Understanding Pet Food Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis on a pet food bag lists only minimum and maximum percentages for crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture — numbers that can make two very different foods look identical. A more accurate comparison looks at grams of a nutrient per calorie rather than the percentage on the label. Here is how to read guaranteed analysis numbers the way a veterinary nutritionist would.
What “Crude” Actually Means
What is required on the bag: minimum % of crude protein and fat, maximum % of crude fiber, and moisture. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down. Crude is a bit of an odd word for pet food. It is more of a chemistry term referring to everything in the said food bag that falls into that particular category. So, for example, in the case of “crude protein” it would include anything that contributes nitrogen to the food; this can include the actual meat, feathers, connective tissue, and fillers.
Why Minimums and Maximums Are Misleading
Minimums and maximums are just that. They are vague and, in many ways, useless. A food with a minimum of 18% crude protein (which is required for adult dog food) could have 18% or 90% protein in it. This says nothing of the quality of said protein or differing needs between a Chihuahua and a hunting dog. As an aside, 18% minimum crude protein is bare bones for an adult dog food. This does not necessarily mean it is the optimal amount of protein for your pet.
A Better Way to Compare Foods
A more accurate way to compare protein, fiber, and fat in a food is to look at the amount (grams) of a nutrient per calorie. Two dry foods might both show 28% crude protein, but one has 350 kcal per cup and the other has 500 kcal per cup. The dog eating the more calorie dense food is getting significantly more protein per day in the same portion size; the percentage looks identical, the reality is not. The % protein value required on labeling tells you how much protein is in the bag, while grams per kcal tells you how much protein your dog is actually eating.
Guaranteed analysis is one of eight required elements on a pet food label. See the full breakdown in our complete pet food label guide.
Want to understand what is actually contributing to that protein percentage? Read What Pet Food Ingredients Really Mean.
Have questions about your pet’s specific diet? Our veterinary team is happy to walk through your pet’s current food at any wellness visit. Schedule a visit with Healthy Paws Animal Hospital.