All natural! Real beef first ingredient! Delicious gravy dinner with chicken!  As pet owners are drawn towards pet foods with flashy claims and pictures of dinners they themselves would like to eat, how many can say they truly know how to dissect the package? Many consumers don't know how to break down their own nutrition labels, let alone their pet's. Just as in the human food systems, pet food comes with its own set of rules and regulations. Knowledge of these can help you to clearly break down the options on the shelf to pick the best food for your pet. Who makes the rules?  Guidelines for pet food labels are dictated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, AAFCO has no legal jurisdiction over pet food companies, leaving the responsibility to enforce these guidelines to the government at both a federal and state level. Pet food must comply with the FDA, USDA, and FTC. Any drugs or therapeutic claims, such as in medicated diets for

In today’s culture, pets have become so much more to us than well… a pet.   With phrases like dog mom, fur baby, and even child being used to refer to dogs and cats, it has become extremely apparent that our pets are considered as much of a family member as our own brother or sister. This change of view is not only reflected in our attitude towards our furry friends, but also in how we take care of them. Today’s “pet-parents” are seeking out foods that are more reflective of their own dinner plates, seeking brands that claim “whole chicken breast first ingredient” or “certified organic” when shopping for pet foods. This trend has been labeled as “humanization,” and has been a driving force behind product development in the pet food industry over the last few years. So, when we see growing momentum behind trends such as gluten-free and low-carb diets in the human food systems, is it really a surprise that there has been an aversion to grain-based diets for our pets? Befo