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A red-meat protein, fattier than chicken and with a strong flavor many dogs prefer. Fresh lamb is weighed wet, so it sits higher on the list than the meal form would. Lamb was once the standard novel protein for allergy diets, and with wider use it now shows up as a reported allergen too, though still less often than beef or chicken.

A red-meat protein, higher in fat and iron than poultry. Fresh or deboned beef is mostly water and ranks higher on the label than its dry contribution; beef meal is the concentrated form. Beef is among the most common food allergens reported in both dogs and cats, probably because it has been fed so widely for so long. Beef by-products such as liver and heart are listed separately.

Organ meat from the named animal, or unnamed when the label just says liver. Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods there is, rich in vitamin A, copper, iron and the B group, and most pets love the taste, which is why it is used both as an ingredient and as a flavor coating. For allergies, the species is what matters, and beef liver is beef. Unnamed liver can come from any species and may vary by batch.

A root vegetable used as a carbohydrate source, especially in grain-free foods. It supplies energy, fiber and beta carotene and is well digested by dogs. There is no good evidence it beats rice or oats nutritionally, though it is a reasonable choice for pets that do poorly on grains. Like any starch, a food that lists it high is a starch-heavy food.

Broccoli florets or stems, dried and added in small amounts for fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. It is safe for dogs and cats at food levels. Very large quantities contain compounds that can irritate the gut, which matters for a dog raiding the vegetable drawer. A fraction of a percent in kibble is nowhere near that, and it does not change the food's nutrition in any measurable way.

A fruit added in small amounts for antioxidants and a bit of fiber. Blueberries are safe for dogs and cats, and the pigments that color them are the same ones linked to antioxidant activity in people. In a complete food they appear well down the list in small amounts, so they are a modest extra and should not decide which bag you buy.

A vegetable that contributes a little fiber and beta-carotene and a lot of label appeal. In dry food it is usually present in small amounts well down the list. It is not an allergen of concern and not a meaningful protein or calorie source. Fine to see; not a reason to choose one food over another.

A vegetable used mainly as a source of soluble fiber for stool quality, and for label appeal. Amounts in a complete food are small. Not an allergen of concern and not a meaningful protein or calorie source.

A dark leafy green, dried and added in small amounts, mostly for the vitamins and the look of the ingredient list. Kale is safe for dogs and cats at food levels. Like spinach it contains oxalate, and in quantity it is a consideration for pets prone to calcium oxalate stones, but the fraction of a percent in a complete food is not a factor. At these amounts it is there for the ingredient list and does not change the nutrition of the food.

A fruit added for fiber, a little natural sweetness and antioxidants. Apple flesh is safe for dogs and cats. The seeds contain a trace of a cyanide-forming compound, which matters for a dog eating whole apples and is far below any concern at the amounts of pomace or dried apple in a food. Apple pomace is what remains after juicing and is mostly fiber. In either form it appears in small amounts and does not change the nutrition of the food in a meaningful way.

A small fruit added mostly for its association with urinary health. Cranberry compounds can make it harder for some bacteria to cling to the bladder wall in laboratory studies, but there is no good evidence that the amount in a pet food prevents or treats urinary infections. At label levels, a small amount well down the list, treat it as a minor fruit that adds a little fiber and antioxidants.

A leafy green added in small amounts for vitamins, minerals and color. Spinach is high in oxalate, which binds calcium and in large quantities is a concern for pets prone to calcium oxalate bladder stones. The amounts in a complete food are tiny, often a fraction of a percent, so for most pets it is a token vegetable with no nutritional or safety weight.