Independent dog nutrition guides
Feed your dog with confidence, not marketing.
Clear, evidence-labelled guidance on choosing dog food, reading labels and keeping your dog safe — built on veterinary, regulatory and peer-reviewed sources, with every claim marked for what it is.
Dog ate something it shouldn’t? Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435.
Start here
What are you trying to do?
Decide
Choose a food for your dog
A five-step process built on AAFCO and WSAVA guidance — plus how to switch foods without upsetting your dog’s stomach.
Learn
Read a label like a pro
What ‘complete and balanced’ really means, why ‘with beef’ can mean 3% beef, and how to compare wet and dry food fairly.
Compare
Dry, wet, fresh, raw or homemade?
An honest comparison of cost, convenience and safety — and what the evidence does and doesn’t show.
Before you pick up any bag
Three questions that narrow the choice
What life stage is your dog in?
Puppies need a food formulated for growth. Adults need maintenance or all-life-stages food.
How big will your dog be?
Puppies expected to reach about 70 lb or more need a large-size growth food with controlled calcium.
Any diagnosed health issues?
Medical conditions change the answer. Your veterinarian should lead diet decisions for dogs with health problems.
Guides
Every guide, one focused question each
Decision guide
A practical guide to choosing dog food: match life stage and size, check the AAFCO statement, ask manufacturers WSAVA’s questions, weigh food formats and switch over 7–10 days.
Read guide → · 12 min
Label literacy
Learn what each part of a dog food label legally means — the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, the 95%, 25%, ‘with’ and ‘flavor’ naming rules, guaranteed analysis and calories.
Read guide → · 11 min
Comparison guide
Compare kibble, wet, fresh-cooked, raw and homemade dog food on nutrition, cost, convenience and safety — with FDA and peer-reviewed evidence and what dog owners report.
Read guide → · 13 min
Safety reference
A vet-sourced list of human foods that are dangerous to dogs — xylitol, grapes, chocolate, onions, macadamia nuts and more — with symptoms, why they’re harmful and emergency steps.
Read guide → · 8 min
Life stage: puppies
How to feed a puppy: choosing a growth food, large-breed puppy calcium, how many meals a day, portion control, treats, and when to switch to adult dog food.
Read guide → · 10 min
Evidence review
What the FDA’s investigation into grain-free dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) found, what it didn’t, the role of peas and lentils, and how to decide with your vet.
Read guide → · 10 min
How we work
Evidence first. Every claim labelled.
We separate established evidence from company claims, editorial interpretation and community experience — so you can see exactly what a recommendation rests on.
- Primary sources first: AAFCO, FDA, WSAVA, AVMA, ASPCA and peer-reviewed research.
- Community discussions are summarized and linked, never presented as scientific evidence.
- No brand rankings we can't substantiate, and no sponsored placements in guides.
- General information only — individual decisions belong with your veterinarian.