Dog nutrition guides

Plain-English explainers of the terms and standards you'll see on a dog food label — translated straight from AAFCO, the FDA, and the Merck Vet Manual, with every claim linked to its source.

• What "Complete and Balanced" Means on Dog FoodWhat the AAFCO “complete and balanced” statement actually means — a nutritional floor for a life stage, not a quality grade. Plain English, sourced to AAFCO and the FDA.
• Crude Protein in Dog Food: What It Means & How MuchWhat "crude protein" on a dog food label means — an estimate of total protein measured by nitrogen, not a measure of quality. How to read it, and how much a dog needs. Sourced to Merck and AAFCO.