Dog Food Glossary
Plain-English definitions for common dog-food, feeding, label, ingredient, storage, and safe-handling terms. Use this glossary alongside the Alpha Pack Feeding Guide, product label, and independent resources.
Back to Learning HubUnderstand the Terms You See on Labels and Feeding Guides.
This glossary is an educational reference, not individualized veterinary or nutritional advice. Definitions will be expanded as the Alpha Pack Learning Hub grows.
AAFCO
The Association of American Feed Control Officials develops model bills, regulations, ingredient definitions, and labeling resources used by state feed-control programs. AAFCO itself does not regulate, approve, certify, or endorse an individual pet food.
Body Condition
A practical assessment of a dog’s body-fat and overall condition using visible and hands-on characteristics. Body condition is one factor to consider when adjusting feeding amounts. See the Alpha Pack Feeding Guide.
Calcium Carbonate
A calcium-containing ingredient. Alpha Pack Large Breed Power Beef Blend lists calcium carbonate in its ingredient statement.
Complete and Balanced
A labeling concept used for foods intended to provide all required nutrients in appropriate amounts for the stated life stage or use. Do not assume every pet food is complete and balanced; review the product label and intended-use statement.
Crude Fat
A Guaranteed Analysis item expressing the minimum amount of crude fat declared on a pet-food label.
Crude Fiber
A Guaranteed Analysis item expressing the maximum amount of crude fiber declared on a pet-food label.
Crude Protein
A Guaranteed Analysis item expressing the minimum amount of crude protein declared on a pet-food label.
Daily Feeding Amount
The amount of food offered over a day. Individual amounts may vary with body weight, age, activity, metabolism, body condition, health, and the overall feeding plan. Use the Feeding Guide as a planning resource.
Frozen Raw Pet Food
Pet food containing raw ingredients that is stored frozen. Frozen storage does not replace careful hygiene, separation, thawing, and safe-handling practices.
Guaranteed Analysis
A standardized section of a pet-food label declaring specified nutrient measures, commonly including crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture. Review the current Alpha Pack product label for the values applicable to the product.
Ingredient List
The label statement identifying ingredients in the product. FDA states that animal-food ingredients are listed by their common or usual name in descending order of predominance by weight.
Intermittent or Supplemental Feeding
An intended-use statement indicating that a product is not represented as the sole complete diet for continuous feeding. Alpha Pack’s current product label should be reviewed for its exact intended-use statement and feeding directions.
Moisture
A Guaranteed Analysis item expressing the maximum moisture declared on the pet-food label.
Net Weight
The stated quantity of product in the package, excluding the packaging itself. Alpha Pack’s current product label lists the applicable net weight.
Raw Pet Food
Pet food that includes raw animal-source ingredients rather than ingredients processed through cooking or another pathogen-reduction method. Independent public-health and veterinary organizations publish safety guidance and risk information about raw pet food; review the sources below directly.
Refrigerated Thawing
Thawing frozen food under refrigeration rather than at room temperature. Follow the product label and applicable food-safety guidance.
Safe Handling
Practices intended to reduce contamination and foodborne-illness risk, including handwashing, cleaning bowls and preparation surfaces, separating raw pet food from human food, following storage instructions, and thawing appropriately.
Storage Instructions
Directions on the product label explaining how the food should be stored before and after opening or thawing. Follow the current product label rather than relying on a general rule.
Go Deeper With Primary Resources.
These organizations provide source information about pet-food labeling, food safety, regulation, and raw-diet considerations.
FDA: Animal Food Labeling
Federal information about label requirements, ingredient naming, net quantity, and manufacturer or distributor identification.
Read FDA Labeling Information →AAFCO: Labeling Requirements
Pet-food labeling resources and model-regulation information used by state feed-control programs.
Read AAFCO Labeling Resources →CDC: Pet Food Safety
Public-health guidance on handling, hygiene, storage, cleaning, and risks associated with pet food.
Read CDC Pet Food Safety →AVMA: Raw Diets
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s policy and public-health perspective on raw or undercooked animal-source proteins.
Read AVMA Raw Diet Policy →Use the Glossary as a Starting Point.
When a term raises a new question, continue with the Feeding Guide, Breed Guides, product label, or Learning Hub.