Dog Food Labels and Terms.

As a responsible hovawart owner you should know exactly what you are feeding him. Dog food labels contain a great deal of information, if you know what to look for. Be very sceptical about marketing slogans, gimmicks, and claims. If you have question about the product, contact the manufacturer.

There are "Gourmet", "Premium", "Natural, "Healthy", "Holistic", "Organic", "Lite" and even "Human Grade" dog foods, and of course home made diets. The products are often labeled in such a way that they may not really mean what you think. For example, dog foods labeled as premium or gourmet often do not contain any different or higher quality ingredients, neither do they necessarily have to meet any higher nutritional standards than those for any other complete and balanced dog food.

We are what we eat, and so is your hovawart; so scrutinise the labels - have you ever tried to read the label on a tin of dog food? The best dog foods do not contain fillers, byproducts, maize, wheat, or beef, nor do they contain artificial colours or dyes, they are not really necessary, except to please the human eye.

There are regulations about labeling which might vary according to country just as the meanings of terms and words used do. But any pet food that is labeled "complete," "balanced," "100% nutritious," or suggests that it is suitable as the only source of sustenance, should be legally verifiable for it's nutritional quality.

Similarly there are statements about the stages of life that the dog food is suitable for such as "maintenance," or "growth." Dog food that is intended for all stages of life should meet all the nutritional needs for growth and reproduction. A maintenance food should meet the needs of an adult, non-reproducing dog with normal activity levels, but it may not be adequate for a growing, reproducing, or hard-working dog.

You could give a food suitable for all the stages of life for “maintenance”; the higher levels of nutrients should not be harmful to the healthy adult hovawart, but they are not really necessary. A dog food may also be labeled for a more specific use or stage of life, such as "senior" or for a specific size or breed; there is little information as to the real nutritional needs for these specific uses. A "senior" dog food should meet the requirements for an adult “maintenance” food.

Its up to you to decipher the labels and read between the lines. "Lamb & Rice Dog Food" and "Lamb & Rice Dinner For Dogs" constitutes two different ingredient lists,  and "Beef Flavour Dog Food" might not necessarily contain any beef at all.

Terminology

"Natural" is usually understood to mean not having artificial flavours, artificial colours, or artificial preservatives in the food. "Organic" is not the same as "natural." Organic refers to the conditions under which the plants were grown or animals were raised.

Animal by-products are generally defined as animal parts that are not fit for human consumption, such as bones, organs, blood, fatty tissue and intestines, the leftover "waste" from the meatpacking industry.

Meat by-products are not meat alone. They can include almost any part of the animal other than meat. Almost any mammal could be used, and cheaper meats like horse, pig, or goat may be included. A whole range of diseased, disabled or dying animals that are slaughtered can end up being used.

Poultry by-products could be any fowl - turkeys, ducks, geese, etc. Whilst "Chicken by-products" are a single source, ie chicken.

Botanical extracts include things like Garlic, Yucca Schidigera and Chicory Root.

Beneficial bacteria also known as cultures like Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium naturally occur in the intestines of your dog. They aid digestion and help to inhibit the growth and activity of disease-producing organisms.

Biological Value (BV) is a measure of the proportion of protein absorbed from a food that becomes incorporated into the proteins of the dog's body.

Digestibility refers to the extent to which a nutrient is absorbed through the dog’s digestive system and equates to the amount of energy/nutrition the dog actually gets from the food.

Preservatives - dry dog foods need them, they can be either artificial or natural. If you do choose to give your dog a naturally preserved food, remember that it must be consumed within four to six months of the date of manufacture. The date should be on the label, sometimes it is difficult to read or is written only as a code, so telephone the manufacturer for more information (as you should with any specific questions you have about the food).