Dog food terms, explained
Common dog food and nutrition terms organized A-Z.
A glossary should make food labels easier to act on.
When readers encounter ETF, DM, NRC, or Ca:P, the glossary should explain the term quickly and then send them into the guide where that term actually changes a decision.
Open this when the label stops making sense
Use glossary entries to recover meaning fast, then jump into the linked guide for the full decision framework.
Terms should connect to intent
A good glossary explanation shows why the term matters, not just what the acronym expands to.
The next click matters
Every term should lead into nutrients, safety, transparency, or another guide that deepens the topic.
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 → 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 → 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.
- Learn more → Safety standards
- CoACertificate of Analysis
- A Certificate of Analysis is a laboratory document used to verify product composition beyond simple marketing claims.
- Learn more → Brand transparency
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.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
- DMDry Matter
- Dry Matter removes moisture from the comparison so two foods with very different water content can be evaluated on a fairer basis.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
E
- EPA + DHAEicosapentaenoic Acid + Docosahexaenoic Acid
- These long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are often reviewed for joint, skin, inflammatory, and cognitive support.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
- ETFEvidence Trust & Freshness
- EviNutri’s internal transparency framework for judging how much reliable product information a brand actually discloses.
- Learn more → Brand transparency
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 → 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.
- Learn more → Brand transparency
- 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.
- Learn more → Safety standards
H
- HODHypertrophic Osteodystrophy
- Hypertrophic osteodystrophy is a developmental bone disorder most discussed in rapidly growing large-breed puppies.
- Learn more → Safety standards
- Hydrolyzed ProteinHydrolyzed Protein Diet
- Hydrolyzed protein is broken into smaller peptide fragments so it is less likely to be recognized as the original dietary allergen.
- Learn more → Allergy food guide
K
- kcal/kgKilocalories per Kilogram
- A food’s calorie density per kilogram, used to compare how concentrated its energy supply is.
- Learn more → Safety standards
L
- L-CarnitineLevocarnitine
- A compound involved in fat metabolism and sometimes discussed in relation to weight or cardiac-support nutrition.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
M
- MEMetabolizable Energy
- Metabolizable Energy is the portion of food energy a dog can actually use after digestive losses.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
- 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.
- Learn more → Safety standards
N
- NASCNational Animal Supplement Council
- A supplement-industry quality body whose seal is often used as a trust signal in companion animal products.
- Learn more → Brand transparency
- NRCNational Research Council
- The National Research Council publishes science-based nutrient requirement references used widely across companion-animal nutrition.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
O
- OCDOsteochondrosis Dissecans
- Osteochondrosis dissecans is an orthopedic growth problem often discussed when bone development and mineral balance go off track.
- Learn more → Safety standards
P
- PTHParathyroid Hormone
- Parathyroid hormone helps regulate calcium balance and becomes relevant when phosphorus and calcium status drift out of range.
- Learn more → Safety standards
R
- RARecommended Allowance
- Recommended Allowance is the NRC’s practical target intake after applying a safety margin above the bare minimum.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
T
- Taurine
- An amino-acid-like compound commonly discussed in heart-health conversations and in some formula-risk reviews.
- Learn more → NRC nutrient standards
How to use the glossary before choosing food
Define the term
Confirm what the acronym or label value actually means before using it in a food comparison.
Open the linked guide
Move from the definition into nutrients, safety, ingredients, or transparency when the term affects a decision.
Check the unit
Many terms only become useful when the unit, basis, and comparison method are clear.
Need another term?
If the term you need is missing, use personalized recommendations to see which nutrition concepts matter most for your dog right now.
NRC and AAFCO
DM% and kcal/kg
Label interpretation
Reinforces the glossary as a fast reference layer that helps readers move to the next guide without friction.
NRC and AAFCO
DM% and kcal/kg
Label interpretation
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.