🐾 Carbs in Dog Food: What Pet Food Labels Aren’t Telling You
When shopping for dog food, most pet parents focus on protein and fat content—but what about carbohydrates? Surprisingly, many pet food labels leave this information out entirely.
Here’s why carbs matter, how to calculate them yourself, and what it means for your dog’s health.
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🧐 Why Are Carbs Hidden?
Unlike human food labels, pet food in North America isn’t required to list carbohydrate content. Instead, they focus on:
Crude protein
Crude fat
Moisture
Fiber
Ash (sometimes)
This means you’ll have to do the math yourself if you want to know how much of your dog’s food is made up of carbs.
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📊 How to Calculate Carbs in Dog Food
Use this simple equation:
100 - (Protein% + Fat% + Moisture% + Fiber% + Ash%) = Carbohydrates%
> ⚠️ If ash isn’t listed (it often isn’t), assume 8% for kibble-based diets.
Example:
Let’s say a dog food lists:
Protein: 25%
Fat: 15%
Moisture: 10%
Fiber: 4%
Ash (not listed): Assume 8%
100 - (25 + 15 + 10 + 4 + 8) = 38% carbs
That means nearly 40% of this food is carbohydrate!
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🍠 Are Carbs Bad for Dogs?
Not necessarily—but it depends on your dog and the source of the carbs.
✅ Carbs can:
Provide energy
Add fiber for digestion
Help bind kibble together
❌ But too many carbs can:
Contribute to obesity
Increase blood sugar (especially risky for diabetic dogs)
Displace protein, leading to less muscle support
Aggravate food allergies or sensitivities
Dogs are facultative carnivores, meaning they thrive on a meat-based diet but can digest some carbohydrates. That said, they don’t need large amounts—unlike humans.
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🍞 Common Carbohydrate Ingredients
Look out for:
Corn
Wheat
Soy
Rice
Barley
Peas
Potatoes
Lentils
While some whole grains and legumes can be healthy in moderation, low-quality fillers like corn gluten meal and brewers rice offer little nutritional value.
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🦴 What Should You Look For Instead?
✔️ Protein as the first ingredient (named meat sources, not “meat meal” or “by-product”)
✔️ Low to moderate carbs (ideally under 30% for most dogs)
✔️ Whole, recognizable ingredients
✔️ Limited artificial preservatives, colors, or fillers
Raw, freeze-dried, or gently cooked foods usually have far fewer carbs than kibble. If you feed kibble, choose high-protein, low-carb options.
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🐶 Final Thoughts
Carbohydrates aren’t always the villain—but being informed helps you make the best choice for your pet’s individual needs. Don’t rely on labels alone. Learn to read between the lines and use the carb equation to uncover the full picture.
Your dog’s diet is the foundation of their health—and they rely on you to get it right. 🐕
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📌 Quick Tip:
Keep a screenshot of the carb equation handy while shopping: 100 - (Protein% + Fat% + Moisture% + Fiber% + 8%) = Estimated Carbs
Leave a comment about the carbs in your dog food. If you need help doing the math feel free to comment the brand and type and I can do the math for you!
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