Compare

Puppy vs adult dog food, from the label.

Puppy and adult formulas are written for different stages of life. Here is what the label records across 6 puppy and 39 adult dog foods in our catalog, side by side on a dry matter basis.

The same facts, side by side

Medians with the lowest and highest recorded value. Only foods that state a value are counted.

Label fact

Puppy6 foods

Adult39 foods

Protein (min), dry matterCalculated from label values; not stated on the label.

32%range 28.9–40% · 6 foods

28.9%range 22.2–50% · 39 foods

Fat (min), dry matterCalculated from label values; not stated on the label.

17.9%range 15.1–20.5% · 6 foods

15.6%range 8.9–20% · 39 foods

Fiber (max), dry matterCalculated from label values; not stated on the label.

5.1%range 3.4–5.6% · 6 foods

4.5%range 2.9–20% · 39 foods

Protein per 100 kcal (min)Grams of protein for every 100 calories. Puts wet and dry foods on one scale. Calculated from label values; not stated on the label.

7.7 grange 6.7–9.6 g · 6 foods

6.9 grange 5.2–10.4 g · 38 foods

Fat per 100 kcal (min)Grams of fat for every 100 calories. Calculated from label values; not stated on the label.

4.3 grange 3.7–4.6 g · 6 foods

3.8 grange 2.5–4.9 g · 38 foods

Moisture (max)As fed. This is the main reason wet and dry foods read differently.

10.3%range 10–12% · 6 foods

10%range 8.5–82% · 39 foods

Only 6 puppy foods are in the catalog so far, so treat these figures as a small sample.

Dry matter values use each label's own moisture maximum. Calorie rows use the calories per kg recorded from each label. Foods with a recorded life stage of all life stages, senior, or no recorded life stage are not counted.

How the label marks life stage

The adequacy statement on a label says which life stage a food is formulated for. AAFCO publishes separate nutrient profiles for growth and for adult maintenance, and foods labeled for all life stages are held to the growth profile. This page counts only foods whose recorded life stage is exactly puppy or exactly adult.

What the label cannot tell you

Feeding amounts, growth rate, and the needs of a large or giant breed puppy depend on the individual dog. Ask your veterinarian when choosing a food for a growing puppy or when moving a dog from puppy to adult food.

Examples from the catalog

One food per brand, listed alphabetically. Open any food to see its full label facts and source.

Puppy dog food

Adult dog food

Compare one puppy and one adult food side by side