Vitamins and Minerals in Dog Food: Why Balance Matters More Than the Ingredient List
An ingredient list can tell us what's in a dog food, but it doesn't tell the whole nutritional…
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I’m Dave Zanoni, owner of Purrs McBarkin’ in Hartsville, South Carolina, and a Certified Canine and Feline Nutritionist through Southern Illinois University.
I created this blog to help pet parents make informed decisions about what goes into their dogs’ and cats’ bowls. Here you’ll find practical, evidence-based nutrition education, clear explanations of pet food labels, and tools to help you look beyond the marketing and better understand what’s really in your pet’s food.
Science first. Marketing last.
I’m also a pet owner, and I understand how important these decisions are. My goal is simple: to make nutrition easier to understand so you can make confident, informed feeding decisions based on evidence, not guesswork.
Whether you’re comparing foods, learning how to evaluate ingredients, or trying to understand nutritional claims, I’m here to help you focus on what matters most: helping your pets live healthier, happier lives.
Meet Dave Zanoni
Clear, science-backed pet nutrition for people who want to understand what is really in the bowl.
Independent education, practical tools, and straightforward explanations for dog and cat owners.
Latest From the Blog
Practical nutrition.
Clear explanations. No marketing noise.
Itchy Skin and Chewing Paws: Where Nutrition Can Help Your Dog
When your dog keeps licking or chewing its paws, it’s easy to blame the food. But there are…
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Grain-Free Dog Food and Heart Disease: What the Science Actually Says
Does grain-free dog food cause heart disease? The research is more complicated than many headlines suggest. Let's examine…
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Free Pet Nutrition Tools
Better information for the bowl in front of you.
Practical calculators and label tools designed to help you look past marketing and understand the numbers more clearly.
01
Protein Dry Matter Calculator
Convert crude protein and moisture into a dry matter percentage for more meaningful food comparisons.
Calculate Protein →02
Pet Food Label Evaluation Tool
Review disclosed nutrients, calories, adequacy information, and optional mineral values in broader nutritional context.
Evaluate a Label →03
Pet Food Label Truth Lens
Examine ingredient order, naming precision, transparency, and formulation patterns beyond front-of-package claims.
Analyze Ingredients →04
Pet Food Carb Calculator
Estimate carbohydrate by difference and compare the result on both an as-fed and dry matter basis.
Estimate Carbohydrates →Independent by design.
Certified Canine and Feline Nutritionist. No paid articles. No affiliate links. No manufacturer controls the content.
Educational information only. Purrs McBarkin’ provides canine and feline nutrition education and does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. Information and calculators on this site are not a substitute for veterinary care. For medical conditions, medications, or therapeutic diets, consult your veterinarian.