What is the 80 20 rule dog food

Do you know the 25 percent rule for dog food?

I just got a puppy. It took me two years to process the loss of my first dog, and I couldnt get myself to fall in love with another one. When I was ready to become a dog parent again, I had severe questions:

Was I taking good care of Thea? Did I provide her with the love she deserved?

While Thea was with me, I believed she had the best life possible. I gave her regular exercise. I fed her regularly and gave her treats, and she seemed happy. But then I realized: I was giving her dog food and didnt bother to learn much about proper nutrition. I merely assumed that the packages I bought gave her everything she needed.

When I started researching proper dog nutrition, I realized the issue was more complicated than it initially seemed. The 25 percent rule for dog food, in particular, looked quite interesting. It made me aware that not everything you buy is right for your dog. I was a student back then, so I usually opted for the cheapest kibble at the supermarket. The ingredients included added vitamins and nutrients, so I genuinely believed the food was good for my dog.

As it turns out, we have to be a bit more careful when buying dog food. Im determined to provide a better life for Yoda now, so I started by getting informed about the 25 percent rule for dog food.

Dog food rules everyone should know about

Before we get to the 25 percent rule for dog food, we have to realize that there are other percentages involved in the equation. Why should we care about this? Well, we all want our dogs to be healthy, dont we? But we also want them to enjoy their food. When were aware of the percentages in the ingredients, were able to tell the difference between different brands and types of dog food. Were ready to choose something thats both good and tasty for the dog.

Dont worry; its not complicated at all.

These percentages indicate the type of food youre getting. The FDA establishes the rules, so they are valid indicators of nutritional values needed for our pets.

The 100 percent rule for dog food

One ingredient food meets the 100 percent rule. If, for example, youre getting 100 percent beef treats, they are only beef. This rule allows the manufacturers to add water for processing and trace amounts of condiments and preservatives.

You might assume that this is the best type of food to give to your dog. Its not. Only dog treats can follow the 100 percent rule, and we all know they contain too many calories, and our dogs cannot eat them in large amounts. Plus, a balanced diet calls for more than a single ingredient.

The 95 percent rule for dog food

When youre getting food based on a few ingredients, it meets the 95 percent rule. At least 95 percent of the product must belong to the main ingredient mentioned in the products name. If, for example, youre getting food labeled as Chicken for Dogs, it must be made of at least 95 percent chicken. But theres a trick: the water doesnt count. When you calculate the water for processing, the main ingredient must still account for at least 70 percent of the product.

More than one main ingredient is allowed. If youre buying a product labeled Beef and Liver for Dogs, for example, the two main ingredientsshould account for 95 percent of the total weight (water excluded). The first ingredient mentioned in the products name is the dominant one. This means that theres more beef than liver in the food.

You want to make sure the first ingredient is meat. If youre buying Rice and Chicken, it means theres a whole bunch of rice and not enough protein.

Why is this important? If youre buying something labeled as dog food, it must comply with the 95 percent rule. And food that meets the 95 percent rule is what you want to provide for your dog to keep them healthy.

I talked to Robert, a friend of mine who works as a writer for UK Best Essays. He works from home, so he has more time to spend with his dog, and he can cook his meals. High-quality dog food that follows this rule is expensive for me, he says. So I tend to prepare his food at home, and I always follow this rule for his main meal. I combine various main ingredients. Ill prepare chicken and rice, lamb and liver, beef and rice, beef and buckwheat, and so on. I add a minimum amount of water and no additives.

Thats a good idea. If you cant afford to buy high-quality dog food, its not that hard to prepare it at home. You only deal with one or two ingredients.

The 25 percent rule for dog food

I usually gave Thea this kind of dog food. Most dry products fall within this category. I also gave her food that followed this rule when I wanted to make a switch from kibble and chose cans. She loved the versatility, but was it good enough for her? Unfortunately, no.

Foods that follow the 25 percent rule for dog food contain at least 25 percent of the ingredients in the name (not counting the water used for processing). When the food contains such a small percentage of the main ingredient, it must come with an additional term in the product name. Thats why youll see a descriptive term, such as Dogs Delight Beef Dinner. If the product were named Dog Delight Beef Food, it would have to comply with the 95 percent rule. If it has a label such as platter, dinner, entree or any term other than food, it complies with the 25 percent rule.

According to this rule, the product must contain at least 25 percent of the ingredient mentioned in the name. If we count the added water, it means the product contains at least 10 percent of the mentioned ingredient.

Is this food bad for your dog? Not necessarily. However, it doesnt meet your dogs nutritional needs. Its like an entree you order at a restaurant. The Caesar salad, for example, will contain tons of veggies and only a bit of chicken. Thats what youre practically giving to your dog when following this rule, and its not enough.

