Compare the cost, decode the label, and take better questions to your veterinarian. No account or email needed.
Compare food costsSee cost per day or per 1,000 calories.
Understand label wordingMake sense of the nutritional adequacy statement.
Print a checklistTake the useful details to the store or your vet.
COMPARE THE SAME AMOUNT OF ENERGY
Dog food cost-per-day calculator
Enter the actual package price, total food weight, and kcal/kg printed on each label. Use the same currency for both foods. For a multipack, use the total price and total net food weight.
How the estimate works: package calories = net kilograms × kcal/kg. Cost per day = package price ÷ package calories × daily food calories. One pound = 0.45359237 kg. Estimates exclude waste, treats, delivery, and any costs not included in your entered price. A lower cost does not mean a food is nutritionally suitable.
START WITH THE SMALL PRINT
Dog food label decoder
Find the nutritional adequacy statement on a US dog-food label, then choose the wording that best matches it. This is a guided explanation, not a product assessment.
TAKE IT TO THE STORE OR YOUR NEXT VET VISIT
Printable dog food label checklist
Waggle Hollow | wagglehollow.com/tools/dog-food | General education, not veterinary advice. Sources: FDA, Complete and Balanced Pet Food; AAFCO, Reading Labels.
What this tool can tell you
Two bags with the same weight may contain different amounts of energy. Comparing the cost of 1,000 kcal puts their prices on the same energy basis. Enter a daily food-calorie amount from your existing feeding plan to estimate daily spending. This calculator compares prices, not ingredient quality or health benefits.
Why look beyond the front of the bag?
The nutritional adequacy statement and named life stage tell you more about intended use than a marketing phrase. The guaranteed analysis lists nutrient guarantees; it is not a complete assessment of suitability. Moisture differences also make direct nutrient-percentage comparisons between wet and dry foods unreliable.
Sources and limitations
Label guidance refers to US pet-food labels. Read the complete package instructions and ask the manufacturer about ambiguous claims. No veterinarian has reviewed this resource yet.
Found an unclear instruction? Tell us what needs improving. Shelters, trainers, and dog clubs are welcome to link to this free resource or share the printed checklist with its credit intact.
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