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Interpreting Dog Food Nutrition Labels

4K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  SaltyDog 
#1 ·
I intend to add a mix of dry food with fresh chicken or beef with some of the named vegetables such as peas, carrots, beets, tomato's, spinach and brown rice, barley and egg. I have already worked out a nutrition value list from U.S.D.A. and only need to weigh my ingrediants so as not to go to far beyond daily recommended allowances for vitamins and minerals for dogs.

But the commercial dry food (Kibbles n Bits) does not give nutrition values in the same way as human nutrition labels. The nutrition label list all of the vitamins and minerals as Minimum or maximum in percent. So how does someone interpret that in real values?

My next question concerns How to find the equivelent value for International Units to micrograms for vitamins A, D and etc?
Here is what I have:
I am going to start out with 130 grams of dry food (28.35 grams = 1 Ounce). The nutrition label says the contents contains 5100 IU/Kg of vitamin A. Now according to the National Research Council, the recommended allowance of vitamin A for dogs is 379 micrograms. So I have to go from IU to mcg.
Is there someone out there that can solve this? If so, please display the math so that I can use it to solve for other vitamins or minerals. Thanks.
 
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Discussion starter · #4 ·
Well that site is educational.
The quality or lack of in the dog food industry is enlightning. I will see whats available at the local pet store on the brands you listed and some others that are rated 5 and 6 star. Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Thanks,
I just picked up a bag of "Innova". I will trash the Kibbles n Bits. Actually I am getting prepared for adopting a Beagle from a shelter and am waiting for the approval process to go through. The shelter just got the dog in on friday or saturday last week and with schedules as they are, is the reason for the wait.
When I priced out the cost of a 6 lb. bag of Innova, it was $2.52 lb. Not bad considering whole "Tyson" chickens were $0.84 lb and beef chuck was $2.55 lb. I purchase these in anticipating that the dog may turn his nose on just dry food. So I'll be prepared to throw in a few pieces of fresh cooked chicken or beef. I don't think Shelters buy top of the line dry food for their dogs because of their constant need for funds. So I'll see what the dog does at his first feeding and add the chicken or beef supplement if needed.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
I just checked out the Innovapet website and theres a link to compare their brand to some other brands. Their site does list all the ingrediants of their dog food and their percentages or weight. I guess the reason you won't see the complete list on their bags is because of lack of space to place them.
 
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