# Comparison of Key Nutrient Content of Commercial Puppy Foods with Canine Dietary Requirements
## 3 Results
### Proximate Composition and Energy Value  
The range of dry matter (DM) in the diets tested was from 92.7 g/100 g of fresh diet to a maximum of 96.6 g/100 g of fresh diet (Table 3). Significant differences were found in the proportions of the nutrients evaluated, depending on the diet tested. The lowest protein content was found in DEPF_1 (30.1 g/100 g DM) and the highest in DEPF_3 (35.3 g/100 g DM). Crude fat values were significantly lowest in DEPF_1 (11.7 g/100 g DM) and highest in DEPF_4 (19.5 g/100 g DM). Crude fiber values obtained from the analysis ranged from the lowest in DEPF_3 (4.5 g/100 g DM) to the highest in DEPF_4 (7.8 g/100 g DM), with no statistical difference. Crude ash was significantly lowest in both the DEPF_2 and DEPF_5 diets (6.4 g/100 g DM) and highest in the DEPF_1 diet (7.7 g/100 g DM). Nitrogen-free extract as total carbohydrates was calculated according to the equation. Significant statistical differences were present in DEPF_4 with the lowest carbohydrate level (27.7 g/100 g DM). The highest carbohydrate supplied was DEPF_1 (39.8 g/100 g DM). The significantly lowest metabolic energy level per 100 g DM was found in DEPF_1 with 355.9 kcal, while the highest was found in DEPF_5 with 407.8 kcal per 100 g DM. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Item**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Labelling/Component Animal Sources**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Plant Sources of**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Source of Fat/Oil**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Other Ingredients**} \\  & **Claims** & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{DEPF\_1} & \multirow{2}{*}{with salmon} & \multirow{2}{*}{sea fish, salmon} & potatoes, pas, sweet potatoes, tomatoes & salmon oil, canola oil & \multirow{2}{*}{chicory, yucca schidigera} \\  & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{DEPF\_2} & \multirow{2}{*}{salmon} & \multirow{2}{*}{salmon} & beetroot, potatoes, rice & animal fat & ginger, flaxseed, yucca schidigera \\  & & & & & & schidigera \\ \hline \multirow{6}{*}{DEPF\_3} & \multirow{2}{*}{with herring, hake and rockfish} & herring, mackerel, flounder, blue whiting, hake, rockfish & chickpeas, chicory, beans & sunflower oil & apples, beets, blueberries, burdock root, carrots, chicory, cranberries, holy thistle, kale, lavender, pears, pumpkin, rosehips, seaweed, spinach, turmeric, turnip greens, valarian root, zucchini \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{DEPF\_4} & \multirow{2}{*}{chicken} & \multirow{2}{*}{chicken, eggs} & \multirow{2}{*}{rice, sorghum} & animal fat (poultry and pork), krill, salmon oil & algae, calendula, flaxseed, grape seeds, green tea, lecithin, rosemary \\  & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{DEPF\_5} & \multirow{2}{*}{chicken} & \multirow{2}{*}{chicken} & apples buckwheat, betroot, oats, potatoes & chicken fat, salmon oil & algae, black currant, calendula, collagen, dandelion, flaxseed, green-lipped mussel, parsley, rosemary, thyme \\  & & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: The main ingredients declared in the analyzed dry extruded puppy foods (DEPF). The differences in the levels of the individual components were evaluated (ANOVA), but a comparative analysis of the nutritional profiles of the tested foods as a whole (Cohen's coefficient of profile similarity) was also performed (Table 4). From this analysis, it is clear that the profiles of the basic composition of the foods DEPF_2 and DEPF_5 are very similar, as shown by the [PERSON]'s coefficient of 0.816. These foods are located in the first quadrant of the coordinate system, which is consistent with the relationship expressed by [PERSON]'s coefficient (Figure 3B). Their shared characteristic is a higher metabolic energy content than other feeds (see Figure 3A). The figure also shows no correlation between NFE and ME or between ME and CP and a negative correlation between ME and CA. A moderately positive correlation was observed between metabolizable energy (ME) and gross energy (EE).