dry matter carb calculator
Feline Nutrition Centeradvocating a cat-appropriate diet
Easily calculate the Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrates in the foods you are comparing. You can check any value that is listed as a percentage. Dry Matter Basis (DMB or DM) removes the water from the equation. When foods are considered on a dry matter basis, they can be directly compared to one another. In other words, a canned food with 78% water can now be compared to a dry food that contains 11% water or two wet foods with different amounts of moisture.
The following online calculator calculates the DMB. Use the Guaranteed Analysis Values or the As Fed (Served) Values, but remain consistent. Remember that the Guaranteed Analysis Values are minimums and maximums, meaning for example, if fat is listed as a minimum 6%, it may actually have more, such as 11%. Therefore, the results you get may not be close to the actual values of the food. For more precise results, check the company's website or contact them for the As Fed Values.
When entering a value, if it is less than 1 but greater than 0, use a leading zero. Enter 0.35 instead of .35.
Cat Food Carb Calculator
Cat Carb Calculator
Calculating Carbs In Cat Food
Calculating the carbohydrate content in cat food involves understanding the nutritional information provided on the packaging and doing some basic math. Here's a step-by-step guide: Check the Label: Look for the cat food's packaging and find the "Guaranteed Analysis" section. This section usually lists the percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture in the food. Identify Crude Fiber: Find the percentage of crude fiber in the guaranteed analysis. Crude fiber is a component of carbohydrates that can be used as a rough estimate of the carbohydrate content. Calculate Carbohydrates: Subtract the percentages of protein, fat, moisture, and crude fiber from 100%. The result will be an approximation of the carbohydrate content in the cat food. Formula: Carbohydrates = 100% - (Protein% + Fat% + Moisture% + Crude Fiber%) Keep in mind that this calculation provides an estimate of the carbohydrate content, and it might not account for all types of carbohydrates. Cat foods can contain different types of carbohydrates, including starches, sugars, and fibers. If you're seeking a more accurate measurement, you might need to consult the manufacturer's website, contact customer support, or consult a veterinarian or animal nutritionist. Additionally, some commercial cat foods provide carbohydrate information directly on the packaging, which simplifies the calculation process. If you're looking to monitor your cat's carbohydrate intake for health reasons, it's a good idea to consult your veterinarian for guidance.
How Much Carbohydrates Should Cat Food Have
The ideal carbohydrate content in cat food can vary based on factors such as the cat's age, activity level, health status, and individual preferences. However, as a general guideline, many experts recommend that cat foods should have a carbohydrate content of around 10% or less on a dry matter basis. When evaluating cat food labels, keep in mind that the carbohydrate content is typically not directly listed. Instead, you'll need to calculate it using the guaranteed analysis provided on the packaging. Here's how you can calculate the approximate carbohydrate content: Carbohydrates (%) = 100% - (Protein (%) + Fat (%) + Moisture (%) + Fiber (%)) It's important to prioritize high-quality protein sources and ensure that the protein content is substantial in your cat's diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are adapted to thrive on a diet primarily composed of animal-based proteins. If you're seeking a specific cat food for a particular health condition, such as diabetes, consult your veterinarian for recommendations. They can help you choose the most appropriate cat food based on your cat's individual needs. Remember that while a general guideline can be helpful, individual cats may have varying requirements. Regular veterinary check-ups and discussions with your vet about your cat's dietary needs are crucial for their overall health and well-being.
Do Cats Need Carbohydrates
Cats do not have a strict dietary requirement for carbohydrates like they do for certain nutrients such as protein and certain amino acids. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their bodies are biologically adapted to thrive on a diet that is primarily composed of animal-based proteins and fats. In their natural habitat, cats rely on hunting and consuming prey animals to fulfill their nutritional needs. Cats have a unique metabolism that is designed to process and utilize protein and fat for energy. Their bodies have a limited ability to efficiently process carbohydrates, as they lack some of the necessary enzymes required for carbohydrate digestion. Unlike omnivores like humans and dogs, cats do not produce amylase, an enzyme that helps break down carbohydrates. While cats can derive some energy from carbohydrates, they have a lower carbohydrate requirement compared to other animals. In fact, many experts recommend feeding cats diets that are lower in carbohydrates and higher in animal-based proteins. High-quality animal proteins provide the essential amino acids and nutrients that cats need for optimal health. While some commercial cat foods contain carbohydrates, these should generally be kept to a minimum, and they should come from sources that are easily digestible and nutritionally beneficial. Cats require certain nutrients that are found in animal tissues, such as taurine and arachidonic acid, which are essential for their overall health and well-being. If you're considering your cat's diet, it's important to prioritize high-quality animal-based protein sources and consult with a veterinarian to ensure that the diet meets your cat's specific nutritional needs.
Are Carbs Bad For Cats ?
Carbohydrates are not inherently "bad" for cats, but their dietary requirements and ability to metabolize carbohydrates are different from those of humans and some other animals. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their bodies are adapted to thrive on a diet that is primarily composed of animal-based proteins and fats. While cats do not have a strict requirement for carbohydrates, the way they process and utilize carbohydrates differs from other species.
Calculating Carbohydrates & Dry Matter Basis (DMB)
In todays blog we are going to look at DMB and I do not mean Dave Matthews Band! We bring up dry matter basis (DMB) on a constant basis in our Facebook group Diabetic Dog Owners because our dogs need to eat lower fat and carbohydrates. As mentioned in previous blogs our dogs pancreas is faulty, they require insulin therapy to live and lower fat due to being prone to pancreatitis.
