Article: Pet food manufacturers are required to tell consumers the minimum amount of protein and fat in the pet food as well as the maximum amount of fiber and moisture. Look for this information near the ingredients list. It may also be called the proximate analysis. Manufacturers of cat food also have to list the maximum percentage of ash, taurine, and magnesium. Unfortunately, you can't make a direct comparison of the protein, fat, or fiber in wet food versus dry food. This is because the moisture will skew the percentages. To compare, convert the wet food percentage to its equivalent in dry food. For example, list the protein and moisture percentages for dry food. Then subtract the moisture percent from 100. Divide the protein by this result and multiply the answer by 100 to get the adjusted protein level. Ask the veterinarian to tell you how many calories (also called kilocalories) your pet should consume during the day. This will make it easier to determine if a pet food has the right amount of calories. Locate a calorie statement on the bag that says calorie content. Keep in mind that canned food will have fewer calories per kilogram than dry food because it's also higher in moisture. Your pet's age, weight, activity level, and health all determine how many calories it needs in a day. This is why it's important to talk to the vet about a personalized calorie recommendation. Once you've found the information about how much protein, fat, and fiber are in the food, you can select a pet food that's right for your pet. For example, if you're feeding an underweight dog, choose a pet food with more calories that's also higher in fat and carbohydrates. Talk with your veterinarian about what nutritional percentages to look for when choosing a pet food. For example, a healthy average dog might need 30 to 35% protein, 35 to 45% fat, and 10 to 15% carbohydrates.

What is a summary?
Locate the guaranteed analysis. Compare the guaranteed analysis between wet and dry pet food. Determine how many calories are in the pet food. Consider your pet's nutritional needs.