how to calculate carbs in dog food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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Calculating a Dog Food Diets Protein, Fat, Carbs, and Fiber

[Updated July 19, 2017]

It is not easy to figure out how much fat and other nutrients are really in the food you feed, whether its kibble, canned food, or a home-prepared raw or cooked diet. Here are some tips that can help.

Methods of Nutrition Measurement

There are three different ways of measuring amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber in foods:

1.Percentage of dry matter

2.Percentage of calories (does not apply to fiber)

3.Grams per 1,000 calories

Dry matter percentages are easiest to use for commercial foods. Grams per 1,000 calories or percentage of calories are simpler ways to measure nutrients in a homemade diet.

When Feeding Your Dog Commercial Foods:

Pet food labels give you some, but not all, of the information you need in order to really know the nutritional composition of your dogs diet.

-The percentages of protein, fat, and fiber shown on dog food labels are guaranteed minimums and maximums, NOT actual amounts. The real amount of fat in particular may be much higher than what is shown on the label of some canned and raw diets. If your dog needs a low-fat diet, look for products that are lower in calories than similar foods.

For more accurate information, contact the company that makes the food youre interested in and ask them for a nutritional analysis showing the actual amount of protein, fat, fiber, ash, and moisture, as well as the number of calories in the food. Editors note: Some pet food makers (particularly small companies) may not have a complete nutritional analysis of their products. In our opinion, this reflects a lack of adequate research and investment in the product. When feeding a special needs dog, wed look to a company who has this current information on hand.

-The percentage of carbohydrates is not included on most labels or nutritional analyses. To calculate the percentage of carbohydrates in a commercial diet, subtract the percentages of protein, fat, moisture, crude fiber (an indigestible part of carbohydrates), and ash from 100. This percentage may be shown as nitgrogen-free extract (NFE) on a nutritional analysis.

-Total dietary fiber is likely much higher than the crude fiber shown on the label. If dietary (soluble plus insoluble) fiber is not shown on a complete nutritional analysis, there is no way to calculate it.

When Feeding Fresh Foods:

When feeding a home-prepared diet comprised of fresh food ingredients, it can be a bit more challenging to calculate some of the nutrient values that youd like to know when feeding a diabetic dog.

-To calculate the caloric content of the food, look up the ingredients or enter a recipe on NutritionData.com. The number of calories from protein, fat, and carbohydrates, along with the total calories, are given in the calorie information section, and the calorie percentages are shown in the caloric ratio pyramid.

-To calculate the grams of protein, fat, etc., per 1,000 calories, divide grams of any nutrient by total number of calories, then multiply by 1,000 to get grams per 1,000 kcal. For example, raw skinless chicken breast contains 6.5 grams of protein, 0.3 grams of fat, and 30.8 calories per ounce:

6.5 30.8 x 1,000 = 211 grams of protein per 1,000 kcal

0.3 30.8 x 1,000 = 9.7 grams of fat per 1,000 kcal (GFK)

As Fed versus Dry Matter

The percentages of protein, fat, etc., shown on a pet food label are expressed as fed meaning, as the food is delivered in its package. Some percentage of the food is comprised of moisture (water), which of course contains no protein, fat, fiber, or other nutrients. Kibble generally contains about 10 percent moisture; wet foods (canned, frozen, or fresh) contain as much as 80 percent or more moisture.

So, think about it: When a label says that a food contains (for example) 4 percent fat, in order to really understand how much fat you are about to feed your dog, you also have to know how much moisture is in the food. What you really want to know is how much fat (in this example) is in the food part of the food the dry matter. Any serious discussion of nutrition, or comparison of dry and wet diets, then, requires the conversion of the nutrient values from as fed to dry matter. Dont worry; it sounds technical, but its easy to do.

-To calculate dry matter (DM) percentages, first determine the amount of dry matter by subtracting the percentage of moisture from 100. Then divide the as fed percentage by the amount of dry matter to get the dry matter percentage. For example, if a canned food has 75 percent moisture and 4 percent fat:

100 75 = 25 percent dry matter

4 25 = 16 percent fat on a dry matter basis

How To Calculate Carbs In Dog Food

Carbohydrates, in the form of carbs found in food, are essential for fueling your pets body. Carbohydrates are sugar molecules that animals use to produce energy. Dogs need glucose because they have a higher metabolism than humans, but they also need protein and fat in their diet.

So, in this post, Ill tell you how many carbs your dog requires. What are the best carbs for your dog and many more?

How To Calculate Carbohydrates In Dog Food

When calculating carbohydrates in dog food, many factors need to be considered. The first thing to consider is the type of carbohydrate in the food. Carbohydrates are classified into three main types: simple, complex, and fibre-rich.

Simple carbohydrates are those that are composed of one or two sugar molecules. These include glucose and fructose, which are found in fruits and vegetables. Complex carbohydrates consist of several sugar molecules linked together.

They can be found in whole grains and some meats. Fibre-rich carbohydrates contain a lot of fibre, which can help keep your dogs stomach feeling full longer after eating.

To calculate the grams of carbohydrates present in a food, you need to know its weight and how many grams of each type of carbohydrate it contains. To figure out how many grams each type of carbohydrate food has, divide its importance by the number of grams in a single sugar molecule

(2). It will estimate how many complex carbs, fiber-rich carbs, and simple carbs are present in the food.

