Dog food terms, explained
Common dog food and nutrition terms organized A-Z.
A
- AAFCOAssociation of American Feed Control Officials
- A U.S. organization that defines feed labeling and nutrient adequacy standards. Its rules are a practical baseline for whether a food is considered complete and balanced.
- Learn more β NRC nutrient standards
B
- BCSBody Condition Score
- Body Condition Score is the practical body-fat check used to judge whether a dog is lean, ideal, overweight, or obese.
- Learn more β Personalized recommendations
C
- Ca:PCalcium to Phosphorus Ratio
- The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is one of the most important safety balance checks in dog food, especially for growth and bone health.
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- CoACertificate of Analysis
- A Certificate of Analysis is a laboratory document used to verify product composition beyond simple marketing claims.
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D
- DCMDilated Cardiomyopathy
- Dilated cardiomyopathy is a serious heart condition that has been discussed in relation to taurine status and some grain-free feeding patterns.
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- DMDry Matter
- Dry Matter removes moisture from the comparison so two foods with very different water content can be evaluated on a fairer basis.
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E
- EPA + DHAEicosapentaenoic Acid + Docosahexaenoic Acid
- These long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are often reviewed for joint, skin, inflammatory, and cognitive support.
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- ETFEvidence Trust & Freshness
- EviNutriβs internal transparency framework for judging how much reliable product information a brand actually discloses.
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F
- FEDIAFEuropean Pet Food Industry Federation
- The European pet food federation that publishes guidance similar in purpose to AAFCO for the EU market.
- Learn more β NRC nutrient standards
G
- GAGuaranteed Analysis
- Guaranteed Analysis is the label-level nutrient disclosure required on many pet food packages, such as protein, fat, fiber, and moisture.
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- Grain-FreeGrain-Free Diet
- A formula that removes grains, often replacing them with legumes or other carbohydrate sources. It is not automatically better or worse without the full diet context.
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H
- HODHypertrophic Osteodystrophy
- Hypertrophic osteodystrophy is a developmental bone disorder most discussed in rapidly growing large-breed puppies.
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K
- kcal/kgKilocalories per Kilogram
- A foodβs calorie density per kilogram, used to compare how concentrated its energy supply is.
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L
- L-CarnitineLevocarnitine
- A compound involved in fat metabolism and sometimes discussed in relation to weight or cardiac-support nutrition.
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M
- MEMetabolizable Energy
- Metabolizable Energy is the portion of food energy a dog can actually use after digestive losses.
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- MVDMyxomatous Mitral Valve Disease
- Myxomatous mitral valve disease is a common small-breed heart condition that often changes how sodium and supportive nutrients are reviewed.
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N
- NASCNational Animal Supplement Council
- A supplement-industry quality body whose seal is often used as a trust signal in companion animal products.
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- NRCNational Research Council
- The National Research Council publishes science-based nutrient requirement references used widely across companion-animal nutrition.
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O
- OCDOsteochondrosis Dissecans
- Osteochondrosis dissecans is an orthopedic growth problem often discussed when bone development and mineral balance go off track.
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P
- PTHParathyroid Hormone
- Parathyroid hormone helps regulate calcium balance and becomes relevant when phosphorus and calcium status drift out of range.
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R
- RARecommended Allowance
- Recommended Allowance is the NRCβs practical target intake after applying a safety margin above the bare minimum.
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T
- Taurine
- An amino-acid-like compound commonly discussed in heart-health conversations and in some formula-risk reviews.
- Learn more β NRC nutrient standards
Need another term?
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This information is for general reference only and does not replace professional veterinary diagnosis and advice. Always consult your veterinarian for your pet's health concerns.