Food and supplement records

List every product

Include the main food, treats, chews, supplements, leftovers and products mixed into water. Record the actual product name and amount offered, not just a broad ingredient description.

Keep evidence

Photograph labels and keep batch details when available. Add when each product began and why it was introduced; distinguish a veterinary recommendation from a seller’s suggestion.

Ask before adding

Take the full list to your veterinarian before starting a supplement or changing a medically managed diet. This page is a recordkeeping guide and makes no efficacy claims for products.

When several people feed the dog, appoint one person to maintain the record. Note missed meals and discarded portions as well as food offered; the two amounts may differ.

If the exact amount is unknown, record that uncertainty rather than inventing a precise number. Take a measuring container or photograph to the appointment when it helps explain the routine.

Keep the product traceable

The FDA’s pet-food storage guidance recommends retaining the original packaging; when using a storage container for dry food, it advises placing the bag inside rather than pouring the food directly in. Original labels preserve product, batch and expiry information that can matter if a concern or recall arises. Record which batch is being fed when several dogs share supplies. Keep scoops and storage equipment identified and cleaned appropriately. A feeding record should make it possible to reconstruct what an individual dog received, rather than merely listing brands present somewhere on the property.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
• FDA: Pet-food storage (opens in a new tab)

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