For example, if a food weighs 2 pounds and has 1 gram of glucose per gram, it would have 1 gram of complex carbs and 0 grams of fiber-rich carbs. If a food weighs 3 pounds and has 2 grams per gram of glucose and fructose, it would have 2 grams of complex carbs (1/3) and 1 gram of fiber-rich carb.

What Is Carbs?

Carbs are a type of nutrient found in fresh and dried foods and pet foods. Carbohydrates provide energy for the body and are essential for a dogs health. Dogs need carbs to fuel their muscles during exercise, maintain their blood sugar levels, and create energy when eating.

The most common carbs in dog food are grains, such as wheat and corn. Other carbs include sugar beet pulp, potato starch, and rice bran. The amount of carbohydrates in a food reflects the number of carbohydrates a dog can burn.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for carbohydrates for adult dogs is 45 grams per day. Puppies should have 50 grams per day.

The Difference Between Carbs And Fat

There is a lot of confusion about carbs and fat in dog food. Carbohydrates are the bodys primary energy source, while fat nourishes and helps keep the body warm. Heres how to calculate carbs in dog food:

To determine how many grams of carbohydrates are in a given kibble or treat, divide its weight by 4. For example, if a kibble weighed 3 ounces and had 10 grams of carbohydrates, its weight would be divided by 4 to get 2.5 grams of carbohydrates per ounce. Most commercial dog foods contain 12 and 24 grams of carbohydrates per pound, so read the label!

People often ask what counts as a healthy amount of carbs for their pet. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question since every pup is different, but generally speaking, most dogs should consume around 4060 grams of carbohydrates per day.

Again, its essential to read labels carefully to ensure youre giving your pet the proper nutrition!

How Much Fat Do You Want Your Dog To Eat

When it comes to feeding your dog, you want to ensure that the food you give them is high in nutritional value, low in calories, and contains the correct type of fat. There are a few things to keep in mind when calculating how much fat to give your dog:

First, consider their activity level. Active dogs need more energy and will require more calories than sedentary dogs.

Second, consider their size. Larger dogs need more calories than smaller ones.

Third, pay attention to the ingredients list. Most foods have a certain amount of fat as one of their main ingredients. However, you dont want your dog to overeat fat because it can be unhealthy for them. Make sure to read the labels to determine how much fat is in each food youre considering buying.

Think Of Them As Calories Or Energy.

When youre buying dog food, be sure to calculate the carbs. Carbohydrates are one of the dogs three primary energy sources, along with protein and fat. Most dog foods list the number of carbs in each serving, which is also an excellent way to estimate how much your dog is eating in a day. To calculate carbs in dog food, divide the total grams of carbohydrates by 4

What Are Good And Bad Carbs For Dogs?

There are healthy carbs and unhealthy carbs in both human and dog food. Healthy carbs are those that your dog can digest and use for energy. Unhealthy carbs are high in sugar or starches, which can cause weight gain, diabetes, and other health problems.

To figure out which carbs are suitable for your pup, think about their diet before you start measuring. What kinds of ingredients does the food contain? Is it primarily meat-based or plant-based? How many grains are there in it? These factors will help you determine what carbohydrate is best for your pet.

Conclusion

Knowing how many carbs are in dog food can be difficult, especially if youre unfamiliar with the specific ingredients. Fortunately, there is an easy way to calculate carbs in dog foodsubtract fibre from the total number of calories.

For example, if a food contains 30 grams of carbs, divide 30 by 4 to get 10.5. It means that 5% (10.5/30) of the carbohydrate content in this food comes from net carbswhich are essential for dogs to thrive on a ketogenic diet.

FAQs

What Is Considered Low Carb For Dogs?

There isnt a one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as everyones dog is different, so its essential to speak to a vet before changing your dogs diet. Some things that might be low carb for one dog might not be low carb for another.

Some common examples of low-carb dog food include meat-based kibble, cooked vegetables, and small amounts of raw meat or poultry.

What Percentage Of Carbs Should Be In Dog Food?

Feeding your dog a balanced diet that includes proteins, carbs, and vegetables is essential. A good guideline is that 2530% of the diet should be made up of carbs.

Is Kibble High In Carbs?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to dog food. Every dog will have different nutritional needs, and the carb content of kibble can vary based on the dogs breed, weight, and activity level. That said, most kibble does contain carbs.

How to Calculate Carbohydrates in a Pet Food

Carbohydrates dont need to be listed on the label of pet foods in Australia, but we can use a simple calculation to offer us a rough idea. Its not perfect, and Ill explain why, but the following method is how to calculate carbohydrates in a pet food:

100 Protein % Fat % Moisture % Ash %

Heres a carbohydrate calculator for dog food and cat food for your convenience. If moisture and ash are not listed on your pet food, you may use average values of 10% moisture and 8% ash:

The above calculator will give you a rough idea, but there's a little more to it than that.

Other factors to consider are undisclosed moisture and ash percentages and variance from min & max percentages.

Moisture & Ash

Moisture and ash are usually listed, but as these percentages aren't required to be listed we can use an average 10% moisture and 8% ash for dry food only. Wet foods contain significantly more moisture.

Min & Max

We often find percentages are listed with a guaranteed minimum or maximum. This makes our simple calculation somewhat vague. If a pet food contains Protein (min) 20% then it's possible the protein, on average, is higher.