How to Truly Evaluate Pet Food (And Why Labels Don’t Tell You Enough)

Walk down any pet food aisle, and you’ll see it—bold claims, glossy packaging, and words like “complete and balanced” stamped on every bag. But here’s the truth: what’s on the label doesn’t always tell the whole story. Sometimes, it barely scratches the surface.

This isn’t about brand-bashing. It’s about making sure you have the knowledge to choose the best food for your dog or cat. Because when you know better, you feed better. And your pets deserve that.

“Complete and Balanced” Isn’t the Whole Story

Let’s start here. AAFCO allows pet food companies to make the “complete and balanced” claim in two ways:

✔ By formulating to meet minimum nutrient profiles
✔ By passing a feeding trial

Most companies take the cheaper route—meeting the numbers on paper. But here’s the problem: just hitting those numbers doesn’t guarantee that the nutrients are actually usable by your pet’s body.

That’s where bioavailability comes in—how well your pet can absorb and utilize the nutrients in the food.

And you won’t find that on the label.

Palatability: Just Because They Like It Doesn’t Mean It’s Good

Here’s another truth bomb: dogs and cats will eat food that’s completely wrong for them. That’s why palatability testing (basically, “do they like the taste?”) doesn’t prove quality.

Pet food companies spend millions making food more appealing—not more nutritious. They adjust smell, texture, shape, and “mouthfeel” to get pets hooked. But just because a food tastes good doesn’t mean it’s delivering what the body actually needs.

Think of it like a kid begging for candy—it doesn’t make it a healthy choice.

Digestibility: The Quiet Key to Real Nutrition

Digestibility is the proportion of nutrients your pet can actually absorb and use—not just what’s listed on the bag.

High-quality foods often report digestibility rates of 85–95%. That means more usable nutrition, firmer stools, and less waste.

Low-quality ingredients—like unnamed by-products, feathers, or connective tissue—lower digestibility. They fill the bowl but not the body. Even foods that meet AAFCO’s minimums can still lead to dull coats, soft stools, or itchy skin if the nutrients aren’t bioavailable.

Feeding Cost vs. Bag Price

I get it—budget matters. But here’s the truth: better food might cost more per bag, but it often costs less per day.

Why? Because with high-quality, nutrient-dense food, you feed less to meet your pet’s needs. Cheaper foods are bulked up with fillers that pass through the body without much benefit. That means you end up feeding more, scooping more, and maybe even visiting the vet more.

When you break it down by cost per feeding, quality wins.

Reputation Matters

Ever called the 1-800 number on the back of your pet food bag and asked where they source their ingredients or how they test for digestibility?

You should.

Companies that truly stand behind their products will give you real answers. Look for brands that use named meat sources, conduct feeding trials, and avoid vague terms like “animal digest” or “meat meal by-product.”

If they can’t give you clarity, that’s a red flag.

Other Red Flags to Watch For:

✔ Urinary health (especially for cats): Look for food that helps maintain a healthy urinary pH (generally around 6.0–6.5).
✔ Taurine content: Essential for cats, and increasingly recognized as important for some dogs too.
✔ Dental health claims: Kibble isn’t a toothbrush. It might help a little, but it’s no substitute for real dental care.

Bottom Line?

Your pet’s body doesn’t care about branding, flashy slogans, or what’s trending on social media. It cares about what it can digest, absorb, and thrive on.

If your dog has itchy skin, if your cat has loose stools, if something just feels off—trust your instinct. Flip the bag. Read the ingredients. Ask questions.

And if you’re still not sure, come talk to me. This is what I live for.

Because your pets don’t just deserve food—they deserve the truth behind it.

Stay kind. Stay curious. And feed what fuels health, not hype.
—Dave Zanoni | Purrs McBarkin’