HeartHound Guide · Nutrition
How to pick a healthy dog food.
The pet food aisle is a marketing maze. Here's the same checklist board-certified veterinary nutritionists use to vet any brand — in 60 seconds.
New · AI Tool
Check any dog food brand against the WSAVA checklist
01 · Checklist
The 5-question brand check
- Does the brand employ a full-time, board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN or PhD)?This is WSAVA's #1 question. Marketing teams write claims; nutritionists formulate complete diets.
- Does the food carry an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy?Look for 'complete and balanced for [life stage]'. Even better: 'AAFCO feeding trials' (not just formulation).
- Will the company share a full nutrient analysis on request?Reputable manufacturers publish caloric density and nutrient breakdowns beyond the minimum guaranteed analysis.
- Where is the food made, and does the company own its plants?Owning manufacturing means tighter quality control than co-packing through a third party.
- Has the brand had recent FDA recalls or safety alerts?Check the FDA recall database directly — not the brand's own marketing site.
02 · Red flags
What to ignore on the bag
- Marketing terms with no legal meaning: 'human-grade', 'holistic', 'premium', 'super-premium'.
- Grain-free formulas without a clear medical reason — under active FDA investigation for links to DCM.
- Brands that won't name their veterinary nutritionist or share nutrient analyses.
- Ingredient-splitting tricks (e.g. listing 'peas, pea protein, pea fiber' separately to push meat up the label).
- Boutique brands with frequent formula changes and no published feeding trials.
03 · Sources
Authoritative nutrition sources
- WSAVA Global Nutrition ToolkitStandardThe international gold standard. Includes the famous 'questions to ask a manufacturer' checklist.
- AAFCO Pet Food LabelsStandardSets U.S. nutritional adequacy standards. Every quality label carries an AAFCO statement.
- FDA Center for Veterinary MedicineRecallsRecall notices, safety alerts, and the ongoing grain-free / DCM investigation.
- Tufts PetfoodologyEducationPlain-English articles by board-certified veterinary nutritionists at Tufts.
- ACVN — Find a Vet NutritionistDirectoryDirectory of board-certified veterinary nutritionists (DACVN) for tailored diet plans.
- AVMA Pet Owner ResourcesAuthorityAmerican Veterinary Medical Association nutrition and care guidance.
Every dog is different. For dogs with medical conditions (kidney disease, allergies, GI issues), work with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist on a prescription or tailored diet — HeartHound's general guidance is not a substitute for clinical advice.