1. What is Dry Matter in Pet Food?

Dry matter represents all the nutrients in pet food excluding moisture. It's crucial for comparing nutrient levels between different pet foods, especially when they have different moisture contents.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple equation:

Where:

• \( DM \) — Dry matter percentage
• \( \text{moisture\_pet\_food} \) — Moisture content percentage

Explanation: The equation converts moisture percentage to dry matter percentage by simple subtraction from 100%.

3. Importance of Dry Matter Calculation

Details: Dry matter basis allows for accurate comparison of nutrient profiles between wet and dry foods, and is essential for formulating balanced pet diets.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the moisture percentage listed on the pet food label (typically between 5-85%). The value must be between 0-100%.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why calculate dry matter?
A: Nutrient percentages on labels are typically "as fed" (including moisture). Dry matter basis removes moisture for accurate nutrient comparison.

Q2: What's typical dry matter for pet foods?
A: Dry foods ~90% DM, semi-moist ~60-70%, canned ~20-30%. Always check the specific product's moisture content.

Q3: How do I convert nutrients to dry matter basis?
A: (As-fed nutrient %) ÷ (DM % as decimal) = DM basis nutrient %.

Q4: Does dry matter affect calorie content?
A: Yes, generally higher dry matter means higher calorie density per gram of food.

Q5: Should I use DM for homemade pet food?
A: Yes, especially when comparing to commercial foods or following veterinary nutritionist recipes.