Every dog food sold in the US carries a small box of numbers called the guaranteed analysis. It's one of the few standardized pieces of information you'll find on every bag, can and fresh food pack, which makes it useful for comparisons. It's also easy to misread, especially when you're comparing foods with very different moisture levels.
This guide explains what the guaranteed analysis does and doesn't tell you, how to convert to a dry matter basis so you can compare fresh food with kibble, and why the panel is only one part of choosing a food. It's general information; your vet is the right person to help decide what your dog needs.
What the guaranteed analysis is
Pet food labels in the US are regulated by the FDA and by state feed laws, most of which follow model regulations published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Those rules require a guaranteed analysis listing at least four values:
- Crude protein (minimum)
- Crude fat (minimum)
- Crude fiber (maximum)
- Moisture (maximum)
Brands often add more guarantees, such as calcium, phosphorus, omega fatty acids or other nutrients. Once a guarantee is on the label, the brand is held to it.
"Minimum" and "maximum" matter
The numbers are guarantees, not exact measurements. A food listing crude protein at a minimum of 10% contains at least that much; the real figure may be higher. A food listing moisture at a maximum of 75% contains no more than that. So the panel gives you boundaries rather than a precise recipe breakdown.
"Crude" describes the lab method, not the quality
"Crude" refers to the standardized laboratory method used to estimate the nutrient, not to the quality of the ingredient. Crude protein, for example, is estimated from nitrogen content. It tells you how much protein is present, not how digestible it is or where it came from.
Why you can't compare fresh food and kibble as printed
Here's the most common mistake. A fresh dog food might list crude protein at 10% minimum, while a kibble lists 26% minimum. At a glance, the kibble looks far higher in protein. But the fresh food may be around 70–75% water, while kibble is typically around 10%. The water dilutes every other number on the fresh food's panel.
To compare fairly, you remove the water from the equation and look at the nutrients as a share of the dry material. That's called the dry matter basis.
How to calculate dry matter basis
The math takes one minute and a phone calculator.
- Find the moisture percentage on the label.
- Subtract it from 100 to get the dry matter percentage.
- Divide the nutrient percentage by the dry matter percentage, then multiply by 100.
A worked example (illustrative numbers)
Imagine two labels. These numbers are made up for the example, not taken from any specific product.
- Food A (fresh): crude protein 10% min, moisture 75% max. Dry matter = 100 − 75 = 25%. Protein on a dry matter basis = 10 ÷ 25 × 100 = 40%.
- Food B (kibble): crude protein 26% min, moisture 10% max. Dry matter = 100 − 10 = 90%. Protein on a dry matter basis = 26 ÷ 90 × 100 ≈ 28.9%.
Printed as-is, Food B looks higher in protein. On a dry matter basis, Food A is higher. Because the label shows a maximum moisture and minimum protein, these are approximations, but they're close enough for a sensible comparison.
You can do the same calculation for fat and fiber.
Comparing by calories instead
Another way to compare foods is per calorie rather than per gram. US labels must state calorie content, usually as kilocalories per kilogram (kcal/kg) and per cup, can or other household unit. Because your dog eats to meet an energy need, looking at nutrients in relation to calories can be even more useful than dry matter, especially for weight management. It's more involved to calculate by hand, and some brands publish nutrient-per-1,000-kcal figures on request or on their sites. Your vet can help if you need this level of detail.
Calorie content also drives how much to feed. See portion sizing.
What the guaranteed analysis can't tell you
The panel is helpful, but it leaves a lot out.
- Digestibility and ingredient quality. Two foods with identical numbers can differ in how well a dog digests them.
- Whether the food is complete and balanced. That's the job of the nutritional adequacy statement.
- Exact amounts. Minimums and maximums are boundaries, not a precise nutrient profile. Many brands publish a "typical analysis" on their websites with average values, which can be more informative.
- Carbohydrates. US labels aren't required to list carbohydrate content. People sometimes estimate it by subtracting protein, fat, fiber, moisture and ash from 100, but ash often isn't listed, and the result is a rough estimate at best.
- Whether the food suits your dog. Age, size, activity, health conditions and individual tolerance matter more than any single number.
Is more protein always better?
Not necessarily. Healthy adult dogs need adequate protein, and AAFCO's nutrient profiles set minimum levels for growth and for adult maintenance. Beyond meeting needs, "more" isn't automatically better for every dog. Some dogs with certain medical conditions may need specific protein or phosphorus levels set by their vet. Be wary of marketing that treats one number as the key to health.
Reading the panel on fresh dog food sites
Fresh food brands typically publish the guaranteed analysis for each recipe on its product page or in a nutrition PDF. On Fido's Pad, our recipe labels comparison lays out the published figures for several fresh recipes side by side, with the source page and the date we checked. We show numbers as the brand prints them (as-fed), so use the dry matter method above when you compare them with a kibble.
A quick checklist for reading any label
- Find the moisture value first.
- Convert protein, fat and fiber to a dry matter basis before comparing foods with different moisture levels.
- Check the calorie statement and use it for portions.
- Confirm the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement fits your dog's life stage.
- Read the ingredient list for context, not as the whole story.
- Ask your vet if your dog has any health condition that affects diet.
Common questions
Why is my dog's fresh food so low in fat on the label?
It's probably the water. Convert to dry matter basis and the number will likely look very different.
Does a higher fiber maximum mean the food is high in fiber?
Not necessarily. A maximum is a ceiling; the food may contain less. A brand's typical analysis, if published, gives a better idea.
Where can I learn more about pet food labels?
The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine publishes consumer information about pet food labeling, and AAFCO publishes consumer resources about reading labels. Your veterinarian is the best source for advice specific to your dog.
About this guide
Our guides explain how to read labels, plans and specs so you can make your own choice with your vet. We don’t make health claims, we haven’t hands-on tested products, and we don’t publish invented statistics or ratings. Product facts come from official brand pages. How we work.
Product images are illustrative stock photos, not the exact products listed. Photo credits