Comparing protein in dog food, properly
Comparing dog foods by their crude protein percentage only tells you part of the story, because a wet food's percentage is diluted by water content in a way a dry food's is not. Reading the label properly, and understanding what "high protein" actually means for your dog's life stage and activity level, matters more than chasing the biggest number on the bag.
Why protein percentage alone is misleading
The crude protein figure on a label is calculated 'as fed', meaning it includes the food's moisture content. A wet food that is roughly 70-80% water will show a much lower protein percentage than a dry food with the same amount of actual protein per gram of dry ingredient, simply because of how much water is diluting the figure.
To compare wet and dry foods fairly, the protein percentage needs converting to a dry matter basis — working out what the percentage would be with the moisture removed. Without that adjustment, a wet food can look far lower in protein than it actually is compared with a dry food.
Is more protein automatically better?
Not necessarily. An active working dog burning a lot of energy generally benefits from a higher protein and fat content than a smaller, less active companion dog, whose needs are lower and who does not benefit from carrying extra protein it does not use.
A growing puppy, a pregnant or nursing dog, and a highly active adult all have different protein needs from an older, less active dog, so the right level is a question of your individual dog's life stage and activity rather than a single ideal figure that applies to every dog.
Reading the rest of the label alongside protein
Protein source matters as much as the percentage — a food listing a specific named meat high on the ingredient list is generally giving you clearer information than one relying on generic 'meat and animal derivatives'. Fat percentage and overall calorie content are also worth reading alongside protein rather than in isolation.
A 'complete' food is formulated to meet a dog's full nutritional needs at whatever life stage it is designed for, so checking the food matches your dog's actual life stage — puppy, adult, senior, or working — tells you more than the protein number does on its own.
A quick way to compare fairly
To roughly convert a wet food's protein to a dry matter basis, divide the protein percentage by the percentage of dry matter (100 minus the moisture percentage, also on the label), then multiply by 100. It is a rough calculation rather than a precise one, but it stops a wet food looking unfairly low next to a dry one.
If working this out feels like more effort than it is worth, simply comparing wet foods with other wet foods, and dry foods with other dry foods, avoids the problem entirely and is a perfectly reasonable shortcut for most owners.
Our picks, and why
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Common questions
- What is a good protein percentage for dog food?
- There is no single ideal figure — it depends on your dog's age, size, activity level and whether the food is wet or dry. An active working dog generally benefits from a higher protein content than a smaller, less active companion dog.
- Why does wet dog food show a lower protein percentage than dry food?
- Wet food contains much more moisture, which dilutes the percentage shown on the label compared with dry food of similar actual protein content. Converting both to a dry matter basis gives a fairer comparison between the two.
- Do working dogs need more protein than pet dogs?
- Generally yes — dogs with genuinely high activity levels tend to benefit from a higher protein and fat content to support their energy needs, compared with a less active companion dog of the same size and breed.
- Is high-protein food bad for older dogs?
- Not automatically, though many senior dogs are less active and do better on a food formulated for their life stage rather than one aimed at high-activity adult dogs. Speak to your vet if you are considering a significant change for an older dog with any existing health condition.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.