If you're not sure how to assess your cat's or dog's food, help is at hand. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has created a nutrition toolkit, with key questions you should ask manufacturers to check pet food safety and quality.
Both the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) have published Nutritional Assessment Guidelines which provide a framework for making nutritional recommendations for every cat and dog.
WSAVA's nutrition toolkit contains 'Recommendations on Selecting Pet Foods'. This resource provides some key questions we should ask pet food manufacturers.
From our Campus in Aimargues, our team of nutritionists develops and tests new formulations by conducting research and utilizing knowledge from all over the world. Our open and collaborative approach enables us to contribute to and benefit from the latest science and observation insights in the field of pet nutrition. This includes continued cooperation with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute (Melton Mowbray, UK), and the Pet Health and Nutrition Center (Lewisburg, Ohio).
WSAVA question: Are your diets tested using AAFCO feeding trials or by formulation to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles?
Science and observation are at the core of how we formulate our diets. We have two of our own pet centers to carry out research in palatability and digestibility. The animals living in these centers are observed continuously and studied from the lens of their health and wellbeing. While we carry out analyses on their feeding behaviors, we never conduct intrusive tests.
Respect for the health and wellbeing of cats and dogs is at the core of Royal Canin's philosophy, prohibiting any intrusive animal experiments. Palatability and digestibility are evaluated by cats and dogs. The reactions of these 'professional tasters' are then carefully observed.
When it comes to carrying out feeding trials, Royal Canin respects nutritional standards globally. In addition to AAFCO and FEDIAF standards, the nutritional requirements set by the National Research Council (NRC) are also respected. We've developed over 200 different formulas, including wet and dry products for both cats and dogs.
The vast majority are validated and compliant with AFFCO and FEDIAF nutrient profiles and/or feeding trials, where these are the most relevant nutritional regulators. We formulate a number of specific therapeutic or clinical products, such as our Hepatic and Renal Support formulas, that have very precisely adapted nutrient levels to support the unique needs of cats and dogs that benefit from these diets. Some diets preclude meeting the AAFCO nutrient adequacy guidelines for adult maintenance. For these diets, helping manage health conditions is more important than meeting the AAFCO nutrient profiles.
In these instances, formulas have all gone through alternate product testing, and have been shown to be safe through trials. These diets have been fed to either cats or dogs in trials, and have helped the cats and dogs to thrive. These diets are easily recognized as they are labeled for intermittent or supplemental feeding.
WSAVA questions: What specific quality control measures do you use to assure the consistency and quality of your ingredients and the end product? What kind of product research has been conducted? Are the results published in peer-reviewed journals?
From start to finish, pet owners can be assured that Royal Canin provides a safe, high-quality pet food. Our robust quality control process can include any of the following nonintrusive analyses, depending on the intent of the diet:
Product quality begins with the audit of every single ingredient from each supplier. We source local ingredients whenever possible; however ingredient safety and quality is our priority. Prior to entering the facility, each ingredient must be scrutinized by trained technicians to confirm quality and safety.
A key test of product safety is Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), an analytical tool that compares the 'fingerprint' of an ingredient to an extensive internal database of standards. If the NIRS results for the incoming ingredient do not match the standard, then the ingredient is rejected prior to unloading.
Additional testing beyond NIRS is completed as well. For example, mycotoxin testing (for fungal growth) is conducted on any ingredient or raw material that could be affected and therefore compromise a cat or dog's wellbeing.
We also take care when it comes to the movement of employees through our pet food manufacturing plants. Strict zoning is another way in which quality and safety is maintained, ensuring unwanted materials and elements posing a biological or physical risk aren't carried from one area to another. Zones can be divided into areas dedicated to:
Reviewed for accuracy on February 4, , by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM
You should feel confident and comfortable with the pet food you have chosen to feed your furry family member. That means knowing who is manufacturing your pet's food and making sure they can appropriately answer your questions.
