Quality

How to read a Certificate of Analysis

Key COA fields to look for: identity, purity, lab details, batch references, and how lot numbers connect label to paperwork.

Educational only. Not veterinary or medical advice. Not for human use. Consult a licensed veterinarian about any animal-care decision.

Why a COA exists

A Certificate of Analysis is a document that describes testing results for a specific batch or lot. It is how a buyer checks that the unit in hand matches a lab report — not a brochure claim.

A COA is only useful if you can connect it to the physical product. That connection usually runs through a lot number printed on the label.

Fields worth reading first

Identity: what material the report is about. Purity or assay fields: what the lab measured against the stated specification. Lab name or testing context: who performed or reported the analysis. Batch or lot reference: the bridge back to the vial or bottle label. Date fields: when testing or release was documented.

If a brand says “third-party tested” but will not show a lot-matched COA path, treat that as incomplete transparency.

How Big Dog plans to surface COAs

Our Standards and COA pages exist so documentation status is first-class navigation — not a footer afterthought. As verified lots are ready for public listing, the goal is lot-level lookup and clear document status on product pages.

Until a lot is published, we will not invent reports. Empty promises are worse than an honest “pending.”