Try the calculation with your label
Use typical or measured as-fed values for both exact formulas. Guaranteed minima and maxima cannot give this precise comparison. Inputs stay in this page; no account is required.
This is label arithmetic, not a daily feeding target, a food-quality score or a suitability recommendation. Unknown inputs remain unknown.
Keep the label's qualifications
US guaranteed analysis often reports minimum protein and maximum moisture. UK packs use analytical constituents. Copy the wording and units with the values.
- Do not turn a minimum, maximum or typical value into an exact laboratory measurement.
- If moisture is absent, ask the manufacturer for it. Missing moisture is not zero moisture.
A calculation with invented typical values
For this example, assume both foods have typical values supplied by their manufacturers. Dry matter percentage = 100 minus moisture percentage. Protein on a dry-matter basis = protein percentage ÷ dry matter percentage × 100.
Wet Food A
10% protein and 75% moisture: dry matter is 25%. Protein on that basis is 10 ÷ 25 × 100 = 40%.
Dry Food B
28% protein and 10% moisture: dry matter is 90%. Protein on that basis is 28 ÷ 90 × 100 ≈ 31.1%.
- The printed 10% and 28% answer a different comparison from 40% and 31.1%. The changed order reflects the calculation, not a verdict on either food.
- A minimum protein value combined with maximum moisture does not establish an exact dry-matter percentage or its lower bound. Ask for typical analysis for both foods; the calculator does not combine these guarantees.
Ask the next question
Our comparison checklist keeps four separate lines: intended role; species and life stage; nutrient values and their basis; unresolved questions.
- Record whether each food is intended as a complete diet or a complement before comparing percentages.
- More protein alone does not establish completeness, digestibility or individual suitability. Medical diet choices need veterinary guidance.
- If either denominator would be zero, or a value is missing or implausible, stop the calculation and ask for corrected information.
FAQ
Does this prove wet food is better?
No. These are invented values for demonstrating a calculation, not evidence about actual foods or a wet-versus-dry feeding recommendation.
Can I compare foods without moisture values?
You can record their labels and intended uses, but this dry-matter calculation needs moisture information for both foods.
Sources
NutriPet editorial reviewEvidence library
- Reading LabelsAAFCO
- Selecting the Right Pet FoodAAFCO
- Understanding pet food labelsUK Pet Food
- Jak czytać etykiety karm?POLKARMA
- Leggere le etichetteASSALCO