biotechIngredients & Nutrition
Nutrition Basics
Reading a food label is the first step to choosing well. From decoding ingredient lists and guaranteed analysis to understanding essential nutrients and international standards — it all starts here.
Guides in This Section
Ingredient order, guaranteed analysis, moisture-adjusted comparison, and how to decode a pet food label.
The roles of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber — and the right balance to look for.
A practical summary of the key nutrition standards that appear on dog food packaging.
3 guides
Core Topics
labels · macronutrients · standards
AAFCO
Complete & Balanced
The most important label claim
DM basis
The Right Way to Compare
Dry matter conversion required
What You Need to Know
Ingredients are listed by weight
The first ingredient makes up the largest proportion of the food. Check that a named protein source (chicken, beef, salmon, etc.) appears near the top.
Minimum 18% protein (adults) / 22% (puppies)
AAFCO requires at least 18% protein on a dry matter (DM) basis for adult dogs, and 22% for puppies, pregnant, and lactating dogs.
Look for 'Complete & Balanced'
Foods without an AAFCO complete and balanced statement may be supplemental or treat foods. Always verify this label claim before feeding as a sole diet.
Always convert to dry matter for comparisons
Dry kibble (~10% moisture) and wet food (~75% moisture) cannot be compared by their as-fed percentages. Convert to dry matter (DM) basis to make an accurate comparison.
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