⚗️ Nutrition Basics
The Three Macronutrients in Dog Food
The roles of protein, fat, and carbohydrates — and how to evaluate them on a food label.
1. Protein — The Building Block of Muscle, Enzymes & Immunity
Protein is the primary structural component of a dog's muscles, skin, coat, enzymes, and antibodies. It's the single most important nutrient to evaluate in a dog food.
| Life Stage | AAFCO Minimum (DM basis) | Recommended Range |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Maintenance | 18% | 22–28% |
| Growth (Puppy) | 22.5% | 28–32% |
| Pregnancy & Lactation | 22.5% | 28%+ |
Animal vs Plant Protein
- ✓Animal protein (chicken, salmon, beef, duck): well-balanced essential amino acids, high digestibility
- ✓Plant protein (peas, potatoes, soy): may lack certain essential amino acids, lower digestibility
- ✓Check that the first ingredient is a named animal protein
2. Fat — Energy, Hormones & Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Fat delivers more than twice the calories of protein and is essential for absorbing vitamins A, D, E, and K. It also plays a key role in skin, coat, and brain health.
- ✓Omega-6 (LA): skin barrier support and inflammation regulation — rich in chicken fat and sunflower oil
- ✓Omega-3 (EPA & DHA): anti-inflammatory, brain development, cardiovascular support — rich in fish oil
- ✓AAFCO minimum: 5.5% for adults, 8.5% for puppies (DM basis)
- ✓Ideal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio: 5:1 to 10:1
3. Carbohydrates — An Energy Source, But Not Essential
Dogs can meet their energy needs through protein and fat alone — AAFCO sets no minimum carbohydrate requirement.
Carbohydrates aren't inherently bad. Complex carbs like rice, sweet potato, and barley are well-digested and provide fiber. The concern is when carbs make up too large a proportion, which can push protein and fat percentages down.
4. Why Compare on a Dry Matter (DM) Basis
Comparing dry food (10% moisture) and wet food (78% moisture) directly leads to misleading conclusions. You need to remove moisture from the equation to compare true nutrient density.
DM% = As-Fed% ÷ (1 − Moisture%) × 100
Example: wet food protein 8%, moisture 78% → DM = 8 ÷ 0.22 × 100 = 36.4%
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