You want to get real food, preferably food that meets the 95 percent rule, for your dog. Food based on the 25 percent rule is not bad, but you want to use it as an addition to the main course of higher quality.

Products that fall below the 25 percent rule for dog food

Some products dont even follow the 25 percent rule. They contain less of the ingredient mentioned in the title. Those are the products that use the word with in the name. If, for example, you get Dog Food with Rice and Chicken, it means it must contain at least 3% rice and 3% chicken.

Be careful; Chicken Dog Food is not the same thing as Dog Food with Chicken. The difference is enormous.

So whats the lesson? Read the labels! Every single time. If you thought you were buying affordable food when getting the cheapest product on the shelf, you were wrong. Yes; that food is cheap. But its not cost-effective because it doesnt meet your dogs needs.

To keep your dog healthy and happy, be careful with your choices and read the dog food labels.

Warren Fowlers lifestyle is full of hiking adventures. When hes not busy with his guitar or enjoying the sunny day outside, he excels at blogging skills and scrolls through social media. You can meet him on Twitter and Facebook.

Understanding 80-10-10 Raw Dog Food: A Comprehensive Guide

The 80-10-10 raw dog food diet is a popular choice for pet owners due to its numerous health benefits when balanced and implemented correctly. Its specific ratio of nutrients is designed to mimic a dogs natural ancestral diet, emulating the whole prey animal. Here we explain exactly what goes into the diet, and why it has become such a popular choice in recent years.

Arguably the most desirable reason to feed your dog this diet is the many nutritional benefits it offers for organs, muscles, digestion, dental, and the immune system. The avoidance of fillers and additives also makes it an excellent choice for pets, with the diet instead focused on high-quality unprocessed protein sources.

What is 80-10-10 raw dog food? What are the nutritional benefits?

80-10-10 raw dog food refers to the specific feeding ratio, which is designed of three primary components: 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organs. It has no grains, fillers or vegetables.

Each of the three ratios is important in giving dogs a natural, well-rounded, and tasty diet. The ratios are loosely based on the amount your pet may instinctively hunt and eat if they were in the wild. Use our raw food calculator to help with the amount of food your dog needs.

Muscle Meat

The main bulk of this diet is muscle meat. This typically includes a variety of animal protein such as heart, cheek, trachea, lung and breast that can be adjusted to preferences. Most owners use a combination of chicken, lamb, beef, fish or turkey protein.

Why is this important?

• Key protein source with a strong focus on meat of the highest quality, having a good unprocessed protein source supports with your dogs overall muscle development
• Increased energy many dogs will see an improvement in energy and stamina
• Amino acids muscle meat provides amino acids which help build and repair body tissue

Bone

Raw meaty bones such as wings, ribs, legs, necks, backs (usually chicken, duck or turkey) are another key ingredient of the 80-10-10 diet.

Why is this important?

• Healthy teeth and gums allowing your dog to safely chew on bones provides a natural way for them to clear tarte and reduce plaque build-up, leaving them with healthier teeth and gums.
• Calcium & phosphorus bones are an excellent source of calcium and phosphorous, which are an essential aspect of ensuring a healthy bone structure and your dog grows
• Supports digestion ground up bones support a dogs healthy digestion as well as regulating your pets stool consistency.

Secreting Organs

The last part of the diet includes secreting animal organs like liver, spleens, pancreas and kidneys.

Why is this important?

• Essential vitamins & minerals organs provide a huge range of essential vitamins and minerals for your dog. These include Vitamins A, B, D as well as copper and iron, which all aid many bodily functions, namely the immune system and blood health.
• Omega-3 and Enzymes Omega-3 fatty acids and Enzymes are important for keeping your pets skin healthy and coat shiny, as well as supporting their metabolic processes.

Raw Dog Food Supplies are passionate about offering the highest quality food to provide your dog with the best nutrition. Shop our range of trusted 80-10-10 complete food bundles here

Is the 80-10-10 diet suitable for every dog?

It is important to note that the 80-10-10 raw food diet provides a good general guideline for dogs, it may not suit all individual dogs requirements. It is important to consult your Vet to discuss factors that may influence how your dog might respond to a change in diet such as age, breed, health conditions and overall activity level.

The introduction of raw food is a worthwhile option to be considered for your dog, due to many health benefits explained above. It is a good idea to slowly introduce raw food to your pets diet and monitor the impact and any changes in physical health or behaviour.

Order our complete raw food

Raw Dog Food Supplies stock a wide range of raw food if you are looking to feed your dog an 80-10-10 diet. We use only fresh, premium ingredients, from locally sourced British meat that is frozen to maintain freshness.

We are pleased to deliver nationwide for our customers convenient, and our subscribe and save option also saves you 5% off the total cost. Choose your selected 12 pack of complete food here.

For further information and advice on how to begin your raw food journey, please get in touch with our helpful team today.