It takes less than a minute to scan a dog food label, but what you learn can be crucial to your purchase decision. Here’s what you need to know.

The Ingredients: The ingredients panel lists all food sources in the product in descending order by precooked weight. For dry food, a key ingredient should be a source of high-quality protein, such as chicken by-product meal.

The Analysis: The guaranteed analysis gives the minimum or maximum percentage breakdown of some basic nutrients in the formula: protein, fat, fibre and moisture content, for example.

The Contact Information: The manufacturer's phone number should be included. It indicates that the company is proud of its products and welcomes customer feedback. All Eukanuba™ products are 100% guaranteed or your money back.

The label also recommends how much to feed your dog each day. Use these recommendations as a starting point to determine feeding amounts, but consult your veterinarian for the ideal amount.