What Is Dog Food Made Of? A Complete Ingredient Guide

When it comes to feeding your dog, selecting the right food is one of the most important decisions you can make.  

A well-balanced diet supports your pet’s overall health, energy, immune function, and even behavior. But with so many brands, labels, and ingredient lists, understanding the actual contents of dog food can be overwhelming. For example, do you know what “dog food with real meat” actually means, or which dog food nutrients are essential for your dog’s health?

If you are one of the many people concerned with understanding the best ingredients for dog food or wondering what ingredients to avoid in dog food, this guide discusses the main components found in commercial dog food to help you understand what’s in the package or can of food you’re buying.

Understanding the Ingredient List^1-4

So, what is dog food made of? If you’ve looked at a food label and found lots of unrecognizable words, you’re not alone. Reading through an ingredient list is a daunting task.

However, there are a few simple points to consider when looking over a list of dog food ingredients.

First, remember that the ingredients are listed in descending order by weight prior to cooking. This means ingredients higher up in the list often make up a larger portion of the diet, but it could vary depending on the ingredient types and cooking methods. This is why many people look for dog food with “real meat” as the first ingredient. Look at the first few ingredients in your dog food: What are they?

Ingredients and their names are defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the Code of Federal Regulations, so you will see the same name for the same ingredient across all ingredient lists.

• “Meat” is the flesh from animals, but it can include muscle from the tongue, diaphragm, heart, or esophagus. It can also contain some fat and gristle, but it does not contain bone. Manufacturers can specify what species the meat came from, but if it only states “meat” on the ingredients list, it must have come from cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, or any combination of those.
• “Meat by-products” can be lung, spleen, kidney, brain, liver, stomach, intestines, blood, bone, or partially defatted fatty tissue. (“Meat by-products” do not contain hair, horns, teeth, or hoofs.) These are the coproducts of meat production and not usually used in the U.S. human food chain. They are often more nutritionally complete, and dogs tend to find them quite palatable.
• “Poultry” is the flesh and skin from chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, ratites, squabs, or any combination thereof. It may also include the accompanying bone, such as with chicken necks. If ground, bone is a good source of calcium. It does not contain feathers, heads, feet, or intestines. Manufacturers can choose to use the common names, “chicken” or “turkey,” if the meat came from these species.  
• “Poultry by-products” can include all organs but can also include heads and feet, which can carry valuable nutrients.
• “Meal” can be made with certain parts or the whole animal, including bone. It is rendered with heat and pressure to eliminate bacteria and remove moisture and fat, leaving concentrated protein and minerals, which are ground to a uniform size. Ultimately, this process makes the ingredient more nutrient dense (more nutrients per pound).

Second, are there unfamiliar items listed?

If you’re seeing a lot of unfamiliar terms, you might want to take time to learn more about these ingredients. Vitamins and minerals are essential to the health and well-being of your dog, and these legally must be listed with their chemical names, which can make them seem strange, but they are well-established, safe, healthy dog food ingredients.

Here are a couple more common terms you’ll see on food labels:^1,2

• “Natural” or “natural ingredients” mean there are no chemically synthesized ingredients outside of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and amino acids.
• “Real” commonly refers to animal muscle tissue and is used by manufacturers to indicate that the ingredient isn’t ground meat meal. For example, dog food that states it contains “real chicken” refers to a combination of chicken flesh and skin. It’s important to remember that this is a marketing term and not officially recognized by the AAFCO. Remember, ingredients in “meal” form are often more nutrient dense.

What Is in Kibble vs. Wet Dog Food⁵

We’ll begin by taking a high-level view of the processes involved in the two most common forms of dog food: kibble and canned.

Kibble ingredients are combined, cooked at high temperatures, and shaped into crunchy pellets.

What is in kibble? Kibble typically contains:

• Dry meat meals or fresh meat to provide protein
• Grains and legumes, such as rice, barley, or peas, to provide carbohydrates for energy
• Fats and oils, which provide energy and help with skin health
• Fiber sources, such as beet pulp or cellulose, to promote gut health
• Vitamins and minerals, which add essential nutrients
• Natural or synthetic preservatives that maintain shelf life

Wet food is cooked in sealed cans or pouches, preserving moisture and flavor.

What is in wet dog food? Wet dog food usually includes:

• Fresh or frozen meat and organs in higher proportions than kibble
• Water or broth to increase the moisture content, for more hydration
• Grains and/or vegetables, although in smaller amounts than kibble
• Added vitamins and minerals to ensure complete nutrition
• Gums or stabilizers, such as carrageenan or guar gum, to maintain texture

The main difference between dry dog food and wet dog food (besides texture) is the moisture content and the carbohydrate content. Both types have benefits for dogs.

Macronutrients for Dogs^1-7

The next important subject when discussing “What is dog food made of?” is nutrients. Nutrients are molecules your body needs to survive and thrive. They are often classified as macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are nutrients the body needs in large amounts to provide energy and support basic bodily functions. They include proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Here’s a quick overview of basic macronutrients for dogs.

Protein: Building Blocks

When it comes to the question “What can dogs eat?”, it’s good to know that dogs are omnivores, meaning they evolved eating and readily obtaining nutrients from both plant and animal sources.

Protein is essential for building and maintaining muscles, organs, skin, and a healthy coat. Common protein sources found in dog food include chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, fish, and eggs.

