When shopping for dog food, it’s easy to get drawn in by the attractive packaging. Many dog food brands often feature beautiful photos of fresh vegetables, juicy meats, and vibrant fruits. But are those wholesome ingredients really as abundant as the packaging suggests? In many cases, they aren’t. This is where the Salt Divider Rule comes into play—a key piece of information that savvy pet owners need to know to truly understand what’s in their dog’s food.

What Is the Salt Divider Rule?

The Salt Divider Rule is an important aspect of pet food labeling, and it reveals more than you might think. By regulation, dog food ingredients are listed in order of weight, with the heaviest ingredients listed first. However, salt plays a unique role. In most dog food formulas, salt is included at around 1% or less of the total recipe because dogs, like humans, need only a small amount of it in their diet. This means that all combined ingredients listed after salt make up less than 1% of the entire recipe.

This is where the marketing comes into play. Many dog food brands will add tiny amounts of appealing ingredients with promising health benefits. They do this to create an image of a healthy, nutritious product on the packaging—using photos that make these ingredients look plentiful. However, if these ingredients are listed after salt on the ingredient list, they contribute very little to the actual nutritional value of the food.

What Does This Mean for Your Dog’s Nutrition?

The Salt Divider Rule means that many dog foods rely on clever marketing to distract from the fact that the bulk of the food may consist of lower-quality, less nutritious ingredients. If you’re only getting trace amounts of the “superfoods” advertised on the bag, your dog isn’t reaping the full benefits that these foods should provide.

At Lincoln Naturals, we believe in full transparency and ingredient integrity. In our freeze-dried dog food, every ingredient is there for a purpose, and you can actually see the high-quality components like real chicken, salmon, and superfoods like broccoli and blueberries. We don’t rely on misleading marketing tactics, and we never hide behind the Salt Divider Rule to make it seem like there’s more of a healthy ingredient than there actually is.

Why Transparency Matters

When it comes to your dog’s health, transparency is essential. Don’t be fooled by pretty packaging and tiny amounts of trendy ingredients. Instead, focus on foods that offer true nutrition in every bite. By understanding the Salt Divider Rule, you can make more informed choices for your dog’s diet, ensuring they get the nutrition they deserve—not just a cleverly marketed illusion.

At Lincoln Naturals, we’re proud to offer food that’s not only high-quality but also honest. What you see is what you get—delicious, nutritious food made from real ingredients your dog will love, without any of the smoke and mirrors found in other brands.