How to read the label

The panel is not a meal

A guaranteed analysis lists protein, fat, fibre, and moisture. Those figures describe the food. They are not a serving.

The feeding guide on the bag is the maker's own suggestion, and your vet may want a different amount for your dog. Go by what your vet says.

If the bag and a website disagree, go by the bag in your hand, and ask your vet before you switch foods.

What to copy down

Write the full name on the bag, and whether it is wet, dry, or both. Write how you measure: a scale, or a cup. Leave the meal size blank until you can copy it from your vet's plan.

Note any toppers and treats your vet already knows about. Even a small new extra changes his diet, so tell your vet.

The food checklist printable has space for all of this, with the meal size left blank.

Foods most vets say to avoid

Most vets advise against semi-moist foods. They contain simple sugars, which can push blood glucose up after a meal.

Avoid any fibre supplement that contains xylitol. Xylitol is poisonous to dogs.

Vets don't agree about fibre itself. Some recommend more of it, and others say there's no clear proof it helps. Ask your vet whether extra fibre makes sense for your dog.

How do I work out the carbs in a dog food?

Working out carbs from a label won't tell you whether a food will help control diabetes. Wet and dry foods are hard to compare because of the water in them, and the numbers on the pack don't give you the whole picture.

Ask the manufacturer or your vet for the full nutrition details and take the whole label to your vet. There's no carb number to aim for. A complete food your dog eats reliably, fed the same way each day and suited to any other illness, matters more than sums on a label.