Which is the safest/best validation of nutrition in a pet food – formulated by Nutrient Profiles or Feeding Trials?
Pet foods that are labeled as “Complete and Balanced” are designed to provide your pet with all of the daily required nutrients. Pet foods are allowed to make that label claim through two different methods: meeting Nutrient Profiles established by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), or passing the criteria of a Feeding Trial established by AAFCO.
Which method is best depends on who you ask. Many (if not most) veterinarians are taking the side of AAFCO Feeding Trials as best, following the lead of WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) Guidelines. It has become almost standard advice to pet owners that the BEST pet foods are those validated by feeding trials, warning that all others (that meet Nutrient Profiles) are a potential nutritional risk to pets.
But there are other veterinarians that hold a different opinion. Dr. Laurie Coger recently explained that putting full trust into Feeding Trials can be problematic exampling the minimal requirements needed to pass the trial as a complete and balance pet food. Dr. Coger exampled the minimal blood work required by AAFCO Feeding Trials as compared to what she performs on her own dogs to monitor their health on her home prepared diet. Below is the blood work this veterinarian believes is necessary to evaluate if a pet food is providing proper nutrition. The four items highlighted in yellow are the ONLY requirements of AAFCO Feeding Trials – all other items are what Dr. Coger believes is necessary to begin to evaluate if a pet is receiving proper nutrition.
And then there is the opinion of a former FDA veterinarian – who undoubtedly has the most experience of anyone on the planet to voice opinion on which method is best. Dr. Dave Dzanis is a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist who has participated in the AAFCO process for decades representing both FDA (retired from) and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Quoting Dr. Dzanis’s paper “The Association of American Feed Control Officials Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles: Substantiation of Nutritional Adequacy of Complete and Balanced Pet Foods in the United States” (published as FDA opinion when Dr. Dzanis was at FDA):
Unequivocal proof of a product’s nutritional adequacy for all animals under all conditions can never be achieved. Substantiation of the nutritional adequacy of a pet food based on the nutrient profiles may be less reliable than the results of feeding trials. For example, the nutrient profiles cannot assess the acceptability, palatability and other factors of a product as well as the feeding trials. Also, although formulations should be adjusted to account for nutrient levels at the time of feeding, processing losses can remain a factor. On the other hand, the validity of a feeding trial greatly depends on the competence and integrity of the conductor of the trial. Especially in the maintenance trials, subtle chronic nutrient deficiencies or excesses can be overlooked. In the future, this author envisions a hybridization of the two methods.”
In other words, Dr. Dzanis acknowledges the potential failures of both methods to validate a Complete and Balanced claim on a pet food label. There is no one perfect method.
Which is best – Feeding Trials or Nutritional Profiles? Neither.
The best opinion for pet owners to have on Complete and Balanced pet food is to accept Dr. Dzanis’s sentiment that no pet food can provide complete nutrition with all pets, all the time; “nutritional adequacy for all animals under all conditions can never be achieved.” By acknowledging that no pet food can be Complete and Balanced for all pets all the time – no matter if the pet food was validated through feeding trials or nutrient profiles – we can take action on our own to add nutrition to our pet’s food.
Adding real ‘food’ to your pet’s commercial food can help provide improved nutrition. Dr. Karen Becker explains to pet owners these “super foods“ are great additions:
- Pumpkin
- Kefir
- Mushrooms
- Sardines
- Fermented Vegetables
And Rodney Habib consulted with pet nutrition expert Steve Brown for more suggestions, provided below.
And…if you have concerns if your pet has nutritional based health issues, have additional blood work performed on your pet such as what Dr. Coger exampled in her post – Click Here.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Laurie Raymond
July 26, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Why are we adult humans, of normal intelligence and typical educational levels, so daunted by the prospect of feeding dogs and cats a diet of whole foods? Teenaged moms who’ve never even taken home ec feel comfortable bringing up a baby and feeding the post-weaning child the standard American diet – with nary a misgiving. Get the macros right – and that’s approximate ratios — and as wide a variety as you can easily provide, and you’ll be providing better nourishment that any commercial pet food, especially if you feed that same pet food forever. Even if it COULD really be complete and balanced. Meat. Fish. Dairy. Eggs. Nuts and seeds. Veggies. Fruits. a selection of healthy fats, in rotation. Even some grains, if tolerated. I totally don’t get it!
~Pet Owner~
July 26, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Umm, teenage moms do NOT feel comfortable taking home their first-born. It is a daunting task. And usually they (usually) have access to some type of experienced information.
