What is in that bag of dog food? The first thing to consider is that the meat and fat ingredients usually come from rendering plants. Please check out www.naturalcanines.com/gpage8.html to discover the world of rendering plants. (Remember – just because a company manufactures their food does not mean they slaughter and render their animal source proteins.) I have only listed the first ten (10) ingredients from the label. You can learn about the AAFCO ingredient definitions by going to www.naturalcanines.com/gpage9.html Since I have only listed the first ten (10) ingredients, you may want to check the remaining ingredients for synthetic preservatives, generic ingredients, and other offensive ingredients.

Human Grade: There is currently no FDA/AAFCO definition for this term as it applies to pet food, therefore it is important to learn from the manufacturer of the pet food how they define human grade for their food.

Examples of grains you don’t want in your pet food: Barley flour, Brewer’s Rice, Corn bran, Corn meal, Corn germ meal, Corn gluten meal, Oat bran, Oat groats, Rice bran, Rice flour, Soybean hulls, soy flour, wheat flour, wheat gluten, ground grain sorghum

Examples of animal ingredients you don’t want in your pet food: By-products unless they are only talking about organ meats, Fish meal, Meat meal, Poultry meal, Animal digest, Animal fat, Poultry fat

Vitamins/Minerals/other: Don’t rely on the added vitamins, minerals, probiotics, etc. added to kibble foods to provide these needed nutrients in your dog’s diet. Pet food manufacturer’s add these ingredients (usually the synthetic kind) in an attempt to fortify the food with nutrients that have been destroyed during processing. Because these ingredients (vitamins, minerals, probiotics, etc.) are heat sensitive they won’t be of much value once they’ve made it into that bag of food regardless of how the food is cooked. It does however look good on the label and gives the buying public a false sense of security.

Formulas periodically change but these were the first ten ingredients at the time this file was created in 2007.

