Compare pet foods not by eye-catching claims on the package, but by the ingredient list, guaranteed analysis, and how well the food meets your pet’s needs. Check which protein and fat sources are listed, how clearly the ingredients are described, and whether the food suits your pet’s species, age, and health.
Pet nutrition calls for attention to detail: similar promises on packages can conceal different ingredients. Let’s look at how to read a label and compare foods so that your choice is based on specific figures, not advertising language.
| Measure | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Protein on the package | 5% | 20% |
| Moisture | 75% | 10% |
| Protein on a dry-matter basis | 20% | about 22.2% |
- 5% protein in the example product with 75% moisture
- 75% moisture in the example product with 5% protein
- 20% protein on a dry-matter basis in the first example
- 22,2% approximate protein on a dry-matter basis in the second example
How does ingredient order help you compare pet food?
Ingredient order gives you a sense of the components’ relative place in the recipe, but it does not show the exact share of each one. Ingredients are usually listed in descending order by quantity, but the materials provided do not specify a single labeling standard that would allow you to calculate percentages from an ingredient’s position.
The names of the ingredients matter more than their place in the list: “meat ingredients” and “animal-derived products” do not reveal exactly what raw materials were used. Even a specific ingredient name with a percentage needs context: the label “14% fresh herring meat” gives the share of the fresh ingredient before moisture is removed, so it is not valid to compare that 14% directly with the share of a dehydrated ingredient.
What to check when comparing
- Name: Look for a specific protein source, not general terms such as “meat ingredients.”
- Percentage: Compare the stated shares, bearing in mind that a fresh product contains moisture, while a dehydrated one does not.
- Position in the list: Use it as a guide to the relative order of ingredients, not as a substitute for percentages.
For example, “14% fresh herring meat” tells you more than a general label for animal-based ingredients, but without adjusting for moisture, it does not let you conclude that the finished food contains more herring than dehydrated ingredients. Compare ingredient names and stated percentages together.
What does a pet food’s guaranteed analysis show?
The guaranteed analysis shows the stated levels of nutrients in the food as percentages of the product, including water. That is why protein percentages on packages cannot be compared directly if the foods have different moisture levels: some of a wet food’s weight comes from water.
Converting to a dry-matter basis
To compare protein in two foods, convert the amount to a dry-matter basis—the share of the product without water. Formula: dry-matter value = package value ÷ (100 − moisture) × 100. For example, with 5% protein and 75% moisture, the calculation gives 20% protein on a dry-matter basis; with 20% protein and 10% moisture, it gives about 22.2%.
- First food: 5% protein at 75% moisture — 20% protein on a dry-matter basis.
- Second food: 20% protein at 10% moisture — about 22.2% protein on a dry-matter basis.
- Comparison: Compare like with like—protein with protein, fat with fat; you cannot compare the protein in one food with the fat in another.
How does moisture change protein comparisons?
Moisture changes protein comparisons because water makes up part of a wet food’s weight: once it is excluded, protein content is assessed on a dry-matter basis. So a food with 5% protein and 75% moisture contains 20% protein by this calculation: 5 ÷ (100 − 75) × 100.
For a food with 20% protein and 10% moisture, the same calculation gives about 22.2%: 20 ÷ (100 − 10) × 100. On the package, the first product appears much lower in protein—5% versus 20%—but after conversion, the difference between the examples is about 2.2 percentage points.
- 5% protein, 75% moisture: 20% protein on a dry-matter basis.
- 20% protein, 10% moisture: about 22.2% protein on a dry-matter basis.
For an accurate comparison, you need the moisture level as well as the stated protein content: without a moisture value on the package, you cannot determine the dry-matter share and make this conversion. Compare figures calculated on the same basis, not just the protein percentages “as is.”
Which label claims are not proof of quality?
Labels such as “premium,” advertising descriptions, and large percentages on the front of the package are not proof of food quality: you need to check the ingredient list and guaranteed analysis. These are different sections of the label: the first names the components, while the second lists nutrient levels. Neither a general advertising claim nor a single figure can replace both lists.
