Aafco does not provide a list of approved dog foods however, they do provide a list of nutrients and their profiles that would make a dog food ideal in terms of nourishment. Please refer to the attached list that contains nutrients categorised in terms of dry matter and profiles.
When you buy dog food, if it contains the below-mentioned nutrients comparable to the below mentioned table then you can assume that it would be beneficial for your dog as the manufacturer has made the product according to the guidelines set by Aafco.
AAFCO DOG FOOD NUTRIENT PROFILES
BASED ON DRY MATTER
| Nutrients | Units DM Basis | Growth & Reproduction Minimum | Adult Maintenance Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Protein | % | 22.5 | 18 | |
| Arginine | % | 1 | 0.51 | |
| Histidine | % | 0.44 | 0.19 | |
| Isoleucine | % | 0.71 | 0.38 | |
| Leucine | % | 1.29 | 0.68 | |
| Lysine | % | 0.9 | 0.63 | |
| Methionine | % | 0.35 | 0.33 | |
| Methionine-cystine | % | 0.7 | 0.65 | |
| Phenylalanine | % | 0.83 | 0.45 | |
| Phenylalanine-tyrosine | % | 1.3 | 0.74 | |
| Threonine | % | 1.04 | 0.48 | |
| Trytophan | % | 0.2 | 0.16 | |
| Valine | % | 0.68 | 0.49 | |
| Crude Fat c | % | 8.5 | 5.5 | |
| Linoleic acid | % | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| alpha-Linolenic acid | % | 0.08 | NDd | |
| Eicosapentaenoic + Docosahexaenoic acid | % | 0.05 | NDd | |
| Vitamins & Other | ||||
| Vitamin A | IU/kg | 5000 | 5000 | 250000 |
| Vitamin D | IU/kg | 500 | 500 | 3000 |
| Vitamin E g | IU/kg | 50 | 50 | |
| Thiamine | mg/kg | 2.25 | 2.25 | |
| Riboflavin | mg/kg | 5.2 | 5.2 | |
| Pantothenic acid | mg/kg | 12 | 12 | |
| Niacin | mg/kg | 13.6 | 13.6 | |
| Pyridoxine | mg/kg | 1.5 | 1.5 | |
| Folic acid | mg/kg | 0.216 | 0.216 | |
| Vitamin B12 | mg/kg | 0.028 | 0.028 | |
| Choline | mg/kg | 1360 | 1360 |
AAFCO DOG FOOD NUTRIENT PROFILES BASED ON NUTRIENT PROFILES
| Nutrients | Units per 1000 kcal ME | Growth & Reproduction Minimum | Adult Maintenance Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Protein | g | 56.3 | 45 | |
| Arginine | g | 2.5 | 1.28 | |
| Histidine | g | 1.1 | 0.48 | |
| Isoleucine | g | 1.78 | 0.95 | |
| Leucine | g | 3.23 | 1.7 | |
| Lysine | g | 2.25 | 1.58 | |
| Methionine | g | 0.88 | 0.83 | |
| Methionine-cystine | g | 1.75 | 1.63 | |
| Phenylalanine | g | 2.08 | 1.13 | |
| Phenylalanine-tyrosine | g | 3.25 | 1.85 | |
| Threonine | g | 2.6 | 1.2 | |
| Trytophan | g | 0.5 | 0.4 | |
| Valine | g | 1.7 | 1.23 | |
| Crude Fat c | % | 21.3 | 13.8 | |
| Linoleic acid | % | 3.3 | 2.8 | |
| alpha-Linolenic acid | % | 0.2 | ND | |
| Eicosapentaenoic + Docosahexaenoic acid | % | 0.1 | ND | |
| Vitamins & Other | ||||
| Vitamin A | IU/kg | 1250 | 1250 | 62500 |
| Vitamin D | IU/kg | 125 | 125 | 750 |
| Vitamin E g | IU/kg | 12.5 | 12.5 | |
| Thiamine | mg | 0.56 | 0.56 | |
| Riboflavin | mg | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| Pantothenic acid | mg | 3 | 3 | |
| Niacin | mg | 3.4 | 3.4 | |
| Pyridoxine | mg | 0.38 | 0.38 | |
| Folic acid | mg | 0.054 | 0.054 | |
| Vitamin B12 | mg | 0.007 | 0.007 | |
| Choline | mg | 340 | 340 | |
| Minerals | ||||
| Calcium | g | 3 | 1.25 | 4.5 |
| Phosphorus | g | 2.5 | 1 | 4 |
| Ca:P Ratio | 1 ratio 1 | 1 ratio 1 | 2 ratio 1 | |
| Potassium | g | 1.5 | 1.5 | |
| Sodium | g | 0.8 | 0.2 | |
| Chloride | g | 1.1 | 0.3 | |
| Magnesium | mg | 0.1 | 0.15 | |
| Iron d | mg | 22 | 10 | |
| Copper e | mg | 3.1 | 1.83 | |
| Manganese | mg | 1.8 | 1.25 | |
| Zinc | mg | 25 | 20 | |
| Iodine | mg | 0.25 | 0.25 | 2.75 |
| Selenium | mg | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.5 |