Nutritional analysis decoded in 2 minutes
Protein, fat, ash, moisture… The numbers on the back of the bag seem cryptic. Yet they reveal far more than they appear.
💡 In brief: Nutritional analysis lists 6 to 8 components as percent of product as-fed. To compare two products, convert to "dry matter" (otherwise you're comparing apples to oranges between dry and wet).
On every bag of kibble or can of wet food, you find a table like:
Protein: 32% — Fat: 16% — Ash: 7.5% — Fiber: 3% — Moisture: 8%
What do these numbers mean? What you need to know in under 2 minutes.
1. Crude protein
It's the total amount of nitrogen × 6.25, converted to "protein equivalent". Attention: it does not distinguish animal from plant protein, nor digestible from "phantom" protein (beaks, feathers, horns).
Quick benchmarks (dry basis):
- Adult dog: 22–28% minimum
- Athletic dog / puppy: 28–35%
- Adult cat: 32–38%
- Senior cat: ≥ 40%
2. Fat
Primary energy source in dogs and cats. Too much = weight gain. Too little = dull coat, lack of energy.
Benchmarks (dry basis):
- Standard adult dog: 10–15%
- Athletic dog: 18–25%
- Cat: 12–20%
- Senior / sedentary cat: 10–14%
3. Crude ash
What remains when you burn the food: that's the total of minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium…). Useful for detecting excess mineral.
📌 Benchmarks: Ash > 10% dry = too much, often sign of poor-quality bone/animal meal. < 5% = malnutrition risk.
4. Crude fiber
2–4% for a standard dog, 5–8% for an obese dog or chronic kidney disease. Beyond that, the food "fills without nourishing".
5. Moisture
Water content included:
- Kibble: 8–10%
- Cans / pouches: 70–82%
- Raw (BARF): 60–70%
It's this variable that makes direct comparison misleading: a can at 8% protein as-fed equals ~35% on dry matter.
The secret: convert to dry matter
The magic formula for comparing wet and dry:
% dry matter = (% as-fed × 100) ÷ (100 − moisture)
Example: A wet food showing "10% protein, 78% moisture" = (10 × 100) ÷ (100 − 78) = 45% protein dry matter. Looked at that way, it's excellent.
Conversely: kibble "38% protein, 10% moisture" = (38 × 100) ÷ 90 = 42% dry matter. Less rich than the previous wet food.
Traps to know
⚠️ Beware: Some makers put "empty" plant proteins to inflate the number. If the ingredient list starts "wheat, corn, wheat gluten, hydrolyzed animal protein…", your announced 30% protein is largely plant-based. Read the ingredient list before the numbers.
What is NOT displayed but matters
- Omega-3 and 6: rarely on the front, search the fine print.
- Phosphorus and calcium: critical for seniors (renal) and large-breed puppies (growth).
- Taurine: mandatory in cats, useful in some dogs at risk.
- Soluble vs insoluble fiber: total fiber doesn't distinguish.
Labels that add info
- FEDIAF: most EU products follow these guidelines — it's the baseline.
- AAFCO: stricter US label, common on premium US brands.
- Organic (AB, Ecocert): has nothing to do with nutritional quality, only ingredient origin.
How SokoScan uses this
Our Nutrition pillar score (50% of the PawScore) is built directly on these components converted to dry matter, compared to the ideal range for species and product type. That's why species and type (dry/wet/raw) are critical to specify.
✅ Key takeaway: Always convert to dry matter for comparison. Prioritize protein + fat + ash. Verify the ingredient list confirms the numbers (named animal proteins first).
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