Wet Vs Dry Foods

Comparing Wet and Dry Foods

There is often confusion when comparing the contents of a dried food to moist or wet foods. For example a dry food diet can have a protein content of 18.5%, however a can of dog food may state a protein level of 8%, which obviously appears much less.

This protein level is not comparable with the dry food because it does not take into consideration the dry matter or moisture content of the food.

Typical wet canned food analysis:

• Protein 8%
• Fat 6%
• Moisture 75% (dry matter is 25%)

Typical dry food analysis:

• Protein 20%
• Fat 10%
• Moisture 10% (dry matter is 90%)

The canned food states a moisture (water) content of 75%. This means all the nutrients in the food are in the other 25%. This 25% is called dry matter.

Canned dog food:

• % of protein: 8 ÷ 25 x 100 = 32% protein on a dry matter basis
• % of fat: 6 ÷ 25 x 100 = 24% fat on a dry matter basis

Dry dog food:

• % of protein: 20 ÷ 90 x 100 = 22.2% protein on a dry matter basis
• % of fat: 10 ÷ 90 x 100 = 11.1% fat on a dry matter basis
• To properly compare protein and fat levels in dry/wet food they must be calculated on a dry matter basis

You can view our full range of dry dog food here or check our wet dog food range here.