6d • Nutrition
How to Compare Dog Foods Using the Numbers (Dry Matter Basis)
If you’ve ever tried to compare two dog foods and thought
“Why does this look so different?” — moisture is usually the reason.
That’s where Dry Matter Basis (DMB) comes in.
Why This Calculation Exists
Dog food labels list nutrients with water included (“as-fed”).
Because:
Kibble has very little moisture
Canned/fresh food has a lot of moisture
The numbers can look misleading.
Dry matter basis removes the water so you’re comparing nutrition to nutrition, not water to water
The Simple Formula
Don’t panic — it looks scarier than it is.
Dry Matter Basis Formula
Nutrient % ÷ (100 − Moisture %) × 100
That’s it.
🐾 Example:
Example food label - what you are reading on the bag.
Protein: 26%
Moisture: 10%
Step 1: Subtract moisture from 100
100 − 10 = 90
Step 2: Divide protein by that number
26 ÷ 90 = 0.289
Step 3: Multiply by 100
0.289 × 100 = 28.9%
👉 Dry matter protein = ~29%
Why This Matters (Especially for Wet vs Dry Food)
A canned food might say:
Protein: 8%
Moisture: 75%
Using the same formula:
100 − 75 = 25
8 ÷ 25 = 0.32
0.32 × 100 = 32% protein (dry matter)
On paper it looked “low protein” — but nutritionally, it’s not.
You do not need to calculate this every time.
This tool is helpful when:
Comparing dry vs wet food
Working with a vet or nutritionist
Trying to understand why labels look confusing
Your dog’s health, body condition, and digestion still matter more than the math.
Takeaway
The guaranteed analysis: (what is on the bag)
Only gives starting information
Doesn’t tell the whole story
Dry matter basis helps you:
Compare foods fairly
Avoid marketing confusion
Ask better questions
💬 Community Reflection
Have you ever avoided comparing foods because the numbers felt overwhelming?
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How to Compare Dog Foods Using the Numbers (Dry Matter Basis)
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