BorkBites

From vague meat sources to sky-high filler content, this post walks readers through the big “nope” moments hiding in plain sight on dog food packaging.

There are a lot of dog food options out there—some good, some great, and some that should be left on the shelf. Whether you’re label-savvy or totally overwhelmed, here are the top 5 red flags I always look for before feeding anything to my dogs.

🚩 1. Vague Meat Sources (“Meat Meal,” “Animal Fat,” etc.)

If the label just says “meat” or “meat meal” without naming the animal, that’s a hard no from me. Transparency matters, and your dog deserves better than mystery meat stew.

✅ Look for: Specific sources like chicken meal, lamb meal, or beef fat.

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🚩 2. Artificial Colors and Dyes

Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2? That’s not dinner—it’s a science experiment. These dyes are banned in some countries and offer zero nutritional value.

✅ Look for: Naturally colored kibble (spoiler: dogs don’t care what color it is anyway).

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🚩 3. Added Sugars or Sweeteners

If you see ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, or caramel, it’s a no from me. Dogs don’t need added sugars, and these can mess with everything from weight to dental health.

✅ Look for: Treats and foods without unnecessary sweeteners.

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🚩 4. Excessive Fillers (Corn, Wheat, Soy as Main Ingredients)

These aren’t inherently evil, but when they’re listed as the first few ingredients? That’s filler over function. I want to see protein leading the pack.

✅ Look for: Whole meat or named meat meals as the first ingredient.

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🚩 5. Ingredient Splitting Tricks

Some brands try to sneak low-quality ingredients higher up on the label by splitting them. You might see corn, corn gluten meal, corn flour—sounds like variety, but it’s just corn overload. If you take a look at the dog food you have in your home right now, I can pretty much guarantee you will see peas listed at least *3* times: peas, pea protein, pea flour. That’s a lot of peas.

✅ Look for: Simpler, whole ingredients that don’t feel like a magic trick.

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🦴 Final Sniff

Reading dog food labels isn’t exactly thrilling (unless you’re me), but it is one of the best ways to keep your pup healthy. Don’t stress perfection—just start with awareness. And remember: the more you learn, the better you can bark back at the marketing fluff.

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💬 Got questions about what’s in your dog’s bowl?

Drop a comment or DM me a label you’re confused about—I’ll give it a quick sniff and decode it for you. 🕵️‍♀️🐾