Terms such as “meat ingredients” and “animal-derived products” do not say exactly what raw materials were used. These terms do not let you identify a specific protein source or compare it with a food that names an individual ingredient. A percentage next to an ingredient clarifies its share, but on its own it does not explain the quality of the overall diet: also compare the other ingredients and the guaranteed analysis figures.
How to read the figures on the package
Protein percentage without taking moisture into account can be misleading when comparing dry and wet food. For example, in the calculation above, a food with 5% protein and 75% moisture provides 20% protein on a dry-matter basis, while a food with 20% protein and 10% moisture provides 22.2%. This is an example of how to compare foods, not a recommendation to choose food with a specific protein level.
- Advertising and claims on the front of the package: They do not replace the ingredient list and analysis.
- “Meat ingredients”: This does not reveal the specific raw materials.
- Percentage next to an ingredient: Useful, but you also need to check the other ingredients and the analysis.
The materials provided do not set a universal protein threshold or a single standard for food composition; you cannot assess a food based on one figure alone.
When can comparing labels be misleading?
Label comparisons can be misleading if you do not account for moisture, ingredient form, and uncertainty about the composition: the same protein percentage in different foods does not mean they have the same proportion of protein on a dry-matter basis.
- Moisture: At 75% moisture, a food with a minimum of 5% protein provides 20% protein on a dry-matter basis; at 10% moisture, a food with 20% protein provides about 22.2%. That is why the original 5% and 20% figures cannot be compared directly.
- Ingredient form: A fresh ingredient contains water and may therefore take up more space in the list by weight than a dehydrated ingredient. For example, fresh herring meat and dehydrated chicken cannot be compared gram for gram: dry matter shows the share without water.
- Wording: Terms such as “meat ingredients” or “animal-derived products” do not disclose the exact components or their shares—even when they appear at the beginning of the list.
What conversion does not tell you
Converting to a dry-matter basis makes protein comparisons more accurate because it excludes water, but it does not establish whether a diet is right for a particular animal. It does not reveal exactly which components are covered by a general term, and it does not replace an assessment of your pet’s needs.
How can you compare two foods before buying?
To compare two foods, note the protein and moisture percentages for each, convert protein to a dry-matter basis, and separately assess how specifically the ingredients are named. This accounts for differences in water content: the protein percentages on the package are not always directly comparable on their own.
- Food with 5% protein and 75% moisture: Dry matter is 25%, so protein on that basis is 5 ÷ 25 × 100 = 20%.
- Food with 20% protein and 10% moisture: Dry matter is 90%, and protein on a dry-matter basis is 20 ÷ 90 × 100, or about 22.2%.
After converting, compare 20% and about 22.2%—these figures are on the same basis, rather than shares of the food including water. The result helps you compare protein specifically; it does not by itself determine which food is better for your pet.
What to check in the ingredients
Check whether the ingredients are named specifically or described using general terms such as “animal-derived products.” This wording does not reveal exactly which components fall into that group. If the package does not list moisture or the value you need, mark the comparison as incomplete: do not substitute an assumed value or present a calculation based on incomplete information as exact.
Key Takeaways
- Compare protein after converting to a dry-matter basis: 5% at 75% moisture gives 20%.
- At 20% protein and 10% moisture, the result is about 22.2% on a dry-matter basis.
- “Meat ingredients” does not specify the raw materials.
- Fresh and dehydrated ingredients cannot be compared directly by weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why convert pet food protein to a dry-matter basis?
Which of the example foods has more protein after conversion?
What does “animal-derived products” mean?
Can you compare foods if the package does not list moisture?
Sources
- RBC Ukraine — “PRACTIK Cat and Dog Food: How to Choose Quality Food—Tips”
- VETgirl CE Blogs — “How to Interpret Pet Food Labels”
- zoodom.ua — “How to Read Dog or Cat Food Packaging Correctly: Tips and Recommendations from Zoodom Online Store Specialists”
- zoostatus.ru — “How to Tell Whether Food Is High Quality”
- feedsmart.ru — “Cat and Dog Food Ratings, Food Analysis and Comparison, Comparative Table — Feed Your Pet Right: Analyzer, Food Classification, Choose Food”
