The safety and effectiveness of dog food ingredients are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). New dog food does not usually have to get FDA approval before being sold.

New ingredients that have not been previously established as safe may need FDA approval. For example, sources of meat may not need to be verified as safe since they already have been, but new additives to dog food may need to be approved by the FDA.

The FDA also regulates dog food labeling to ensure that the label does not make false claims about its ingredients or the function of the dog food. If a dog food company makes a specific claim about the health benefits of the dog food on the label, the FDA may test the validity of the claim.

Premium dog foods are definitely better than your garden variety economy counterparts. But how do you tell the difference between the two? Is price the only indicator of how healthy the dog food is? Does a premium pet food have a different kind of label? How do you know what is premium?

A true premium dog food has better quality ingredients. This means your dog will get more and better nutrients that he desperately needs. But don't be fooled by all the enticing bags in the market today. Don't be lured in by the beautiful pictures of fresh foods and advertising stating how your dog needs something in this dog food. The dog food ingredients list is what you need to find.

If left untreated, diabetes and dogs can be potentially fatal. Diabetes mellitus and inhibits the body's natural ability to control blood sugar levels. Through diet, medication, and exercise, the dog owner can manage the dog's diabetes.

Diet and exercise are a vital part of diabetes management for dogs. With proper diabetes management, the dog may live a considerably long time and be happy and active.

Is your dog overweight? Could he stand to shed a few pounds? Many owners don't really know when their canine friends are overweight. Since we see them every day, we may not really notice the changes that they may be going through.

Coupons can be a great way to save money. Dog owners can save on their dog food costs by using printable dog food coupons.

Some retailers have printable dog food coupons available on their websites. Target is one example of a retailer that sometimes has printable dog food coupons.

Printable dog food coupons from a retailer's website can typically only be used at one of those retailer stores. The retailer's website may also have a copy of the current sales circular or advertisements for the current sales at the store. If dog food is on sale, the dog owner may save as much money as they would with a coupon for dog food.

Why are dog food ingredients lists so hard to figure out? It's like some secret language. But you need to learn to translate your ingredients in your dog food. If you don't, you could be feeding your best friend food that prevents optimal health and even causes some health problems down the road.  Sometimes is seems like you need a degree to figure out all the ingredients in your dog food. What do all these terms mean? The dog food companies basically tell you not to worry about it - they will take care of your beloved pet. But consumers got a terrible wake-call with the massive pet food recalls over the last few years. They may know what is best for our dogs, but that is not what they are giving us. Thankfully, more organic and all-natural pet foods have been springing up, giving us healthier dog food choices.