes more of a “big picture” approach by going beyond just what’s in the food or on the label, and taking a more holistic look at the companies and manufacturers making these products. Their guidelines encourage consumers and the veterinary community to evaluate companies based on their commitment to:
- Nutritional expertise from qualified professionals, including veterinary nutritionists
- Adherence to established standards for nutrient profiles
- Rigorous quality control and safety protocols
- Commitment to nutritional research and development
These criteria are important as they can help guide people toward choosing reputable brands and products that prioritize their pet’s health and wellbeing, while also promoting transparency and accountability from the pet food companies. Dr. Brandon Stapleton, DVM, head veterinarian at five-star-rated The Farmer’s Dog, attests that “foods that adhere to WSAVA’s guidelines often reflect a higher standard of quality.”
What to look for in a brand
The guidelines from WSAVA are focused on questions and qualifications to help consumers and the veterinary community make informed decisions about companies that prioritize pet nutrition.
To help evaluate which dog food brands stand out for the right reasons, WSAVA suggests asking:
Do they employ a nutritionist?
Companies that have certified nutritionists on staff (versus consultants), like The Farmer’s Dog, show a clear commitment by ensuring the right team is in place to drive the nutrition and science that goes into your dog’s every bite. These professionals include people with either a PhD in Animal Nutrition or Board Certification by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) or the European College of Veterinary Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN).
Who formulates the diet?
Since recipe development is a complex process requiring a depth of knowledge not always covered in veterinary school, having a trained and experienced pet food formulator (M.S. or PhD in Animal Nutrition) or someone board certified by the ACVN or ECVCN involved in developing the recipes can make a major impact in creating nutritionally superior products.
What is the quality control process for ingredients and finished products?
Manufacturers and pet food providers should prioritize ingredient validation for food and supplements, final product nutrient analysis to meet the standards set by the AAFCO or European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), toxicology, bacteriology and packaging/shelf-life screenings prior to, during, and after manufacturing. Some companies take quality control even further by using processes and facilities that are monitored by full-time internal teams as well as being third-party certified, and even follow the same standards required for human consumption.
What kind of product research or nutrition studies have been conducted? Is it published in peer-reviewed journals?
While pet food companies are not required to conduct or sponsor nutritional research, doing so showcases a strong commitment to animal health and wellness. Few dog food companies have focused on research and development more than The Farmer’s Dog. In addition to conducting a multi-year feeding study to validate that their food is one-hundred-percent complete and balanced as well as multiple third-party studies to validate the bioavailability of their food, The Farmer’s Dog has pledged an additional $10 million investment to promote cutting-edge research in advancing pet nutrition science in partnership with some of the leading U.S. veterinary colleges.
What to look for on a label
Pet food labels include vital information for veterinary teams and pet parents, but they can also highlight marketing messages that may make it challenging to discern the real versus perceived nutritional benefit.
Here’s what the WSAVA suggests to focus on when it comes to reading the label on your dog’s food:
Does it feature the Nutritional Adequacy Statement?
Foods should be labeled to indicate if they provide a “complete” diet with all required nutrients for various life stages as set forth by the AAFCO or FEDIAF.
How many calories per gram or serving of food?
It can be easy for dogs to overeat, and the prevalence of pet obesity is increasing in many parts of the world. Having calorie information included on the pet food label is only required in the U.S., but it can be helpful in managing your pet’s daily caloric intake and preventing unintended overfeeding.
Does the company provide immediate contact information such as a phone number or email address?
Live representatives should be easily accessible to answer any questions or concerns.
Who makes the food?
Pet food companies may make their own food, which will include language like “made by,” or they can choose to use a third-party manufacturer indicated by the slight nuance in language like, “made for” or “distributed by.” Once again, The Farmer’s Dog is an example of a company that goes above and beyond by partnering with USDA-inspected and FDA-registered facilities in the U.S. that produce human food. In addition to making their own human-grade dog food, The Farmer’s Dog also requires all of their manufacturing facilities to maintain Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification.
