The Right Food for Your Pet. Guided by Science.
Choosing the best food can be confusing. This interactive guide cuts through the marketing hype to give you a personalized, science-based recommendation.
Pet Food Selector
Answer a few questions to find the best type of food for your companion.
A Closer Look at Food Formats
Each food type has its own set of pros and cons. Explore the differences to understand why one format might be better for your pet’s needs. Click the tabs to compare.
Visual comparison of food formats across key factors. Note: “Safety” reflects documented risks of bacterial contamination.
The Science of Nutrition
The Building Blocks of Health
A pet’s health starts with understanding their unique biological needs. Cats are not small dogs; their nutritional requirements are fundamentally different.
Essential nutrient requirements for adult maintenance. Note the significantly higher protein need and absolute requirements for Taurine and Arginine in cats.
Debunking Common Myths
Myth: “By-products” are low-quality fillers.
Fact: AAFCO-defined by-products are clean, non-rendered parts like organ meats (liver, kidney, heart). These are often more nutrient-dense than muscle meat, providing essential vitamins and minerals. The term explicitly excludes hair, hooves, horns, and teeth.
Myth: Grains are just “filler” and cause allergies.
Fact: Grains like corn and rice are excellent sources of energy for dogs. True grain allergies are rare. Most food allergies are reactions to common proteins like beef or chicken. The “grain-free” trend has been linked by the FDA to a potential increase in heart disease (DCM) in dogs.
How to Read a Pet Food Label
The label is a legal document, not just packaging. Learn to decode the marketing jargon and find the information that truly matters.
Canine Choice
Chicken Dinner for Dogs
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein (min) 25%
- Crude Fat (min) 15%
- Crude Fiber (max) 4%
- Moisture (max) 10%
Nutritional Adequacy Statement
Canine Choice Chicken Dinner is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Adult Maintenance.
Ingredients
Chicken, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Animal Fat (Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Salt, Vitamins, Minerals…
Nutrition for Common Health Conditions
Diet is a powerful tool for managing health. Here’s a brief overview of dietary approaches for common issues. Always consult your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Obesity
This is the most common nutritional disorder. Management requires a diet that is lower in calories and fat but still rich in essential nutrients to ensure health during weight loss. Therapeutic weight-loss diets are also high in fiber to help pets feel full and reduce begging.
Food Allergies
True food allergies are an immune response to a protein (like beef or chicken), not usually grains. Diagnosis requires a strict elimination diet trial using a “novel protein” (one the pet has never eaten) or a “hydrolyzed protein” diet where proteins are broken down to be unrecognizable to the immune system.
The “Grain-Free” & DCM Issue
The FDA is investigating a link between certain “grain-free” diets (especially those high in peas, lentils, and other legumes) and a serious heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. This highlights the potential risks of diet trends driven by marketing rather than scientific research. Feeding a diet from a reputable manufacturer that conducts feeding trials is the safest choice.