Guides
How to switch your dog's food without an upset stomach
Most stomach upsets after a food change come from switching all at once. A week of mixing usually avoids them.
3 min read
- feeding
- switching
- sensitive-stomach
Right Dog Food Editorial Team
Research and editing
The editorial team collects ingredient and nutrient data from manufacturer labels, checks it against the source, and writes our guides. Health topics are sent for veterinary review before they are marked as reviewed.
Articles
Guides
Puppy food vs adult dog food, and when to switch
The name on the bag says "puppy", but the label sentence is what decides whether a food supports growth.
3 min read
- puppy
- life-stage
- aafco
Guides
Wet vs dry dog food, compared with real numbers
Canned food looks low in protein on the label because three quarters of it is water. Take the water out and the picture flips.
4 min read
- wet-food
- dry-food
- nutrition
Guides
What "complete and balanced" means on a dog food label
One sentence near the ingredient list decides whether a food can be your dog's whole diet. Most owners never read it.
5 min read
- labels
- aafco
- life-stage
Guides
Dry matter basis, explained with real numbers
A wet food that says 8% protein can contain more protein than a kibble that says 26%. The difference is water.
5 min read
- labels
- nutrition
- protein
Guides
Grain-free dog food and DCM: what the FDA found
The investigation raised a real question and didn't settle it. Here is the timeline in plain terms, with the FDA's own pages linked.
5 min read
- grain-free
- dcm
- heart
Guides
How to spot hidden chicken in dog food
Checking for the word "chicken" is not enough. Meal, fat, broth, digest and "poultry" can all bring it back into the bowl.
5 min read
- allergies
- ingredients
- chicken
Guides
How much to feed your dog: the calorie math, step by step
The feeding chart on the bag is a starting range for an average dog. Your dog's weight, neutering status and activity move the number a lot.
5 min read
- feeding
- calories
- weight
Guides
How to read a dog food label, section by section
The front of the bag is marketing. The back is regulated. Here is what each regulated part means and how to use it.
6 min read
- labels
- aafco
- ingredients
Blog
What "natural flavor" means on a dog food label
Two words near the end of the ingredient list cause more confusion for allergy owners than anything else on the bag.
4 min read
- ingredients
- allergies
- labels
Blog
Why kcal per cup matters more than the price per bag
The cheapest bag is not always the cheapest food. Compare what one day of feeding costs, and the calorie statement does most of the work.
4 min read
- calories
- cost
- feeding
Blog
Why every product on Right Dog Food shows its source
Dog food recipes change without much notice. A database without dates and sources can't tell you whether it's still right.
4 min read
- methodology
- trust
- data
Regulation
Pet food label modernization: what's changing on US bags
The new labels will look more like the nutrition facts panel on human food. They'll arrive state by state, not all at once.
2 min read
- labels
- aafco
- regulation
Site update
Our data methodology is now public
Every number on our product pages comes from a named source with a check date. Here is the process behind them.
2 min read
- methodology
- data
- site-update
Research
FDA's diet and DCM investigation: where it stands in 2026
The December 2022 update is the FDA's latest public word on the question we found. The question it raised is still open.
3 min read
- dcm
- grain-free
- fda