What are the pet food nutrients you need to be concerned about?

The numbers on these packages mean nothing if you don't know exactly where the grams of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are coming from that are contained within those foods. The numbers and percentages listed in a nutritional table only make sense if the ingredients in that product come from natural foods, not from highly processed food sources that are not nutritious on their own.

It is very easy to make high protein and low carb foods by adjusting the nutritional content during food processing. For example, many of the protein components in the nutritional list may be derived from cheaper plant proteins such as peas and potatoes, which are not as bioavailable as meat proteins for pets. Bioavailability means that the body is able to absorb and utilise the appropriate nutrient to the maximum extent possible. Just like increasing the amount of vitamins and minerals in a food by adding fortified foods (not from purely natural sources), it doesn't mean it's healthier because most of the vitamins and minerals aren't absorbed by the body in the expected way. Grain-free doesn't mean it doesn't contain too much hard-to-digest starch; many foods have replaced grains with starch-rich ingredients such as rice, oats, and other grains that are grain-free to achieve a lower cost. So if you see a lot of beans, peas and legumes, potatoes, corn or corn meal ingredients listed in the ingredients list of a food (just to name a few), it's important to be aware that these are high starch fillers that make the food stickier, but these are ingredients that you have no use for in the dog or cat you're feeding.