Pet Food Ingredients 101: What to Look for on a Pet Food Label

When standing in the pet food aisle, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by labels promising high protein, grain-free nutrition, premium ingredients, and complete wellness. But what do those claims actually mean, and how can you tell whether a food is right for your dog or cat?

It’s a question that inspired the creation of Nulo.

Founder Michael Landa didn’t set out to create a pet food company. Through his work in pet care, he noticed an alarming trend: more dogs and cats were struggling with obesity, diabetes, and weight-related health issues. As a biomedical engineer, he approached the problem the same way he would any complex challenge, by digging into the data.

What he found surprised him. Many pet foods relied heavily on carbohydrates and plant-based ingredients while containing less animal protein than pet owners might expect. That discovery led him to create Nulo around a simple but powerful belief: dogs and cats thrive when their diets prioritize animal-based protein and thoughtfully selected ingredients that support long-term health.

Today, that philosophy remains at the core of every Nulo recipe and provides a useful framework for understanding what to look for when evaluating any pet food.

What Should You Look for on a Pet Food Label?

Quick Answer

The most important things to look for on a pet food label are:

1. A named animal protein as the first ingredient
2. Appropriate protein levels for your pet’s life stage
3. Quality ingredient sourcing
4. Functional ingredients that support health
5. Complete and balanced nutrition
6. Ingredients that align with your pet’s needs

While packaging claims can grab attention, the ingredient list and nutritional information often tell a much more complete story.

It’s also worth remembering that many of the concerns that inspired Nulo’s founder decades ago remain relevant today. Pet owners are increasingly looking beyond marketing claims and asking deeper questions about protein sources, carbohydrate levels, digestive health, and ingredient quality.

Why Is Animal Protein So Important in Pet Food?

Quick Answer

Animal protein provides essential amino acids that help support muscle development, energy, healthy metabolism, immune function, and overall wellness.

This is where Nulo’s “protein-first” philosophy begins.

When Michael Landa started researching pet nutrition, one question kept coming up:

Why are foods designed for carnivorous and omnivorous animals often built around carbohydrates rather than animal protein?

That question became a driving force behind Nulo’s nutritional philosophy.

Today, Nulo recipes are intentionally designed to feature animal-based proteins prominently because dogs and cats are biologically adapted to utilize those nutrients efficiently.

When evaluating a pet food, look for recognizable protein sources such as:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Salmon
• Whitefish
• Beef
• Lamb

These ingredients provide the building blocks pets need to support lean muscle and healthy body condition.

For example, recipes such as:

Is High-Protein Pet Food Better?

Quick Answer

Many dogs and cats benefit from higher-protein diets, but the ideal amount depends on age, activity level, health status, and lifestyle.

Protein supports:

• Muscle maintenance
• Cellular repair
• Healthy body composition
• Energy production
• Healthy aging

For puppies, kittens, active dogs, hunting companions, agility competitors, and many working breeds, protein plays an especially important role.

This focus on protein wasn’t developed as a marketing message for Nulo. It was a direct response to the founder’s concern that many pets were consuming more carbohydrates and less animal protein than nature intended.

That’s why Nulo continues to formulate many recipes with significantly higher levels of animal-based protein than traditional pet foods.

Why Do Low-Glycemic Ingredients Matter?

Quick Answer

Low-glycemic foods are designed to provide more stable energy by reducing large spikes and crashes in blood sugar.

This is one of Nulo’s most important differentiators.

As Michael researched rising rates of obesity and diabetes in pets, he became increasingly concerned about diets heavily dependent on inexpensive carbohydrates.

His conclusion helped shape Nulo’s ongoing commitment to lower-glycemic recipes that emphasize animal proteins while carefully selecting carbohydrate sources.

Potential benefits of lower-glycemic nutrition may include:

• More consistent energy
• Better body condition support
• Reduced reliance on fillers
• Improved nutrient utilization

For active dogs, sporting breeds, and adventure-loving pets, steady energy can be just as important as total calories.

How Do You Read the Guaranteed Analysis?

The guaranteed analysis provides nutritional information about a pet food.

Look for:

Nutrient	Why It Matters
Crude Protein	Supports muscles and body functions
Crude Fat	Provides energy
Crude Fiber	Supports digestion
Moisture	Indicates water content

Nulo’s nutrition philosophy encourages pet owners to think beyond marketing terms and examine actual nutritional values.

Two foods can both be labeled “premium,” but their guaranteed analyses may tell very different stories about protein levels, fat content, and digestibility.

That’s why understanding this panel is one of the most valuable skills a pet owner can develop.

What Ingredients Support Digestive Health?

Quick Answer

Ingredients such as probiotics, prebiotics, pumpkin, fiber, and digestive-support nutrients can help maintain healthy digestion and immune function.

