Added sugars / sweeteners

Corn syrup and sugar show up in pet food — especially soft, semi-moist pouches — to boost taste and keep the texture chewy, not to feed your pet. Dogs and cats have no nutritional need for added sugar, and a steady diet of it tracks with weight gain, dental disease and diabetes, just like in people. If sugar or corn syrup sits high on the ingredient list, that’s a treat masquerading as a meal.