Calculating Carbs in Food?

[Amy & Herman]

So I’ve managed to go down yet another rabbit hole…

My cat Herman really enjoys the like the Tiki Cat after dark line and they aren’t listed on Dr. Lisa‘s chart and I need to double check their carb levels are suitable.

I’ve googled a bit with not great/consistent results…I’ve also seen it mentioned in bits in previous threads on this forum and on fb as well, again nothing conclusive and consistent.

Yesterday I received a chart from Tiki Cat and I’m curious how I change their percentages to match the percentage calculations used on Dr. Lisa’s chart (which I refer to for my fancy feast etc). I know there’s a difference between “as fed” and “dry matter” but I believe neither of those are exactly how she is calculating her numbers…I did see someone posted a link to this online calculator:
https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/_gaconverter/index.php
…but when I checked my fancy feast pates to double check if the calculator works I got the chicken feast pate showing as 10.14%…that can’t be right!

I’m likely over thinking this or making a silly math error…can someone help? My Herman bounces all over the place, I want to at least ensure he gets to eat something he enjoys that isn’t going to raise his BG! We don’t need anything else working against us!

 

[Angela & Cleo]

So I’ve managed to go down yet another rabbit hole…

My cat Herman really enjoys the like the Tiki Cat after dark line and they aren’t listed on Dr. Lisa‘s chart and I need to double check their carb levels are suitable.

I’ve googled a bit with not great/consistent results…I’ve also seen it mentioned in bits in previous threads on this forum and on fb as well, again nothing conclusive and consistent.

Yesterday I received a chart from Tiki Cat and I’m curious how I change their percentages to match the percentage calculations used on Dr. Lisa’s chart (which I refer to for my fancy feast etc). I know there’s a difference between “as fed” and “dry matter” but I believe neither of those are exactly how she is calculating her numbers…I did see someone posted a link to this online calculator:
https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/_gaconverter/index.php
…but when I checked my fancy feast pates to double check if the calculator works I got the chicken feast pate showing as 10.14%…that can’t be right!

I’m likely over thinking this or making a silly math error…can someone help? My Herman bounces all over the place, I want to at least ensure he gets to eat something he enjoys that isn’t going to raise his BG! We don’t need anything else working against us!

View attachment 65255

Welcome to the Rabbit Hole of feline nutrition! I've been there and have driven myself MAD trying to figure it out. This helps:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/calculating-calories-from-carbohydrates.205128/

Start at II. step three - since Tiki gave you the carbs % in as fed analysis in its response. The result will give you the % on a Metabolizing Energy (ME) basis.

Best advice from someone deep in the rabbit hole is when comparing different foods from varying companies, you either use the As-Fed a/k/a Guaranteed Analysis OR the DMB values.

 

[Amy & Herman]

Welcome to the Rabbit Hole of feline nutrition! I've been there and have driven myself MAD trying to figure it out. This helps:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/calculating-calories-from-carbohydrates.205128/

Start at II. step three - since Tiki gave you the carbs % in as fed analysis in its response. The result will give you the % on a Metabolizing Energy (ME) basis.

Best advice from someone deep in the rabbit hole is when comparing different foods from varying companies, you either use the As-Fed a/k/a Guaranteed Analysis OR the DMB values.

Thank you! Will dive in deeper tonight!

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

This whole thing really took me quite a while to wrap my head around. For one thing, people always just say "oh that food is 10% carbs or 5% or whatever"

but in reality, it is the percentage of calories from carbs that we want to identify. Not the percentage of carbohydrates themselves but their caloric load as it relates to the entire meal's caloric load.

I usually use this calculator for a general idea. It is not perfect.

http://scheyderweb.com/cats/catfood.html

Once you get numbers above and below the black line, you have to manually do division for the % of calories from carbohydrates.

 

[Angela & Cleo]

This whole thing really took me quite a while to wrap my head around. For one thing, people always just say "oh that food is 10% carbs or 5% or whatever"

but in reality, it is the percentage of calories from carbs that we want to identify. Not the percentage of carbohydrates themselves but their caloric load as it relates to the entire meal's caloric load.

I usually use this calculator for a general idea. It is not perfect.

http://scheyderweb.com/cats/catfood.html

Once you get numbers above and below the black line, you have to manually do division for the % of calories from carbohydrates.

You are soooooo right! Imo It's one of the reasons Weruva gets another thumbs up from me, since they list the ME values for their foods along with kcals of magnesium phosphorus etc.
How's Hendricks doing? I have to ask, what are you doing with all the no more poking free time

 

[Amy & Herman]

This whole thing really took me quite a while to wrap my head around. For one thing, people always just say "oh that food is 10% carbs or 5% or whatever"

but in reality, it is the percentage of calories from carbs that we want to identify. Not the percentage of carbohydrates themselves but their caloric load as it relates to the entire meal's caloric load.

I usually use this calculator for a general idea. It is not perfect.

http://scheyderweb.com/cats/catfood.html

Once you get numbers above and below the black line, you have to manually do division for the % of calories from carbohydrates.

Thanks I’ll look into it tonight …. Need to put my thinking cap on, numbers are NOT my strong suit!

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

How's Hendricks doing? I have to ask, what are you doing with all the no more poking free time

hahha Hendrick is doing great thanks for asking. All extra time is strictly devoted to furry pats and fuzzy cuddles