Digestive health is another area where Nulo has invested heavily in nutritional science.

The company incorporates BC30® probiotics into many recipes because digestive health impacts much more than digestion alone. A healthy digestive system supports nutrient absorption, immune response, and overall wellness.

Look for ingredients such as:

• Probiotics
• Pumpkin
• Chicory root
• Fiber sources
• Functional digestive-support ingredients

What Are Probiotics in Pet Food?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help support digestive and immune health.

Some premium pet foods include BC30® probiotics, which are designed to help support healthy digestion and overall wellness.

What Are Food Toppers and Should You Use Them?

Quick Answer

Food toppers can add flavor, moisture, protein, variety, and supplemental nutrition to your pet’s meals.

Many pet parents assume a bored eater requires a complete food change. In reality, adding variety is often enough.

What makes Nulo’s toppers especially interesting is that they extend the company’s protein-first philosophy beyond kibble and canned food.

Rather than relying on artificial flavors, many recipes feature recognizable ingredients such as:

• Chicken
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Beef
• Lamb
• Kale
• Carrots
• Green beans

The result is a topper designed to complement the existing meal while adding additional flavor and nutrition.lmon, beef, lamb, and broth-based toppers can provide extra flavor while complementing a complete and balanced diet.

Quick Tip: Food toppers are meant to complement a complete diet, not replace it.

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How Can You Encourage a Picky Dog or Cat to Eat?

Quick Answer

Adding moisture, introducing new proteins, rotating textures, or incorporating food toppers can often make meals more appealing.

One of the biggest trends in pet nutrition is the growing interest in freeze-dried raw and minimally processed foods.

Why?

Because pet owners increasingly want foods with recognizable ingredients and appealing protein sources.

Nulo’s freeze-dried recipes reflect the same philosophy that inspired the company in the first place: start with meaningful nutrition and build from there.

What Should Cat Owners Look for in Cat Food?

Quick Answer

Cats thrive on diets rich in animal-based protein and complete, balanced feline nutrition.

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely heavily on nutrients found in animal proteins.

This biological reality aligns closely with Nulo’s protein-first philosophy.

When evaluating cat food, look for:

• Animal proteins as primary ingredients
• Species-specific nutrition
• Complete and balanced formulas
• Life-stage appropriate recipes
• Digestive-support ingredients

Nulo’s cat formulas are particularly strong examples because many contain exceptionally high percentages of animal-based proteins compared to conventional cat foods.

Are Grain-Free Pet Foods Better?

Not necessarily. Grain-free food is not automatically healthier than grain-inclusive food.

The best choice depends on your individual pet’s needs.

Some pets thrive on grain-free recipes, while others do well with grain-inclusive formulas containing ingredients such as:

• Oats
• Barley
• Brown rice
• Ancient grains

The overall nutritional balance of a food matters more than whether it contains grains.

What Should Cat Owners Look for in Cat Food?

Cats have unique nutritional requirements that differ from dogs.

The best cat foods typically include:

• High levels of animal protein
• Complete and balanced nutrition
• Appropriate fat levels
• Species-specific nutrition
• Life-stage support

Because cats are obligate carnivores, protein quality is especially important.

How to Choose Food Based on Life Stage

Nutritional needs evolve throughout a pet’s life.

Puppies and Kittens

Growing animals require protein, energy, and nutrients that support healthy development.

Adult Pets

Healthy adults benefit from balanced nutrition that supports activity, recovery, and wellness.

Senior Pets

Older pets often benefit from nutrition designed to support healthy aging and muscle maintenance.

Small Breed

Smaller pets often need special ingredients and smaller bite sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Food Ingredients

What Makes Nulo Different?

Throughout this guide, several themes have appeared repeatedly because they sit at the heart of Nulo’s approach to pet nutrition.

Nulo’s Core Nutrition Principles

✅ Protein-first formulations

✅ Low-glycemic ingredients

✅ High levels of animal-based nutrition

✅ BC30® probiotics for digestive support

✅ Recipes inspired by pets’ biological needs

What began as one pet owner’s search for better nutrition for dogs like Max has evolved into a complete lineup of foods, toppers, treats, and supplements designed around those same principles.

The Bottom Line

Understanding pet food labels is about more than comparing ingredients. It’s about understanding the nutritional philosophy behind the food.

The questions Michael Landa asked when he founded Nulo are questions every pet owner should ask:

• Where does the protein come from?
• How much of the recipe is animal-based nutrition?
• Are the ingredients supporting long-term health?
• Does the food align with my pet’s biological needs?

By focusing on protein quality, ingredient transparency, digestive health, and nutritional balance, pet owners can make more informed decisions and feel confident about what’s going into their pet’s bowl every day.