You have found protein and fat on the back of a dog treat pack, but there is no moisture figure. An online calculator asks for one. Should you enter zero, use a typical value or give up on comparing the labels?
The useful answer is to leave the unknown blank. You can still read the pack and make practical choices, but you cannot produce a reliable dry-matter percentage from a moisture figure you have guessed.
Quick answer
- No moisture declaration does not mean the treat contains no water.
- A missing figure is not, by itself, proof that the label is wrong.
- Ask for the moisture and analytical information for that exact current product.
- Until it arrives, keep the declared percentages in their original form and mark the comparison as incomplete.
Why might moisture be missing?
Moisture labelling requirements depend on the type of feed. UK Pet Food's guidance gives a declaration threshold of more than 14%. FEDIAF's labelling code sets out that threshold for other feed, alongside different thresholds for specified milk and mineral feeds. Below the applicable threshold, a separate moisture declaration can be optional.
That explains why some packs do not print a figure. It does not tell you the exact water content of your treat. An omitted declaration is not a measurement of 0%, 10% or 14%.
If you are unsure about the labelling category or the pack information, ask the responsible business to explain it. You do not need to settle a feed-law question yourself before asking for the missing analysis.
Can I use a typical value for dried treats?
Not for a product-specific comparison. Wet, air-dried and freeze-dried describe formats or processing, rather than one fixed composition. UK Pet Food describes differences between food formats, but a general description cannot supply the precise value missing from an individual pack.
The appearance of a piece is not an analysis either. A treat that feels dry can still contain water. Use information for the exact product, rather than borrowing a percentage from a similar-looking bag.
Why a guessed number changes the result
Dry matter means the part of the food left after water is excluded from the calculation. The formula is:
Declared nutrient % ÷ (100 minus moisture %) × 100.
Here is an invented example with 25% declared protein. The moisture figures below are alternative assumptions, not measured values or recommendations:
- Enter 0% moisture: 25 ÷ 100 × 100 = 25% protein on a dry-matter basis.
- Enter 8% moisture: 25 ÷ 92 × 100 = about 27.2%.
- Enter 12% moisture: 25 ÷ 88 × 100 = about 28.4%.
The pack's protein figure has not changed. Only the number entered into the calculator has changed. The resulting decimal places do not make any of those guesses a verified answer.
The same problem applies when converting the declared crude oils and fats percentage. If moisture is unknown, the converted fat value is uncertain too.
Our guide to reading a dog treat label explains the other label sections and a calculation using known figures.
What should I ask the manufacturer?
Keep a photograph of the pack, including the product name, composition, analytical panel and batch number. Then ask a focused question:
“Could you send me the current moisture percentage and analytical information for this exact product? Are those figures for the product as sold, and are they typical values or stated limits? I want to compare the labels on the same basis.”
Check the answer refers to your product and format. A general answer about the brand leaves the gap open. If they cannot provide the figure, keep it recorded as unknown.
WSAVA recommends asking the responsible company for information that is not on the label. It also encourages owners to look at nutritional purpose, calorie information and quality control, rather than marketing phrases alone.
What can I compare while I wait?
You can record exactly what each pack declares, keeping the basis clear. Avoid ranking two products with different or unknown moisture levels solely by their protein or fat percentages.
You can also check the product description, composition, feeding directions, storage instructions and calorie information supplied by the manufacturer. Check whether it is complete or complementary. A treat is not a replacement for a complete main diet simply because its protein number looks impressive.
Dry-matter percentages are not calorie figures, measures of ingredient quality or guarantees of suitability. If your dog has a veterinary feeding plan, ask your own vet before changing what you offer. A calculator cannot decide whether a treat fits that plan.
Your missing-moisture checklist
- Look for the figure elsewhere on the current pack, not only in the first panel you spot.
- Keep the exact product and batch details with your enquiry.
- Ask the manufacturer for moisture and nutrient figures on the same basis.
- Leave a calculator field blank until you have usable information.
- Label any later conversion “dry matter”, keeping the original pack figures too.
- Keep portion and calorie decisions separate from the percentage comparison.
An honest blank is more useful than a confident guess. It tells you what you know, what you still need and which question to ask next.
Reviewed: 16 October 2026