Carbohydrates: Energy and Digestive Support

Carbohydrates serve as an important source of energy and fiber. They also contribute to kibble’s texture and shelf stability.

Typical carbohydrate sources include grains, such as rice, corn, wheat, barley, or oats. Sweet potatoes, peas, and legumes are other carbohydrate sources sometimes used in dog foods.

Fats and Oils: Vital for Skin, Coat, and Energy

Fats are also considered macronutrients and serve as a source of energy, aiding in nutrient absorption, building nerve cells, and supporting skin and coat health.

Key fat sources include animal fat, fish oil, flaxseed, sunflower, or canola oil.

Fiber

Although not a macronutrient in the strictest sense, fiber is vital for maintaining proper digestion, promoting gut health, and supporting healthy bowel movements.

Common sources of fiber in dog food include whole grains, beet pulp, chicory, bran, psyllium husk, cellulose, pumpkin, and tomato pomace.

Micronutrients for Dogs^1-7

Micronutrients are essential nutrients required in smaller amounts for proper body function. They include the vitamins and minerals we are familiar with, such as iron, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin A, and a host of others. Micronutrients for dogs include 13 essential vitamins and 12 essential minerals.

A Quick Word About Additives and Specialty Ingredients^2-4,7-8

Many commercial dog foods contain ingredients designed to offer extra nutrients for dogs, enhance flavor, extend shelf life, or provide other potential benefits.

Types of additives include preservatives, probiotics, and flavor enhancers.

Some premium or specialty wellness dog foods contain ingredients to help target specific health support. Some foods, called therapeutic foods, are even formulated to help support health conditions but require your veterinarian’s recommendation or a prescription.

These might include nutraceuticals, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and L-carnitine. They may also contain less common pet food ingredients, such as vegetable oils rich in medium-chain triglycerides, increased Vitamin E to support skin, and prebiotics to support GI health.

What Ingredients Should Be Avoided in Dog Food^2-4,7-8

Often, people wonder what are the “bad” ingredients in dog food, possibly because of marketing designed to confuse consumers with misinformation. No reputable dog food manufacturer deliberately puts bad ingredients in their food. At Purina, every ingredient in our pet food has a purpose, and there are no ingredients used to serve as “fillers” or that do not offer a benefit to the pet.

Some human foods can be toxic to pets and should never be fed to dogs.

Purina’s Commitment to Quality Ingredients

Where does Purina dog food come from? If you’re curious about where Purina dog food is made, the answer is that all of the beef ingredients used in Purina products are sourced in the U.S., along with 99% of poultry ingredients. Purina is committed to quality when sourcing ingredients and regularly audits suppliers and tests ingredients to ensure they are up to standards.

There is a four-step process to finding a new supplier:

1. A supplier who has the same values and commitment to quality as Purina is identified.
2. Purina performs an assessment of the manufacturing facility, reviewing conformance to established standards.
3. The ingredients are thoroughly tested to ensure they meet the highest quality and safety standards.
4. Even after an ingredient and supplier are approved, there is ongoing monitoring and testing to ensure the standards are continuously being followed.

Choosing the Right Dog Food for Your Dog

Purina dog food formulas meet or exceed nutrient profile standards established by the AAFCO. So, you can be confident knowing your dog is eating a complete and balanced diet that contains all the essential nutrients for dogs.

When choosing a diet, in addition to asking what is dog food made of, consider your dog’s age, breed, activity, and any health conditions they may have.

• Choose diets that are appropriate for growth if you have a puppy. Senior dogs can get extra benefits from eating diets made for dogs 7+ in age because these diets often contain nutrients dogs need to support joint health, healthy aging, etc.
• If you have a toy or small dog, choose dry food made for toy/small breeds because the smaller kibble size will be easier for them to eat.
• Active dogs do well on performance diets with a higher protein and fat content, whereas less-active dogs or those who tend to easily gain weight do better on weight management diets.
• Consider diets that contain ingredients to help with digestion, skin health, and mobility if your dog needs them.

You can use the Purina Pet Food Finder to find the right diet for your dog.

As always, consult with your veterinarian before switching diets, especially if your dog has special dietary needs or medical conditions.

For more expert tips on dog health and nutrition, explore our other dog nutrition articles.

References

1. How to understand and use the nutrition facts label. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). March 5, 2024. Accessed July 5, 2025.

2. Understanding pet food. Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Accessed July 5, 2025.

3. Pet food facts and advice homepage. Pet Food Institute. Accessed July 5, 2025.

4. Global nutrition guidelines. World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Accessed July 5, 2025.  

5. Montegiove N, Calzoni E, Cesaretti A, et al. The hard choice about dry pet food: comparison of protein and lipid nutritional qualities and digestibility of three different chicken-based formulations. Animals (Basel). 2022;12(12):1538.

6. Kayser E, Finet SE, de Godoy MRC. The role of carbohydrates in canine and feline nutrition. Anim Front. 2024;14(3):28-37.

7. Di Cerbo A, Morales-Medina JC, Palmieri B, et al. Functional foods in pet nutrition: focus on dogs and cats. Res Vet Sci. 2017;112:161-166.

8. Michel KE. Unconventional diets for dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2006;36(6):1269-1281, vi-viii.