Dog Food Dictionary

Bio-appropriate is one of the latest buzz words in the pet food industry. It is used to categorise foods or ingredients that are appropriate to the animal — that is, foods that the animal is evolutionarily adapted to consume, digest and utilise. For most (but not all) canine nutritionists, this means comparing foods with the diet of the wolf, since wolves are the closest wild relatives of domesticated dogs. The closer a food is to that eaten by a wolf, the more bio-appropriate and therefore the better it is.

A typical bio-appropriate food would be high in meat (usually 50–80%), would contain a variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs, and would be completely grain-free. Relatively modern ingredients like soya, dairy and artificial additives are strictly avoided. Many bio-appropriate advocates also adhere strongly to raw feeding principles.

It should be noted that not all canine nutritionists would define bio-appropriate in this way. The principles above are based on the theory that dogs are physiologically unchanged from their wolf ancestors, but many nutritionists believe that 30,000 years of domestication has left modern dogs less dependent on meat, better at digesting grains, and more suited to cooked foods. The debate continues.

The crude level of any nutrient is an estimate of the total amount present in the food. The crude level does not take into account how digestible, absorbable or bio-appropriate the nutrient is — so leather or hair, for example, would have a much higher crude protein level than meat, even though the protein in meat is nutritionally far superior.

On pet food labels, all protein, fat, fibre and ash levels are in fact the 'crude' percentages, but many manufacturers choose to omit the word.

Holistic is a term traditionally used to describe any approach that deals with the 'whole'. In holistic medicine, the idea is that all aspects of health — psychological, physical and social — are so intimately connected that treating any individual condition is only possible by reference to the whole.

By strict definition, a dog food cannot be holistic since it is only one of many factors that contribute to a dog's health. Nevertheless, over recent decades more and more pet foods have been labelled as 'holistic'. The term is generally used to describe foods that aim for general health throughout the whole animal, as opposed to foods that target specific issues like the coat, teeth or joints. However, as it is an unregulated term, it should be treated with caution.

Human grade is a term used to describe ingredients that are of a quality suitable for human consumption. In theory, this should mean that the ingredients are of a higher standard than typical pet food ingredients, which may include by-products not considered suitable for human consumption.

In practice, the term is largely unregulated in the pet food industry, so it should be treated with caution. Not all manufacturers who use the term are subject to independent verification.

Hypoallergenic literally means 'below normal allergenic potential' — in other words, a food with a reduced risk of causing an allergic reaction. In the pet food industry, hypoallergenic foods are typically free from the ingredients most commonly associated with food allergies and intolerances in dogs, such as wheat, maize, dairy products, soya products and artificial additives.

It is important to note that no food can be completely allergen-free, and dogs can potentially be allergic to any ingredient. If your dog has a known food allergy or intolerance, consult your veterinarian before changing foods.

Life-stage refers to the specific nutritional requirements of a dog at a particular stage of its life — puppy, adult, senior, etc. Life-stage foods are formulated to meet the differing nutritional needs of dogs at each stage.

Puppies require more protein, fat and calories per kilogram of body weight than adult dogs. Senior dogs often benefit from reduced calorie, lower phosphorus formulations. Many manufacturers offer life-stage specific variants of their main products.

Natural is one of the most widely used (and abused) terms in the pet food industry. At its most basic, a natural dog food is one that is free from artificial additives — preservatives, colourings, flavourings and antioxidants. However, there is no universal legal definition of 'natural' in the UK pet food industry, so the term can be used freely by manufacturers.

On WhichDogFood, we apply the 'natural' symbol only to foods that are free from all artificial preservatives, antioxidants, colourings and flavourings, as well as other controversial synthetic ingredients.

Prescription diets (also known as veterinary diets) are foods formulated to help manage specific medical conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, bladder stones, obesity or food allergies. They are typically only available through veterinarians.

It is important to note that prescription diets are not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis and treatment. If you think your dog may have a medical condition that could be helped by a prescription diet, consult your veterinarian.

Working dog foods are formulated for dogs with high energy requirements — typically working dogs such as sheepdogs, gundogs and sled dogs that exercise strenuously for extended periods. They are characterised by a high protein and fat content to fuel sustained physical activity.

These foods are not suitable for most pet dogs and can lead to weight gain and other health problems if fed to dogs with normal activity levels.