How to Choose Safe Pet Food

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a pet food. You need to get food that is made by a reliable manufacturer, contains nutritious ingredients for your pet, doesn't have unhealthy ingredients, and can be given to your pet in a safe manner. Considering all of these factors when choosing a food will help ensure that your pet, whether it be a dog, cat, reptile, or anything else, gets safe meals that will help it thrive in the future.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing a Quality-Made Food

1
Look for the Nutritional Adequacy Statement on the food label. This may also be labeled as the AAFCO statement. It is the nutritional information required by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This information is usually in very small font and difficult to find but it legally needs to be on the packaging somewhere.^{[1]XResearch source}
- This information includes: whether the food contains the essential nutrients that a pet needs, how the nutritional content was determined, and what age animal the food is appropriate for.
- The Nutritional Adequacy Statement can even be printed in the folds of food bags, so look closely at the packaging.
The AAFCO statement must say whether the food meets all the nutritional needs of a pet. Those that say they should be used intermittently or as a supplemental feed don't meet the minimum nutritional requirements laid out by the AAFCO.^{[2]XResearch source}
When picking a manufacturer, talk to your vet about what companies they would choose. Veterinarians typically know what manufacturers are likely to make high quality foods and what foods contain a lot of filler.
For example, if you are shopping at a big box store, don't get a food that says they are the manufacturer. These foods are made by a manufacturing company that sells to a variety of stores, and their food is less likely to be nutritious.^{[3]XResearch source}
5
Search online for pet food recalls. Once you have decided on a manufacturer, you can check their track record for recalls and whether they have any foods recalled right now online. You can find current and past recalls by searching online for the words "pet food recalls."^{[4]XResearch source}
- You can also search for specific company recalls by searching for "pet food recall" and the name of the manufacturer you are considering.
Tip: Just because a company has had a recall, that doesn't mean that you should automatically rule them out. If fact, a company that is responsible and wants to produce quality food may voluntarily recall food. However, recalls should make you look into the company further.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Avoiding Unhealthy and Unsafe Ingredients

1
Find the list of ingredients on the bag. The first 5 to 10 will play a significant role in the nutritional makeup of a food. However, it’s important to remember that pet food labels provide limited information regarding the nutritional value of a food. That's because regulations don't allow the quality of the ingredients to be described on the label.^{[5]XResearch source}
- However, ingredients are listed by weight, not by nutritional value to your pet's meal. This means that ingredients that are high in moisture will typically be listed higher than drier ingredients.^{[6]XResearch source}
2
Look for the words "by-products" on the ingredients list. By-products are the leftover parts from the slaughter and commercial processing of meat. They are typically the parts that can't be sold to humans. If a food has these included, it is not a quality food.^{[7]XResearch source}
- By-products are not a good source of protein because they are the leftover parts from production, such as feathers, feet, heads, beaks, fur, etc.
3
Don't buy a food with a high amount of corn, wheat, and soy. If the food has any of these listed in its first 4 to 5 ingredients, do not buy it. These ingredients are cheap, are used as filler, and have little or no nutritional value to pets.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Pets cannot digest corn, wheat, and soy properly and they can cause kidney problems down the road.^{[9]XResearch source}
4
Identify any preservatives listed in the ingredients. When looking at your ingredient list, make note of ingredients that you can't identify. Then do an online search for them to see what they are. Many chemical preservatives are not good for animals and should be avoided.
- For example, the common preservatives BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) may be carcinogens.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Another preservative, Ethoxyquin, is a controversial ingredient in some dog foods. While it can't be fed to humans, it is approved for use in pet foods despite some research that says it is toxic.^{[11]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
It may be tempting to collect insects or rodents to feed to lizards and snakes. However, it's not a good idea to bring wild animals into your pet's cage. Buy insects and rodents from pet stores, as their feed animals are raised in a controlled environment.^{[12]XResearch source}
6
Consider the risks to your pet before choosing a raw diet. Some pet owners swear by feeding raw meat, since cats and dogs are naturally carnivores. However, feeding this diet can add additional risks of microbial contamination, both for you and your pet. If you want to feed a raw food, be sure to:^{[13]XResearch source}
- Defrost the food right before feeding, if the food comes frozen.
- Practice safe food handling when feeding raw food. Clean all surfaces thoroughly after each meal, including your pet's dish and any other surfaces that have been in contact with raw meat.
- Throw away any leftover food. Don't let the food sit out for your pet to graze on later.
Tip: Talk to your veterinarian about your pet's diet. Make sure that this type of food will fulfill your pet's nutritional needs.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing Quality Ingredients

1
Get a food that contains an animal-based protein source. Because dogs and cats need meat, look for a food that lists an animal-based protein source as the first ingredient. This could include chicken and chicken meal, lamb or lamb meal, fish meal, or egg.
- Pet food with animal-based protein will have a variety of essential amino acids, unlike pet foods with mostly vegetable-based protein sources.^{[14]XResearch source}
2
Look for meat-based sources of fat. For a glossy coat and healthy skin, your pet needs fat in its diet. Make sure the fat is meat-based, since this fat is taken out from the rendering process it should be added back in. Fats are made up of fatty acids, and there are 2 types that you should look for in pet food: omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Omega-6 fatty acids are found in chicken fat. They help maintain the health of your pet's skin and coat.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil, and they help with blood clotting and fighting inflammation.
3
Ask your vet if grain-free food is right for your pet. Your vet may recommend a grain-free diet if your pet has certain dietary intolerances or allergies, such as a gluten allergy. However, these conditions are fairly rare, so a grain-free diet may not have any advantages for your pet. Talk to your vet before giving your dog or cat grain-free food.
- Giving your pet grain-free or gluten-free food may increase its risk of developing certain heart conditions. Discuss the potential risks and benefits with your vet.
4
Identify the sources of carbohydrates. Look at the ingredient label and pick out the ingredients that provide carbohydrates. Cats and dogs need very few carbs in their diets because they are carnivores. Talk to your vet about what sources of carbohydrates are appropriate for your pet.^{[16]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal crueltyGo to source}
- The grains that are known to cause kidney damage from their poor protein when fed in high amounts are corn, wheat and soy.
Tip: Fruits and vegetables are good carbohydrate sources for pets as long as there are not too many of them. If they are low down on the ingredients list, they may be a good addition to your pet's diet.
5
Look for good sources of fiber on the ingredients list. Moderately fermentable fiber can actually help improve your pet's intestinal health. Your pet's intestinal bacteria break down the fiber and create short-chain fatty acids. Then, these short-chain fatty acids provide energy for your pet's intestinal cells.^{[17]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal crueltyGo to source}
- Avoid feeding your pet highly fermentable fibers, like grain brans, since they can cause gas.
- You should also avoid feeding your pet non-fermentable fibers, like peanut hulls, since they can lead to excess stool.
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Tips

You should also prepare for tough times when you cannot find pet food. Try to store extra pet food in case of an emergency.
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