Dog & Cat Food

Nutrient Cheat Sheets

Is the food you’re feeding or considering nutrient deficient? You can determine if the food is a good choice for your dog or cat if the food company [1] (see below) provides a nutrient/typical analysis and you calculate those numbers with the animals weight and the number of calories they need each day. This is what the Nutrient Cheat Sheets will do! (There is one for dogs and a separate one for cats)

The Full Cheat Sheet Package contains:

  • Dog or Cat Daily Calorie Estimator: Provides calorie estimates and minimum grams of protein needed per day.

  • Pet Food Math Cheat Sheet: Calculates the guaranteed analysis, cost per 1,000 calories, cost to feed, days per package. grams of protein, fat, and carbs, and calories balance (calorie distribution). and much more…

  • Nutrient Analysis Cheat Sheet: The Nutrient Analysis Cheat Sheets* are used to see if foods meet the minimum recommended nutrient levels for commercial pet food per FEDIAF 2024 Guidelines for each individual dog or cat’s metabolic bodyweight based on the daily calories consumed.

    The nutrient analysis cheat sheet will calculate the nutrient analysis from “as-fed”, “dry matter”, or on a “caloric basis”.

Use the nutrient analysis cheat sheet to calculate a foods nutrient/typical analysis numbers (protein, amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals) for an individual dog or cat’s body weight* based on the daily calories needed. Use the cheat sheet to compare the minimum recommendations with the calculated amount of nutrients based on your dog’s body weight and daily calories.

The nutrient cheat sheet will calculate the nutrient analysis from “as-fed”, “dry matter”, or on a “caloric basis”.

The Nutrient cheat sheets are used to calculate nutrients levels per body weight as recommended by FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines. (Table VII-11)  https://europeanpetfood.org/self-regulation/nutritional-guidelines/?fbclid=IwAR1F6MvOSg-fTX_84myhaMIMa-rYZf2n7G27lCA5bqyrVjUdlxI4VAZ-NPc

All the “Cheat Sheets” are Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. You can download and use Microsoft Excel for free. https://www.office.com/

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

TYPICAL ANALYSIS

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS ABOVE EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL ANALYSIS PROVIDED “AS FED”, “DRY MATTER”, AND “CALORIC”

DOG

  1. Estimate The Calories Needed

Cat

  1. Estimate The Calories Needed

Enter your dog or cat’s ideal weight in “kg”. (The cheat sheet will convert lb to kg) Start by determining how many calories your dog or cat is currently eating in the form of food and treats. Then determine their body condition score (BCS) and muscle condition score (MCS) to evaluate whether they need the same (maintenance), more or less calories each day. You should work with your veterinarian to determine your dog’s BCS and MCS and his/her ideal weight.

2. Calculate Cost, Protein, Fat, Carbs & Balance

2. Calculate Cost, Protein, Fat, Carbs & Balance

Enter the information from the “Guaranteed Analysis” (or typical analysis) and the calories listed as “kcal/kg”.

Enter the price, size, and calories fed per day and the cheat sheet will calculate the cost to feed per day, and how many days the package will last, and total grams of protein, fat, and carbs.

3. Calculate the Nutrient/Typical Analysis for Dog

3. Calculate the Nutrient/Typical Analysis for Cat

Dry Matter Calculations

Nutrient/Typical Analysis

Dry Matter Calculations

Nutrient/Typical Analysis

Nutrient Maximum Levels Highlighted for Adult Dogs & Cats per FEDIAF & AAFCO

DOG FOOD

“Caloric Basis” Maximum grams (g) per 1,000 calories (kcal)

CAT FOOD

“Caloric Basis” Maximum grams (g) per 1,000 calories (kcal)

FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines Table VII-11

https://europeanpetfood.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FEDIAF-Nutritional-Guidelines_2024.pdf

“FEDIAF is unique in its approach of constant review of the nutrition research literature and frequent updating of the Nutritional Guidelines for consistency with current scientific data and knowledge. The recommended nutrient values in the 2024 Nutritional Guidelines are therefore based on up to date scientific principles and their practical use for safe and healthy pet foods.”

“The following section provides substantiation and explanation for the recommended allowances (RA) (nutrient recommendations) for dogs and cats in the previous tables. These recommendations are based on scientific publications and NRC (NRC 2006).”

“For commercial dog and cat foods it is recommended that the nutrient levels are at or above the levels listed in the tables and do not exceed the nutritional or legal maximum. If the protein digestibility of = 80% (mentioned under “2.2. Scope”) cannot be guaranteed, it is recommended to increase the essential amino acid levels by a minimum of 10%.”

“The levels in this guide reflect the amounts of essential nutrients in commercial products that are required to ensure adequate and safe nutrition in healthy individuals when consumed over time.”

“The recommended minimum levels include a safety margin to prevent deficiencies due to animal variations and nutrient interactions.”

All the “Cheat Sheets” are a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

You can download and use Microsoft Excel for free.

https://www.office.com/

*These companies provide a full nutrient/typical analysis on their website or by request. (Current as of May 2025)

Full Analysis includes: amino acids, fats, minerals, and vitamins.

  1. All Provide

  2. Canine Caviar

  3. Emmalou’s

  4. Evermore

  5. Farmer’s Dog (by request)

  6. Get Joy

  7. Gracious Goodness  

  8. Green Juju (by request)

  9. Honest Kitchen

  10. Identity    

  11. Instinct                                   

  12. Medicus Veterinary Diets

  13. my perfect pet

  14. Natures Logic (only missing Linoleic Acid LA)

  15. NoBl

  16. Nulo                     

  17. Ollie (by request)

  18. open farm

  19. Pet Plate

  20. Petaluma     

  21. Primal

  22. Raised Right*

  23. Rawbble                

  24. Shine

  25. Simple Food Project (by request)

  26. Sol Fed Ranch (by request)

  27. Sundays (by request)

  28. Team Dog (by request)

  29. tuft paw (Cat)

  30. Wellness

  31. Yumwoof

  32. Ziwi

  33. (Raw Dynamic – coming soon)

Limited Nutrient/Typical Analysis

  1. Acana (by request) Received amino acids, minerals and vitamins. Missing Linoleic Acid. 99% complete analysis.

  2. Annamaet (lists 18 of 38 nutrients. Missing all amino acids)

  3. Carna4 (missing amino acids)

  4. Darwin’s (missing amino acids and minerals)

  5. GO!  (missing 8 of 13 amino acids)

  6. JFFD (by request) Included fats, minerals, and vitamins, and 2 amino acids. Missing several amino acids.

  7. K9 Natural (only provides 6 minerals)

  8. Nutri Source

  9. Raw bistro  (includes fats, minerals, and vitamins. Missing amino acids)

  10. Rawz (provides some minerals and taurine)

  11. Small batch  (by request. Missing amino acids)

  12. Square Pet (very limited nutrients. some minerals, vitamins, fats, and taurine. No amino acids)

  13. Steve’s  (minerals and vitamins. Missing amino acids and fat)

  14. Viva  (missing amino acids)