How to read a dog food label without guessing
PetFoodFix content is educational and does not diagnose or treat illness. If your dog is unwell, has a diagnosed condition, is under 12 months old, is pregnant or lactating, is on a prescription diet or chronic medication, or has vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in stool, collapse, severe pain, breathing difficulty, refusal to eat for more than 24 hours, marked weight loss, severe itching, or suspected poisoning, contact your vet before changing food.
Introduction
Reading a dog food label can feel like deciphering a secret code. This guide explains the basics of label transparency in the UK.
1. The ingredient list
Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight. This means the first ingredient makes up the largest proportion of the food.
What to look for:
- Named animal protein as the first ingredient (e.g., "chicken", "salmon", "lamb")
- Percentage declarations (e.g., "chicken 26%")
- Specific ingredient names rather than vague categories
What to watch:
- "Meat and animal derivatives" — an umbrella term that hides the source
- "Cereals" without specifying which grains
- Artificial colours (E102, E110, E129)
2. Analytical constituents
Every UK pet food label must declare: crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, crude ash.
- Crude protein: Measures total nitrogen-based compounds.
- Crude fat: Total fat content, important for energy.
- Crude fibre: Indigestible plant material for gut health.
- Crude ash: Mineral content remaining after incineration.
3. Complete vs complementary
- Complete: Designed to be the sole food source.
- Complementary: Must be fed alongside other food (e.g., treats).
4. Front of pack vs back of pack
The front is marketing; the back is regulated.
- "With chicken" = 4% chicken
- "Rich in chicken" = 14% chicken
- "Chicken dinner" = 26% chicken
- "Chicken" = 65% chicken