Why are Guaranteed Analysis Numbers Misleading? Digestibility & Recommended Feeding Guidelines The Importance of Labels What is “Splitting?” The following chart is provided for comparative reference only. It contains information from the packages of the foods included. We encourage you to avoid using the “Guaranteed Analysis” as your sole method of comparison as it can be highly misleading. Feeding Guidelines are included on the chart as an aid to help evaluate the digestibility and ingredient quality of the food. Manufacturers produce a wide variety of foods which reflect a full range of Guaranteed Analysis results. These heavily publicized numbers are determined by independent labs, using a variety of testing techniques, which may not all compare equally. Remember, not all protein sources are equally digestible. A few years ago, a major food manufacturer proved this point by formulating a “food” containing shoe leather, crankcase oil, coal, and several other “ingredients.”  This “food” met the Guaranteed Analysis requirements for Adult Dog Food but was not digestible. Why are Guaranteed Analysis Numbers Misleading? Keep in mind that the Guaranteed Analysis lists “Crude” nutritional analysis which consists of both digestible AND indigestible percentages. This provides only one side of a potential range of numbers (minimum or maximum). For example, if a label lists Protein as 18%, it is possible that the food contains 22% protein. By law, protein is listed as a minimum percentage. Conversely, if a food lists Crude Fiber at 5%, it is possible that it contains 2% fiber. Fiber is listed as a maximum percentage by law. Once the minimum or maximum percentage has been established, it still reveals nothing about the quality, and therefore the digestibility, of the foods and its ingredients. Comparisons of Guaranteed Analysis numbers provide a secondary source of information. They should be used only after evaluating a food based on its ingredient list and digestibility except in special applications. Digestibility & Recommended Feeding Guidelines Recommended Feeding Guidelines are suggestions from the manufacturer as to how much of their particular food should be fed to meet the nutritional requirements of your dog. They are a good starting point, although some dogs will need more food and others less. Recommended Feeding Guidelines can also be used to help determine the digestibility of a food, and therefore its relative quality. A food which uses higher quality ingredients will suggest you feed less food per pound of body weight. This occurs because it takes less of a higher quality food to provide the same level of nutrition contained in a larger volume of a lower quality food. Less Food fed normally translates to a higher quality, more digestible food. Your dog gets the nutrients it needs from less volume. Consider the relative quality and digestibility values of a pound of chicken breast to a pound of chicken necks or backs. They both have the same weight, but do not contain different amounts of digestible material. The Importance of Labels Take a few moments to read the ingredients label on your bag of dog food. This information, along with recommended feeding guidelines will give you a good sense of where your money is going. Unless you are feeding a Senior or Light formula, there should be a specific meat protein source among the first 2 ingredients (chicken, chicken meal, lamb, lamb meal, etc.) Since ingredients must be listed in order of predominance of weight, the first few ingredients make up the majority of the food. Do not be misled by foods which boast the use of fresh chicken or other meat instead of meal products. Fresh meats are mostly water by weight, therefore they can be listed at the top of the ingredient panel. Take the time to read the remaining ingredients. What is Splitting? Another common marketing scheme is known as splitting.  You may see a label which lists Poultry Meal, Wheat Flour, Rice Bran, Whole Wheat, Ground Rice & Rice Flour. If the rice & wheat fractions were combined (Ground Whole Wheat & Ground Brown Rice), they would most likely weigh more than the primary protein source (Poultry Meal).  You would then be paying for a food which is primarily grain rather than meat. Take the time to read the labels. Call the company’s toll free number if you have questions. Check to see if the manufacturer offers a money back guarantee. At Smiley Dog, we stand behind all the foods we sell and will gladly exchange or credit a food purchase if you are dissatisfied. Please e-mail or call us if you have any questions or concerns. Back to Top