How to Read a Pet Food Label for a Diabetic Pet

Labels give you useful clues, but they do not tell the whole story. Learn what can be calculated, what can be compared, and what still needs a veterinary conversation.

Why carbohydrate isn't on the label

Pet food labelling requirements don't include carbohydrate, so you have to derive it from the guaranteed analysis. The calculation subtracts everything that is listed — protein, fat, moisture, ash and fibre — from 100, leaving carbohydrate as the remainder.

Why “dry matter basis” matters

Wet food is mostly water, so comparing a wet food to a dry food on the label numbers alone is misleading. Converting both to a dry matter basis removes the water from the equation and lets you compare like with like. Our Dry Matter Carbohydrate Calculator does this for you.

What the targets actually are

For cats, the 2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines recommend a carbohydrate content below 25% on a dry matter basis, below 15% of metabolisable energy, or under 5g per 100kcal. Other veterinary guidance has framed the preferred profile as high protein (40% or more of metabolisable energy) with carbohydrate at or below 12% of metabolisable energy. The exact figure varies between sources — the principle is consistent.

For dogs, the picture is different: current evidence points more towards fibre content than carbohydrate reduction. See our Feeding a Diabetic Dog guide for detail, including where the evidence is genuinely mixed.

What else to look at

Fat content, fibre content, whether the food is complete, and crucially — whether your pet will reliably eat it. The perfect food they refuse helps no one.

Frequently Asked Questions