Asking the right questions is also a great way to determine a pet food company's transparency and honesty, says Dr. Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, and Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.
But, what should you ask? Here are 10 questions approved by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) that can help you narrow down your pet food options to find the best one for your pet.
'A veterinary nutritionist'especially a board-certified veterinary nutritionist'is someone who has extra (and special) training in formulating pet foods,' says Dr. Joseph Bartges, DVM, PhD, and Professor of Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Since dogs and cats have different nutritional requirements than other species, including humans, it's important that someone with a strong background is involved in the food's development.
While this seems similar to the first question, this one allows you to find out who actually formulated the food. A brand may have a veterinary nutritionist on staff, but are they involved in the formulation process?
'I think this is one of the most important questions,' says Dr. Ashley Gallagher, DVM.
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It's vital for pet food manufacturers to have a veterinary nutritionist'or someone with training in what cats and dogs need'either on staff or working as a consultant.
'In my opinion, these experts should be available to answer questions about the diet,' says Dr. Bartges, even if that means over . 'This offers pet owners a chance to have any questions answered by a qualified source, and verify that a veterinary nutritionist is, in fact, involved.'
There may be a cost associated with this process, as it does take time to answer questions from pet parents, but most reputable pet food brands have this option even if it's not advertised.
There are two methods testing for pet food:
AAFCO feeding trials are considered to be the gold standard. This is because through nutrient analysis, diets may look good on paper, but there's no indication of palatability when fed to a real dog or cat.
'The upside is that the choice [of manufacturers to perform feeding trials] may reflect the company's commitment to producing satisfactory foods,' says Dr. Buffington.
Be aware, though, that many pet food companies don't perform feeding trials, since they're the most expensive method of testing foods.
Do you know if your pet food brand does feeding trials? It's as simple as checking the pet food label's nutrition statement, which is found underneath the Guaranteed Analysis chart. Here's an example:
'Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (Name of Food) provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance.'
'A company should be able to outline their quality control measures and provide proof of quality if asked,' says Dr. Bartges.
This includes separating raw ingredients from cooked products so there's no cross-contamination. Careful and rigorous control of ingredients is important for pathogen or allergen contamination. For instance, you don't want soy contamination in a diet that claims to be soy-free for dogs with allergies.
Also inquire about food testing throughout the manufacturing process and how recalls are handled. Companies that make safety a priority often test the food for contaminants and await results before releasing it for shipment to retail outlets.
A product that's co-manufactured'meaning a third-party plant makes food for the company'may have less ingredient control and be more prone to contamination and other issues. These third-party plants may also produce food for other companies that may include other species.
You'll also want to find out if the meat comes from USDA-inspected plants, recommends Dr. Gallagher.
Large manufacturers might be able to provide more safety and quality control checks, as they own their facilities and have access to more consistent, quality ingredients.
Visiting the plant where your pet's food is made is 'always an eye-opening experience,' says Dr. Bartges. If a manufacturer is local, it's worth a visit, as it's one more way of asking a pet food company for transparency.
This provides much more information than what's on the pet food label. 'If a [pet food] company doesn't have or won't share it,' says Dr. Bartges, 'then it would be worth looking at other diets.'
All pet food labels require a Guaranteed Analysis chart on the label to advise pet parents of the product's nutrient content. Guarantees are required for minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.
The Guaranteed Analysis does not list all nutrients or how digestible those nutrients are, but manufacturers should be available to provide this information if you request it. For example, the full list of nutrients might include the amount of calcium; phosphorus; vitamins A,C, and E; omega fatty acids; taurine, etc.
Key to maintaining your pet's svelte figure, caloric value is a fairly basic piece of information. You will find the caloric value listed as kcal ME/kg or kcal ME/cup on the bag or can of food.
It's very rare not to see this on the packaging, but if it's not, it shouldn't require more than a call to the pet food manufacturer to find out.
'If a person on the can't give you this information, I'd look elsewhere,' said Dr. Bartges.
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