What Are They and Why Do They Matter

A digestibility study measures how well a dog can break down, absorb, and use the nutrients in a food.

While ingredient lists and guaranteed analyses show what goes into a formula, digestibility tells us what the body actually gets out of it.

In a typical study, dogs are fed a controlled amount of a specific food over a set period. Researchers then compare nutrient intake to nutrient output (via stool analysis) to calculate how much protein, fat, energy, and other nutrients were absorbed. The result is broken out as Dry Matter, Protein, Fat and Caloric Digestibility and are expressed as a percentage.

Why this matters for your dog:

More usable nutrition: Higher digestibility means your dog absorbs more of the nutrients needed for energy, muscle maintenance, immune support, and overall health.

Better stool quality: Efficient digestion often leads to smaller, firmer stools.

Reduced digestive upset: Dogs with sensitive stomachs benefit from highly digestible formulas.

Cost efficiency: Since your dog absorbs more nutrients, you may need to feed less to meet their nutritional needs.

Some brands make claims like “less waste,” or “smaller stools,” as signals of quality. While these outcomes can be linked to well-formulated foods, they are often presented without published digestibility data or controlled feeding trials to support them. Without a formal study, these statements are using marketing language that implies quality rather than verified nutritional performance that proves it.

True digestibility is measured through structured feeding studies and laboratory analysis, not visual observation or anecdotal feedback. For consumers, transparency around testing methods and results is an important distinction between evidence-based nutrition and marketing claims that rely primarily on perception.