Wet Dog Food: What Should You Look for on the Label?

Understanding wet dog food labels

Picking up a tin or tray of dog food and turning it over can sometimes leave you with more questions than answers. Meat percentages, analytical constituents, additives and phrases such as “complete food” all compete for space on the label.

The good news is that you don't need to be a pet nutrition expert to make better sense of what you're looking at. There are a few key things worth checking when choosing a wet food for your dog.

Start with complete or complementary

One of the first things to look for is whether the product is described as a complete or complementary pet food.

A complete dog food is formulated to provide the nutrients your dog needs when fed according to the manufacturer's instructions. It can therefore form the main part of their everyday diet.

A complementary food is intended to be fed alongside other foods and isn't designed to provide a complete diet by itself.

This distinction is particularly important because tins, trays and pouches can look very similar on the shelf.

Look at what's actually in it

Next, read the composition or ingredients list.

If you're buying a meat or fish-based wet food, it's useful to see how clearly the manufacturer tells you what animal ingredients are included and in what quantities.

For example, a label might state a particular percentage of duck, venison or fish rather than simply using a broader description.

At Nose & Whisker, this is something we consider when choosing our food range. We like being able to understand what is actually going into the bowl.

What does single-protein mean?

You'll sometimes see foods described as single-protein or monoprotein.

Generally, this means the recipe uses one source of animal protein. This can make it easier to understand exactly what animal protein your dog is eating and can be useful for owners who prefer to keep their dog's diet relatively simple.

If your dog has a diagnosed food allergy, intolerance or particular dietary requirement, however, it's always best to follow the advice of your vet rather than choosing a food based on a marketing description alone.

What are analytical constituents?

The analytical constituents section can look rather technical, but it's simply giving you information about the nutritional composition of the food.

You'll commonly see:

Crude protein – an indication of the food's protein content.

Crude fat or oils and fats – an indication of its fat content.

Crude fibre – the amount of fibre measured using the specified analytical method.

Crude ash – this doesn't mean ash has been added to your dog's dinner. It's a measurement relating to the mineral content remaining after laboratory analysis.

Moisture – the amount of water contained in the food, which is naturally much higher in wet food than dry food.

These figures are useful information, but they shouldn't necessarily be used individually to decide whether one food is “better” than another.

Don't be frightened by the word additives

Seeing “additives” on a pet food label doesn't automatically mean artificial colours or preservatives have been added.

Nutritional additives can include vitamins and trace elements that help a complete food provide the nutrients required as part of your dog's diet.

The label should provide more information about the additives included in the recipe.

Consider your individual dog

There isn't one food that's perfect for every dog.

Age, size, activity level and individual dietary needs can all affect what's appropriate. Always check that the food is intended for your dog's life stage and follow the manufacturer's feeding guidance.

If you're changing your dog's regular food, it's generally sensible to introduce the new food gradually rather than making a sudden switch.

And if your dog has an existing medical condition or requires a specialist diet, speak to your vet about the most appropriate food.

Keeping things understandable

Pet food doesn't need to be complicated.

We believe owners should be able to turn over a product, read what's in it and make an informed choice about what they're putting in their dog's bowl.

That's one of the reasons we've chosen wet foods with clearly stated recipes for the Nose & Whisker range, including options with high levels of meat or fish and single-protein recipes.

Because when you're feeding them every day, knowing a little more about what's in the tin can make choosing their food that bit easier.