This can be a bit confusing for people that are not fans of math, but do not worry we have a dry matter basis calculator to help! Lets dive into how we calculate dry matter basis and carbohydrates in commercial and prescription foods.
Theguaranteed analysis on dog food labels gives you the amounts ofprotein/fat/fiber before moisture is removed. When moisture is removed from the equation, we get the true quantity ofthe content we are interested in; this is called dry matter basis or DMB. Most dog food analysis does not have carbslisted, so we must manually calculate what they are. Then, we calculate the percentage ofcarbohydrates on the DMB.
Forcalculating carbohydrates you need the following percentages from the guaranteed analysis:
- Protein
- Fat(min or max; if only min is listed use that, if max is listed use thispercentage)
- Fiber
- Ash(usually not listed; the amount will be listed below)
Ashis usually not listed in the guaranteed analysis, if not listed use thefollowing:
Wet food 2.5
Dry food 8
To calculate carbs, you can either use this free calculator below, or you can figure it out manually. Please click on the link below to take you to the calculator. You can save this carbohydrates and Dry Matter Basis calculator on your home screen for future use.
PetTest Carb & Dry Matter Basis(DMB) Calculator
Tocalculate carbs manually:
- Addprotein, fat, fiber, moisture and ash
- Subtractby 100
- Totalis carbs
Example:
100 58 = 42
Therefore,the carbohydrate content is 42%. Now weneed to calculate what the carbs are on a DMB.
Tocalculate DMB you can use the calculator above, or you can do it manually.
Youneed:
- Moisturecontent
- Quantityof carbs
Forexample, using 42 for carbs in quantity and 10 for moisture:
Foodis 46.7% carbs on a DMB.
You can use the equation above to get the dry matter basis of protein, fat & fiber as well.
Phew! That was a lot of math, if you do notunderstand it do not worry because this can be confusing to many of us. When in doubt get the calculator out!
Sincewe are talking about carbohydrates, I want to share a carb free treat that youcan make at home! The Dog Gummies are zerofat, zero carb and a great source of collagen. There are different types of gelatin you can use in case your dog has allergiesand can they be purchased easily on the internet.
Do you have questions or want to add something about calculating dry matter basis? Comment below to get a conversation going!
Formore conversations, photos, and giveaways check outPetTest on Facebook and Instagram.
Ifyou are looking for a community to join for support, I have been an admin forover four years in DiabeticDog Owners. CanineDiabetes Support and Information can be found on Facebook as well.
Calculating Carbs Carb Calculator
Calculating Carbohydrates Carb Calculator
Pet food companies are not required to list carbohydrates on their labels so they dont!
It is possible, however, to calculate them yourself.
The calculation is in two steps: first you calculate the carbs on a wet matter basis, then you do a final calculation to find the carbs on a dry matter basis.
In order to start TR, your cat MUST be on a 100% wet food diet that contains a maximum of 10% carbs on a dry matter basis: the closer to the 3-5% carbs in a cats natural diet, the better
Guaranteed vs. Nutritional Analysis
The figures that you will find on the label of your cat food are reported in either Guaranteed or Nutritional Analysis.The Guaranteed Analysis is a mix of maximum and minimum percentages ( a minimum % of protein, a maximum % of ash..).
The Nutritional Analysis on the other hand, is based on an average percentage for each element. It is therefore more accurate than the Guaranteed analysis.
Unfortunately, while Nutritional Analysis is used in Europe, Guaranteed Analysis is the norm everywhere else. For members living in the US, Dr. Lisa Pierson has created a very comprehensive list of foods and the percent carbs based on Nutritional analysis that may be found here: Dr. Pierson Food Chart .
Please note however that Dr. Pierson compiled her information in the summer of 2012 (some updates have been made since). As companies will change their recipes, some of the data may be inaccurate today. It is good to double check the figures by contacting the company and asking them to give you the Nutritional Analysis figures. Dr. Piersons chart, though, can help you narrow down your food choices. She is noting at the top of the list when changes have been made.
Calculating the Carbohydrates
In order to illustrate the calculations below, the following values are used:
Protein: 9,5% Fat: 5,0% Fibre: 0,5% Ash: 2,0% Moisture: 82,0%
1. In order to calculate the carbs on a wet matter basis:
Add up the % values for protein, fat, fibre, ash and moisture Subtract the total from 100 The difference is the percent carbs on a wet matter basis
Using the values in the example above:
9.5 + 5.0 + 0.5 + 2.0 + 82 = 99 100 99 = 1 Wet matter carbs: 1.0%
2. In order to calculate the % carbs on a dry matter basis:
Subtract the % Moisture from 100 Divide the percent carbs on a wet matter basis by that number Multiply by 100
Using the values in the example above:
100 82 = 18 1.0 divided by 18 = 0.056 0.056 x 100 = 5.6 Dry matter carbs: 5.6%
This food is therefore a good choice based on its carb content. Please see the sticky in the Food section of the Knowledge Centre for other important factors, such as ingredients to take into account when choosing the best food for your cat.
While the calculation may seem a little complicated at first, it is easy to do once you have tried it a few times.
Carb Calculator
A Carb Calculator that does the calculation for you may be found in the following link. Please click on the words Carb Calculator and not on the little icon next to it, which will just show what it is, but will not let you enter any numbers it is just an image of the calculator (added automatically by the software here).
Carb Calculator
To use the Calculator open the file, then save it on your computer. You may have a message saying that there is a risk as it is downloaded from internet and/or do you authorize modifications. Click on yes to save the file.
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