Author: Sam Ortega

Sam Ortega is the founding editor of KibbleNest, a lifelong dog owner and canine-nutrition researcher who reads pet-food labels the way some people read ingredient panels at the grocery store. Sam is not a veterinarian, and nothing here is veterinary advice; every guide is written to help you ask your vet better questions, leaning on AAFCO standards and honest, hands-on label reading.

Puppy Food

Best Dog Food for Large Breeds: What to Look For

Large and giant breed dogs have specific nutritional requirements that differ meaningfully from small and medium breeds. Getting these requirements right during puppyhood is especially important — the wrong food during growth can contribute to developmental orthopedic diseases that affect a large-breed dog’s entire life. Here is what to look for at every life stage. […]

Senior & Labels

Dog Food Protein Sources Explained: Whole Meat vs. Meal vs. By-Products

The first few ingredients on a dog food label determine most of what you are actually paying for, and protein source is the most important of those ingredients. Understanding the difference between whole meat, meat meal, and by-product meal — and what each actually means — is the foundation of label literacy for dog food. […]

Senior & Labels

What Is AAFCO? Dog Food Standards Explained

AAFCO — the Association of American Feed Control Officials — is the organization that sets the nutritional standards for pet food sold in the United States. Every reputable dog food brand references AAFCO compliance on its label. Understanding what that compliance actually means, and what it does not guarantee, is the most important foundation for […]