Nutritional Adequacy
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement on a dog food label verifies that the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for one of the following: Puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs, Adult dogs, or All life stages.
In the early stages of life, young pets need high levels of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to ensure proper growth. Therefore, a pet food that claims to be “complete and balanced for all life stages” must contain nutrient levels that are suitable for growth. A food that is appropriate for growth is essentially a puppy/kitten food because it contains levels of fat, sodium, protein, and other nutrients that are too high for an older dog.
It is important to know that excess fat can result in diabetes and heart, joint, or respiratory disease. Excess protein can cause liver or kidney disease. Excess calcium can result in urinary bladder stones and skeletal disease. Therefore life-stage nutrition, which is designed to meet a pet’s needs at a specific age and physical state, helps protect against nutritional excesses.