Name of Food	First Ten (10) Ingredients
Acana – Large Breed Puppy	Chicken meal (low ash), steamed oatmeal, ground whole rice, chicken fat, rice bran, ground flaxseed , beet pulp, herring oil, chicken broth, yeast extract
Acana – Premium Deluxe	Chicken meal, whole grain corn, chicken fat, whole grain rice, beet pulp, natural chicken flavor, whole ground flax, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, choline chloride
Artemis Adult	Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat, Dried Eggs
Artemis Natural 6 Mix	Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Brewer's Rice, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Eggs, Fish Meal
Atemis Power Formula	Chicken Meal, White Rice, Chicken Fat, Lamb Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Ground Brown Rice, Fish Meal, Flaxseed, Brewer's Dried Yeast, Dried Egg
Bil-Jac – Select	Fresh Chicken By-Products (Organ Meat Only), Fresh Chicken, Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Fresh Chicken Liver, Brewer's Dried Yeast, Cane Molasses, Eggs, Salt
Black Gold Premium Professional Performance Blend	Meat Meal, Corn Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Wheat, Poultry Fat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Poultry Flavoring, Salt, Potassium Chloride
Black Gold Ultimate Puppy	Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Fish Meal, Poultry Fat, Brewer's Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Dried Beet Pulp, Vegetable Oil
Blackwood 1000 Normally Active Adults	Poultry Meal, Corn Meal, Chicken Fat, Dried Plain Beet Pulp ,Ground Rice, Oatmeal, Dried Potato Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Menhaden Fish Meal, Flax Meal
Blackwood 2000 Super Premium	Poultry Meal, Ground Rice, Corn Meal, Chicken Fat, Dried Potato Product, Menhaden Fish Meal, Brewer's Dried Yeast, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Flax Meal, Whole Eggs
Blackwood 3000 – Lamb & Rice	Lamb Meal, Rice Flour, Oatmeal, Poultry Meal, Ground Rice, Plain Dried Beet Pulp, Poultry Fat, Dried Tomato Pomace, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lecithin
Blue Buffalo – Chicken & Rice – Puppy	Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Rye, Chicken Fat, Potato Flour, Tomato Pomace, Menhaden Fish Meal
Blue Buffalo – Large Breed Adult	Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Potato Flour, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Whole Sweet Potatoes
California Natural – Chicken	Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins & Minerals
California Natural – Herring & Sweet Potato Adult	Herring, Barley, Oatmeal/Rolled Oats, Herring Meal, Herring Oil, Sweet Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Vitamin E, Vitamins/Minerals
California Natural – Lamb	Lamb Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Sunflower Oil, Vitamins & Minerals
Canidae – Chicken & Rice	Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Chicken Fat, Flax Seed, Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Chicken, Lecithin, Mono calcium Phosphate
Canidae – All life stages	Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Lamb Meal, Chicken Fat, Herring Meal, Flax Seed, Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil
Canidae – Platinum	Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Chicken Fat, Sunflower Oil, Chicken, Lamb Meal, Herring Meal, Flax Seed
Chicken Soup For The Pet Lover's Soul – Large Breed Adult	Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Millet, White Rice, ocean fish meal
Diamond Naturals – Chicken & Rice	Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, White Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat, Oatmeal, Beet Pulp, Egg Product, Flaxseed
Diamond Naturals – Lamb & Rice	Lamb Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, White Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Fish Meal, Chicken Fat, Egg Product, Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor
Diamond Performance	Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Whole Grain Ground Corn, Wheat Flour, Chicken Fat, Egg Product, Beet Pulp, Fish Meal, Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor
Diamond Premium Adult	Chicken By-Product Meal, Whole Grain Ground Corn, Wheat Flour, Chicken Fat, Brewer's Rice, Beet Pulp, Egg Product, Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor, Fish Meal
Eagle Pack Holistic Select – Chicken & Rice	Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat, Pork Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon Meal, Flax Seed
Eagle Pack Holistic Select – Lamb & Rice	Lamb Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat, Oatmeal, Dried Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Carrots, Sun Cured Alfalfa
Eagle Pack Holistic Select – Duck & Oatmeal	Duck Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Tomato Pomace, Carrots
Eukanuba Performance	Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Fish Meal, Chicken Fat, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg Product
Evanger's – Chicken & Brown Rice	Chicken, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Potato Product, Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley
Evanger's – Pheasant & Brown Rice	Fresh Pheasant, Duck Meal, Brown Rice, Salmon Meal, Pearled Barley, Oatmeal, Canola Oil, Turkey Liver, Dried Tomato Pomace, Millet
Evolve – Maintenance Formula	Lamb, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat, Rice Bran, Tomato Pomace, Beet Pulp, Menhaden Fish Meal, Yogurt
Evolve – Puppy	Lamb, Chicken Meal, Ground White Rice, Brown Rice, Beet Pulp, Barley, Rice Bran, Chicken Fat, Rice Bran, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product
Exceed – Chicken & Rice	Chicken, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Brewer's Rice, Animal Fat, Ground Yellow Corn, Ground Wheat, Dried Beet Pulp, Egg Product, Brewer's Dried Yeast
Exclusive – Chicken & Rice Adult	Chicken, chicken meal, rice flour, oatmeal, whole grain brown rice, chicken fat, corn gluten meal, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, dried egg product
Exclusive – Chicken & Rice Large Breed Adult	Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, whole grain brown rice, corn gluten meal, oatmeal, chicken fat, beet pulp, egg product, flaxseed
Exclusive Chicken & Rice Large Breed Puppy	Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, whole grain brown rice, oatmeal, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, beet pulp, egg product, flaxseed
Exclusive Lamb & Rice Adult	Lamb, lamb meal, rice flour, brewers rice, whole grain brown rice, oatmeal, chicken fat, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, dried egg product
Flint River Ranch – Original Puppy/Adult	Chicken, Whole Wheat Flour, Ground Rice, Lamb Meal, Poultry Fat, Ground Wheat, Dried Whole Egg, Lecithin, Fish Meal, Brewer’s Dried Yeast
