What Should I Look For on Pet Food Labels?
As a consumer, it is important to know the carbohydrate content when you’re comparing pet foods. Dogs and cats do not have a dietary requirement for carbohydrates, and consuming them in excess can cause weight gain and other health issues. However, current regulations do not permit carbohydrate contents to be listed on pet food labels.
The following formula shows how to calculate the amount of carbohydrates in your dry pet food using the values displayed in the Guaranteed Analysis: 100% – (Crude Protein %) – (Crude Fat %) – (Moisture %) – 8.5% (for average Ash level). Look for foods with calculated values around 35% for dogs, and 25% for cats, or lower.
How is Calorie Content Listed on Pet Food Labels?
Calorie content in pet foods is expressed as “kilocalories per kilogram” (kcal/kg). A kilocalorie (kcal) is equivalent to the Calorie you see on your own food labels, while a kilogram equals 2.2 pounds. For everyday usability, the calorie statement also breaks this down into familiar household units - kcal/cup for dry food or kcal/can for wet food. This makes it easier to calculate how much you're actually feeding at each meal.
So why do calories matter? Calorie counts vary significantly between pet foods. Two dry foods with the same recommended serving size can have very different calorie counts. Which means your pet could be eating substantially more or less than you realize. This is one of the most common contributors to unintentional weight gain in pets.
When comparing foods, always use kcal/cup or kcal/can rather than kcal/kg. A food with a higher kcal/cup isn't necessarily worse; it may just mean you need to feed a smaller portion size.
What is the Guaranteed Analysis on Pet Food Labels?
The Guaranteed Analysis (GA) is a standardized snapshot of a pet food's key nutrient levels. It lists the minimum percentages of crude protein and fat in the diet, and the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.
"Crude" refers to the method used to measure these nutrients in a laboratory, not the quality of the ingredients. Crude protein, for example, measures total nitrogen content as a proxy for protein. It doesn't show the difference between high-quality animal protein and lower-quality plant-based sources, which is why you should always read the ingredient list to ensure your pet is getting high-quality meat proteins.
Beyond the four standard guarantees, some brands — including Nulo — voluntarily list additional nutrients in the GA section. In Nulo’s GA section, you will find listed, among other nutrients, omega fatty acids 6 and 3 in the appropriate ratio.
Nulo's GA also lists Bacillus coagulans — specifically the patented probiotic strain BC30. What makes this noteworthy is that most probiotic strains are destroyed during the high-heat cooking process used in kibble manufacturing. BC30 is a spore-forming probiotic, meaning it forms a protective shell that allows it to survive both processing and the acidic environment of your pet's digestive tract, where it can actually get to work supporting healthy gut flora balance. The patented probiotic BC30 is present in all of Nulo’s products.
Pet Food Feeding Guidelines: How Much Should You Feed Your Pet?
Feeding guidelines on pet food labels are just a starting point. They provide daily recommendations based on your pet's weight in pounds, but every animal is different. Two dogs of the same weight can have dramatically different caloric needs depending on their age, breed, activity level, reproductive status, and overall health. Following the label blindly can easily lead to overfeeding. Which is one of the most common and preventable contributors to pet obesity.
A few practical tips when using feeding guidelines:
- Always measure portions rather than eyeballing — even small daily overages add up significantly over time
- Account for treats and food toppers in your pet's daily caloric total
- Note that guidelines are typically listed as a daily total, not per meal — divide accordingly if you feed multiple times per day
- Wet and dry food guidelines are calculated differently; don't substitute one cup-for-cup
Because each pet has very specific needs, your veterinarian is the most reliable resource for understanding the right daily intake for your pet. Ready to go deeper on selecting the right food for your pet's unique needs? Nulo's species-specific guides cover everything from life stage nutrition to lifestyle matching: explore The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Dog Food or The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Cat Food for a full breakdown.
What is the AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement and Why Does it Matter?
The Nutritional Adequacy Statement is the most important section of any pet food label. It confirms that a product is "complete," meaning it contains all required nutrients — and "balanced," meaning those nutrients are present in the correct ratios for your pet's biology. It also tells you which life stage the food is designed for: gestation/lactation, growth (puppies and kittens), or adult maintenance.
To carry this claim, a food must be backed by one of two methods. The first is the formulation method, where the food is laboratory-analyzed and confirmed to meet AAFCO's established Nutrient Profiles. The second — and more rigorous — is the feeding trial method, where the food is tested on actual animals to verify it is both safe and nutritionally sufficient in real-world conditions. Look for this statement on the back or side of the packaging, typically just below the ingredient list.
"As a pet mom and a veterinarian, what I want in a food for my 4-legged kiddos is a diet that is nutritionally balanced based on science, not hype, carefully formulated for optimal delivery of nutrients, transparent in its caloric content as well as its list of ingredients and sources, and is enjoyed by my pets. With a better understanding of how to interpret a pet food label, I know you can make an intelligent, informed decision about the food you place in their bowl. Healthier Together." - Dr. Abby Huggins Mowinski, DVM
Another excellent source of trusted pet food label information can be found on the FDA’s website.