Baby Books are written with honest intention (directions & recommendations), assuming the availability of unadulterated ingredients! “Baby Food” products (Gerber’s) supported many a parent in years past, until homemade was introduced, with the advent of food processors and the health food movement.
What IS a standard “American” diet, actually is influenced from culture to culture. Parents must be made aware of lactose and gluten sensitivities. Caution given to exotic ingredients such as peanuts and fish.
Children’s Vitamins have been a standard for a very long time, usually recommended by pediatricians, often augmented with “Boost” type supplementation. Nearly always guided by some pediatrician oversight.
Kids require calcium and vitamin D, but not from ground up bone. Nor do children require as high an “organ meat” ratio. Dogs don’t eat nuts and seeds, only limited fruits and veggies, little fat, and should be monitored on grains.
I TOTALLY GET IT.
If the PFI ran their business with the kind of assurances given to parents about feeding whole, nutritious, natural (artificial flavor & dye free), minimally processed food, then we might be getting somewhere. Unfortunately a huge propaganda machine exists instead. Promoting the LIE that a cup+ of kibble is a “complete & balanced” meal for the lifetime of that pet. And that what they sell, while misnamed, is the equivilent of livestock feed!
mistert911
July 26, 2019 at 1:02 pm
What blood test(s) should we ask our own vet to do to match what Dr Koger is doing?
Susan Thixton
July 26, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Her post states it was a “CBC/blood chemistry test”.
Janice
July 26, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Actually, the WSAVA guidelines pose questions, as your link shows (point 3). I have seen some comments on other sites that suggest that WSAVA condemns foods that test diets based on formulation to meet nutrient profiles, but clearly that is not the case. They may favor feeding trials, but note the comments at the end of the WSAVA document: “While feeding trials help to test for the food’s nutritional adequacy, the use of feeding trials does not guarantee that the food provides adequate nutrition under all conditions. It is important to ensure that the criteria in section A also help to ensure that the food is made by a reputable and knowledgeable company with strict quality control measures.”
Cannoliamo
July 26, 2019 at 1:54 pm
A couple of websites that may be helpful …..
https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/the-dog-food-directory
https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8352-cat-care-program-may-emphasize-lifestage-pet-food?v=preview
Cannoliamo
July 26, 2019 at 2:04 pm
If you can’t get access to the 2nd website, … this is the FEDIAF link …
http://www.fediaf.org/images/FEDIAF_Nutritional_Guidelines_2019_Update_030519.pdf
Christine
July 26, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Another variable that has always frustrated me is how short feeding trials are, how few animals are required to participate, and that not all of them have to even make it to the end of the trial. Only 8 animals (either dogs or cats) need to participate in the feeding trial. There is no restriction regarding breed or sex. Only 6 of these 8 need to be kept healthy to complete the trial, which lasts for just 26 weeks. If I’m not mistaken, blood is only drawn at the end of the trial, not the beginning. Many people might feed the same processed pet food every day for their dog’s lifetime, and 8 dogs and 26 weeks just doesn’t seem like it could give a good picture of nutritional deficiencies that lead to chronic illness.
Nicole B.
July 26, 2019 at 2:32 pm
I wish cats would be discussed more. My cats only eat dry food and they
used to eat canned as kittens (they are 1 yr.old now). The same canned is offered plus new kinds but they won’t touch it. I know dryfood only is not the best. I tried sardines, Tuna even Bison meat…they won’t eat it.
Wendy
July 27, 2019 at 2:55 am
Hi Nicole
I’m glad you’re wanting to make changes for the better while your kitties are still young and before too much damage is done to their systems from the kibble.
The pet feed companies spray animal digest, “ natural flavor “ , and palatants on kibble to purposely addict kitties so you will only buy their brand. Notice when you open a can or bag the odor of chemicals and toxic feed screams out?
If your kitties are free fed 24/7 they will never have desire to try something new.
Fast them 8 hours to allow them to rest their gut and develop a level of hunger.
Serve scheduled meal times.
Add in homemade chicken / bone broth ( no garlic or onions ) to canned for the aroma and added hydration.
They’ll accept more variety when their dry bowls are not constantly out for grazing and they get a bit hungry!
?
Rob Capel
July 27, 2019 at 5:57 am
Nicole B.
Check out http://www.catinfo.org for “instructions” about how to convert your pussycat to raw.
Dianne & Pets
August 18, 2019 at 12:01 am
here is a link to the whole article from Dr. Dzanis that is available to all. http://www.fstthai.com/Files/Name2/CONTENT59a917b9ce0a271500afa01e086718274216637.pdf