Flint River Ranch – Lamb/Millet/Rice	Lamb Meal, Ground Whole Millet, Ground Whole Rice, Rice Bran, Menhaden Fish Meal, Grapeseed Oil, Flaxseed Meal, Lecithin, Garlic, Rosemary & Sage Extract, Choline Chloride
Flint River Ranch – Trout & Sweet Potato	Trout, Potato, Course Ground Millet, Herring meal, Oatmeal, Sweet Potatoes, Canola Oil, Flax seed, Oat Bran, Natural Flavors
Iams – Large Breed Adult	Chicken, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Fish Meal, Chicken Fat, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg Product
Iams – Lamb	Lamb Meal, Brewer's Rice, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Chicken Fat, Fish Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits, Dried Beet Pulp
Innova	Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Potatoes, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat, Herring, Apples
Innova – Large Breed Adult	Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground barley, Ground brown rice, Potatoes, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Flaxseed Meal
Karma Organic	Organic Free Range Chickens, Organic Kamut, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Oats, Organic Rice Protein, Organic Whole Wheat, Organic Quinoa, Organic Sunflower Seed Meal, Organic Flax Seed Meal
Merrick – Cowboy Cookout	Beef, Oatmeal, Barley, Beef Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Carrots, Peas
Merrick – Grammy's Pot Pie	Chicken, Oatmeal, Barley, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Carrots
Merrick – Turducken	Turkey, Oatmeal, Barley, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Duck, Whole Brown Rice, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Potatoes
Merrick – Wilderness Blend	Buffalo, Oatmeal, Barley, Salmon Meal, Venison, Whole Brown Rice, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Carrots
Natural Balance – Ultra Premium	Chicken, Brown Rice, Duck, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Pearled Barley, Potatoes, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace
Natural Balance – Duck & Potato	Potatoes, Duck, Duck Meal, Canola Oil, Potato Fiber, DL-methionine, L-lysine, Sodium Chloride, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed Oil
Natural Balance – Venison & Rice	Venison, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Rice Flour, Canola Oil, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed Oil, Kelp Meal, Yucca Schidigera Extract
Nutro Max – Large Breed Adult	Beef Meal, Ground Rice, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Flour, Rice Bran, Poultry Fat, Oatmeal, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Potassium Chloride
Nutro Natural Choice – Chicken	Chicken Meal, Rice Flour, Ground Rice, Rice Bran, Poultry Fat, Oatmeal, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Potassium Chloride
Nutro Natural Choice – Lamb	Lamb, Ground Rice, Rice Flour, Rice Bran, Sunflower Oil, Poultry Fat, Natural Flavors, Rice Gluten, Dried Egg Product, Dried Beet Pulp
Precise – Puppy	Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Ground Oats, Beet Pulp, Lamb Meal, Rice Bran, Dried Egg Product, Fish Meal, Flaxseed
Precise Chicken Meal & Rice	Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Rice Bran, Ground Oats, Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Chicken Cartilage, Beet Pulp, Lecithin, Natural Chicken Flavor
Precise Sensicare	Lamb Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Oats, Rice Bran, Flaxseed, Chicken Fat, Lecithin, Natural Lamb Flavor, Choline Chloride, Calcium Ascorbate
Precise Endurance	Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat , Ground Oats, Beet Pulp, Lamb Meal, Chicken Cartilage, Rice Bran, Alfalfa Meal, Flaxseed
Premium Edge – Chicken	Chicken, Chicken Meal, Rice Flour, Oatmeal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Egg Product, Natural Chicken Flavor
ProFormance – Lamb	Lamb Meal, Rice, Rice Flour, Ground Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat, Rice Bran, Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed
ProPack Lamb Meal & Rice	Lamb Meal, Brewers Rice, Rice Flour, Rice Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Yeast Culture, Potassium Chloride,Salt, Choline Chloride, Choline Chloride
ProPack Earthborn Holistic	Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, Oatmeal, Potato Flour, Ground Brown Rice, Menhaden Fish Meal, Brewers Rice, Millet, Quinoa, Amaranth
ProPack High Performance	Chicken Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Chicken Fat, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Flavoring, Flaxseed, Yeast Culture, Salt, Potassium Chloride
Purina – Beneful	Ground Yellow Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Wheat Flour, Beef Tallow, Rice Flour, Beef, Soy Flour, Sugar, Sorbitol
Purina Pro Plan – Chicken	Chicken, Brewer's Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Poultry By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Corn Bran, Fish Meal, Natural Flavors, Egg Product, Dicalcium Phosphate
Purina Pro Plan – Performance	Chicken, Corn Gluten Meal, Brewer's Rice, Beef Tallow, Poultry By-Products, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Bran, Fish Meal, Natural Flavor, Egg Product
Raw Instinct – Prairie	Chicken Meal, Tapioca, Chicken Fat, Pumpkin Seeds, Menhaden Fish Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Montimorillonite Clay, Natural Chicken Flavor, Vitamins/Minerals, Chicken Liver
Royal Canin 24 GSD	Chicken, Brewer's Rice, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Soy Isolate, Cellulose, Chicken Flavor, Sodium Silico Aluminate, Beet Pulp
Science Diet – Lamb	Lamb Meal, Brewer's Rice, Rice Flour, Ground Wheat, Ground Grain Sorghum, Corn Gluten Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Animal Fat, Dried Beet Pulp, Vegetable Oil
Solid Gold – Hund-n-Flocken Adult Lamb	Lamb Meal, Ground Millet, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Barley, Ground Amaranth, Rice Bran Oil, Canola Oil, Rice Bran, Fish Meal
Timberwolf BlackForest – Venison	Venison, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Lamb, Whole Ground Millet, Lamb Meal, Venison Meal, Whole Ground Barley, Low Ash Salmon Meal, Whole Ground Flaxseed
Timberwolf Dense Lamb w/ apples	Lamb, Salmon Meal, Lamb Meal, Salmon, Whole Ground Oats, Whole Ground Barley, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Unrefined Walnut Oil
Wellness Super 5 Mix – Chicken	Deboned Chicken, Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Rye Flour, Menhaden Fish Meal, Whitefish, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Millet, Canola Oil, Flax Seed
Wellness Super 5 Mix – Lamb	Lamb, Lamb Meal, Whitefish, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Rye Flour, Ground Millet, Amaranth, Flax Seed
Wysong	Chicken, Ground Corn, Ground Wheat, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Oat Groats, Poultry Fat, Ground Extruded Whole Soybeans, Dried Whey, Salt, Yeast Culture