Reading Food Labels for You and Your Dog

When we’re choosing food for ourselves and our dogs, the front of the package can catch our attention. But turning it around gives us information we can use.

Words such as “natural,” “organic,” and “sugar-free” don’t tell us everything about a product. What’s in it? How much are we serving? Does it meet our needs?

Whether I’m shopping for myself or Freedom, those are the questions I want to answer.

What to look for in our food

Start with the serving size and servings per container. The numbers on the label generally describe one serving. If you eat two servings, you’re getting twice the listed calories and nutrients. Serving size describes an amount people typically consume; it isn’t a personal recommendation for how much you should eat.

Check added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat. Compare similar products to see which fits your needs. Total sugars include naturally occurring sugars as well as added sugars, so look specifically at the “Includes Added Sugars” line.

The percent Daily Value can help: 5% or less is considered low, and 20% or more is high. Those percentages are a general reference, rather than an individualized eating plan.

Look at what the food contributes. Protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals matter, too. A product with fewer calories isn’t automatically the most nourishing choice.

Read the ingredients. They’re listed in descending order by weight. Check for ingredients you need to avoid, including allergens, and look beyond the claims on the front.

“Gluten-free” can be essential for someone with celiac disease, but it doesn’t automatically mean a product has less sugar or more fiber. Likewise, an organic cookie is still a cookie. Compare the actual nutrition information.

What to look for in our dogs’ food

Our dogs’ packages don’t use the same Nutrition Facts panel as our food. Here’s where to start:

✅ A complete and balanced statement. For everyday meals, find the nutritional adequacy statement referring to AAFCO nutrient profiles or feeding procedures. AAFCO establishes standards; it doesn’t approve individual brands.

✅ The appropriate life stage. Check whether the food is intended for adult maintenance, growth, or all life stages. Puppies—especially large-breed puppies—have different needs from adult dogs.

✅ Calorie information. Look for calories per cup, can, or kilogram. A cup of one food may contain substantially more calories than a cup of another.

✅ The guaranteed analysis. This lists information such as minimum protein and fat and maximum fiber and moisture. Wet and dry foods contain different amounts of water, so their protein percentages aren’t directly comparable without adjusting for moisture.

✅ Feeding directions. Use them as a starting point, then work with your veterinarian to adjust portions for your dog’s body condition, activity, and health

What deserves a closer look

A food intended only for intermittent or supplemental feeding. That wording means it shouldn’t be your dog’s sole everyday diet unless your veterinarian directs otherwise. Treats and toppers don’t necessarily provide complete nutrition.

Ingredients your dog has a confirmed problem with. Read the full list when managing a diagnosed food allergy or following a veterinary diet. Ingredients appear in descending order by weight, but that order alone doesn’t tell us whether the finished food is nutritionally balanced.

Xylitol in anything you might share. Check peanut butter, sugar-free foods, and supplements carefully. Xylitol may also be called birch sugar or wood sugar, and it is highly toxic to dogs. If you suspect your dog has eaten it, contact a veterinarian or animal poison control immediately—don’t wait for symptoms.

That last warning is especially important when reading labels on human products. Something that fits our own diet may be dangerous for our walking partner.

Try this on your next shopping trip

Choose one food you regularly buy for yourself and one you buy for your dog. Turn both packages around.

For your food, check the serving size, added sugars, sodium, and fiber. For your dog’s food, find the nutritional adequacy statement, life stage, and calories.

You don’t have to learn every label term at once. Start with information that helps you make the next decision.

What’s one thing you’ve spotted on a label that surprised you? Reply and tell me.

Taking a moment to check what goes into our bowls is part of caring for ourselves and our dogs every day.

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