Dogs are omnivorous carnivores and require their diet to have a meat protein source. We have broken the meat analysis scoring into two parts – the first awards points for the ingredient based on quality and nutritional benefit to the dog, the second is for the percentage of meat quantity found in the food.
Cats are obligate carnivores and require their diet to have a very high meat protein source. We have broken the meat analysis scoring into two parts – the first awards points for the ingredient based on quality and nutritional benefit to the cat, the second is for the percentage of meat quantity found in the food.
Meat quality in pet food is broken down into 5 different categories which are listed below. The more points awarded the better meat quality.
It can be difficult to assess the quality of vaguer ingredients such as Meat & Animal Derivatives alongside, Unnamed Meat, Fish, and Insect Meal. These terms normally encompass a large variety of ingredients, with no way of telling digestibility or effect on an animal.
Named Meat, Fish and Insect Meal is a good source of concentrated protein and is well digested. Easy to judge the types of amino acids present and their quantitiesCommon insect proteins used are Dried Black Soldier Fly Grubs and Dried Mealworm.
Fresh Carcass is a very good source of protein which is very easy to digest and has a good quantity and range of amino acids.
Organ meat provides great sources of different proteins and adds extra vitamins and minerals to the food. Freshly Prepared Whole Grubs are an incredibly digestible protein source that utilises a great amino acid profile.
Fresh Whole Carcass is the pinnacle of protein sources, being highly digestible, with a great range of proteins and amino acids. This is meat you would eat.
Dogs require a high meat content in their diet for sustainability, growth and repair. Having a high meat content percentage will mean better digestibility and better nutritional value to the dog. The boxes below show the scores given for varying percentages of content in the food.
Cats require a high meat content in their diet for sustainability, growth and repair. They use proteins as a source of energy. They also have a higher requirement of essential amino acids which need to be provided in the diet. Having a high meat content percentage will mean better digestibility and better nutritional value for the cat. The boxes below show the scores given for varying percentages of content in the food.