Nutrition · July 18, 2026 · 8 min read
Dog food: read the label before the advertising
Price per kilogram tells only part of the story. Life stage, calories, serving size, digestive tolerance, and veterinary advice all change the real cost.
Profeco has analyzed dog foods and compared their contents with label claims. The results are a useful starting point, not a shopping order. A bag may match its label and still be wrong for a particular dog's age, weight, or health.
| Label | Check the life stage for which the food is formulated. |
|---|---|
| Portion | Read calorie content and measure portions instead of estimating by eye. |
| Quality | Calculate daily cost instead of judging by the price of the bag. |
| Urgent care | Change foods gradually unless a veterinarian gives different instructions. |
Start with life stage and feeding designation. Then find calorie content, the suggested portion, and the guaranteed analysis. The photograph of the leading ingredient takes up more room on the package, but the small-print numbers help determine how much the dog will actually eat.
Compare daily cost. Divide the price by the number of real portions in the bag and use a kitchen scale when possible. A scoop filled by eye varies from one person to another, and a few extra grams every day can add weight over time.
The dog's response matters too. During a gradual transition, watch appetite, stool, skin, weight, and energy. Persistent vomiting, diarrhea, itching, or weight loss calls for veterinary advice. Repeatedly changing brands without a plan makes the cause harder to identify.
During boarding at Villa CanInna, we prefer to keep the dog's food from home. Send measured portions or clear instructions. This avoids an unnecessary diet change and tells us exactly what the dog ate if a digestive problem appears.
A sound comparison begins with nutritional adequacy
Before comparing protein, attractive ingredients, or price per kilogram, identify the intended species and life stage and whether the food is described as complete and balanced. Adult maintenance does not meet the same needs as growth or reproduction, and treats or supplements should not be assumed to be a sole diet. Package feeding directions are a starting point adjusted for weight, body condition, activity, and veterinary advice.
Ingredients are listed by weight before processing, but that list alone does not measure digestibility or total quality. Guaranteed-analysis percentages can mislead when dry and wet foods contain very different amounts of water; a technical comparison uses a dry-matter basis. Keep the lot number and expiration date, retain the original package, and tell the veterinarian about persistent stool, skin, appetite, or weight changes after a gradual transition.
Sources consulted
Adapted from Profeco's quality study on complete dog foods in Revista del Consumidor.
