What is the most important information I need to look at on dog food bags or cans for ingredients and nutritional values?

I would say the most important thing would be that they have grain in them. I know that this can be a shocker to many people, but studies lately suggested that grain-free diets can lead to heart disease. And I've seen two or three clinical cases myself where the owner is just feeding them a grain-free diet thinking it's the best thing for their beloved animal. Then we, unfortunately, have to treat the dog for congestive heart failure. So I think it's essential to make sure that their dog food has grain in it. Also, make sure that the food is meant for day in and day out feeding.

The thing that I would have you look at before that would be making sure that there's an AAFCO statement on your pet food. They are a national organization that makes sure that pet food is saying what it is and that it has all of the proper ingredients and nutrition, and dietary needs that your pet needs for a good, healthy life. So, we recommend making sure that that statement's on there, and then you want to look at the ingredients list and making sure that you're comfortable with feeding what's in the ingredients list. When it comes to calories, protein percentages, or carbohydrate percentages, or things like that, I wouldn't stress out too much. There are some situations where we need to be a little particular about that, but it's not a big deal for the average healthy pet.

Make sure it meets all the AFCO requirements, which are the government requirements found on the back of the bag. When the food contains meat and meat by-products, it is an indication of a good diet. Like people's food, the ingredient at the top of the list is the main ingredient. This goes for canned food as well.

The most important thing to look for on dog food labels is whether the food is nutritionally complete and balanced. You can check for an AAFCO label to ensure the food meets these standards. Additionally, pay attention to the protein source and any extra claims the food may have, such as joint health benefits.