When you want to know what dog food contains, in practice it comes down to five things: a protein source (the meat), fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and water. The ratio between them, and not least where the raw ingredients come from, determines both how well the dog absorbs the nutrition and what you actually pay for. Behind the short list of ingredients on the back, then, lies a whole recipe, and it can be read if you know what to look for.

The short answer is that a good meal for dogs is built on a clear, named animal protein source as the first ingredient, a well-balanced fat content, carbohydrates in an amount that suits the dog's needs, and a fine-meshed net of vitamins and minerals. At ESSENTIAL FOODS every meal is composed of fresh raw ingredients and human-grade ingredients, that is raw ingredients of the quality humans can eat themselves, and it is precisely that starting point that determines what ends up in the bowl. In the following we review each component, so you yourself can decode the contents and choose the dog meals that suit your particular dog.

The protein source: meat is the foundation of the contents

Protein is the building block of the dog's muscles, coat, skin and immune system, and it is therefore the most important single component to look for. On an ingredient list, the ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so what is mentioned first makes up the most. If a specific protein source such as duck, lamb, chicken, fish or game is listed at the top, that is a good sign. Vague terms such as "meat and animal by-products", on the other hand, do not tell you what the meat actually is, and that is precisely where the quality begins to fall apart.

The amount of protein is typically stated as a percentage on the declaration, but the number alone does not tell the whole story. The protein's biological value, that is how well the dog can absorb and use it, depends on the raw ingredient behind the number. Animal protein from pure meat sources is absorbed markedly better than cheap plant proteins added to raise the percentage artificially. That is why it makes sense to look at both the number and the raw ingredient at the same time. In ESSENTIAL FOODS' meals the meat is a named, select raw ingredient, and because every meal is chef-prepared from fresh raw ingredients, you know exactly which animal the protein comes from.

How much protein is in dog food?

The protein content in dog food typically varies quite a bit, because the need depends on the dog's life stage and everyday life. A growing puppy and a dog with a high activity level need more protein than a dog with a more moderate everyday life. So it is not one particular number you should chase, but a level that matches your particular dog. A growing animal, a pregnant bitch and a working dog are at the high end, while a maintenance meal for an adult dog is lower.

What matters is that the protein comes from a good source, and that it stands in a sensible ratio to fat and carbohydrates. A high protein percentage on paper is worth nothing if the protein is hard to digest. If you are in doubt about which level suits your dog's weight, breed and daily routine, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready by phone, chat or email to help you read the contents and find the right meal. They advise on feeding, food and nutrition, while questions about illness and symptoms belong with your veterinarian.

Fat, carbohydrates and fibre: the energy in the bowl

Fat is the dog's most important energy source and at the same time delivers the essential fatty acids that keep skin and coat healthy. The quality of the fat matters a great deal: fat from named sources such as poultry fat or fish oil provides both energy and beneficial omega fatty acids, while anonymous fat says less about what the dog gets. A well-balanced fat content also makes the meal more palatable, which is one of the reasons why many dogs are so fond of well-prepared food with a proper fat content.

Carbohydrates deliver energy and act as a binder, and they typically come from grains, potatoes, peas or vegetables. They are not in themselves bad, but the amount should stand in a sensible ratio to the animal content, so that the meal is not dominated by cheap fillers. Fibre, which often comes from vegetables, fruit and root vegetables, supports a well-functioning digestion and a good stool consistency. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, it may be worth taking a closer look at the meals gathered in the Sensitive Stomach collection, where consideration has been given to digestion in particular. If, on the other hand, your dog shows signs of actual illness in the stomach, you should contact a veterinarian.

Should dog food contain grain, or is grain-free better?

Grains such as rice, oats or corn contribute carbohydrates, energy and fibre, and most dogs digest grain completely without problems. Grain-free is therefore not in itself synonymous with a better meal, and a grain-free recipe does not automatically mean there is more meat in it either. What grain-free can do, however, is remove a possible source of irritation in dogs with certain sensitivities or allergies where grain plays a part.

If your dog experiences reactions that you suspect are connected to the diet, a grain-free meal may be relevant to try, and you will find the grain-free recipes gathered in the Grain-Free collection as well as allergy considerations in Allergy-Friendly. It is worth noting that BALANCE is not a grain-free meal. BALANCE may be relevant if the focus is a gentle digestion, but it does not belong in the grain-free selection and should be kept separate from it. If you are in doubt about whether your dog actually reacts to grain or to something else, a veterinarian is the right place to have the cause clarified.

Vitamins, minerals and what you see on the declaration

In addition to protein, fat and carbohydrates, a complete meal contains a net of vitamins and minerals that make the body function: calcium and phosphorus for bones and teeth, zinc for skin and coat, iron for the blood and a range of vitamins that support everything from vision to the immune system. In a well-thought-out meal, a large part of these nutrients comes naturally from the raw ingredients themselves, while the rest is balanced so that the whole adds up. It is this balance that makes the difference between a meal that merely fills and one that gives the dog everything it needs.

On the declaration you also come across terms that may seem foreign. "Crude ash", for example, sounds worrying, but simply covers the meal's total content of minerals, that is the inorganic matter left behind if the raw ingredient is burned off in an analysis. A certain ash content is completely normal and an expression of the minerals in the meat and bones, not of anything artificially added. In the same way, "crude protein" and "crude fat" simply describe the total analysed content. When you understand these numbers, you can read a declaration far more critically and see through what is really in the bowl.

How to assess whether a dog food is good

A good meal is characterised by a clear, named animal protein source high on the list, a fat content from good sources, carbohydrates in a sensible amount and a complete content of vitamins and minerals without unnecessary fillers or vague terms. When you can read the entire contents and recognise the raw ingredients, instead of encountering anonymous collective terms, you are well on your way. The quality lies in the raw ingredient itself, not in the marketing on the front of the bag.

At ESSENTIAL FOODS all meals are premium, and you therefore do not choose between different quality levels, but between preferences within taste, ingredients, life stage and needs. Each recipe is composed of fresh raw ingredients, human-grade ingredients and carefully selected local and regional delicacies, and that applies across the entire range. You can explore and compare the contents of the individual recipes in the Living Series or view the complete selection of meals and filter by exactly what your dog needs. Whether your dog is small, large, young or in its golden years, the good choice begins with understanding what actually is stated on the declaration, and daring to choose the meals where the raw ingredients speak for themselves.