The food companies are required to list the crude protein, fat, fiber, and
moisture levels of the food on an "as is basis." To compare dry food to can
food you have to put it into a "dry matter basis." Most dry foods will have
10-15% moisture (water).  The can foods will vary from 60-80% moisture.
 
I do not have the dry/can K/D here, but yes, they are going to be similiar
in protein level when compared on a dry matter basis.
 
A/D on the other hand is a high protein, high fat food.  That is why it is
often recommended for feeding sick ferrets, ferrets with insulinomas, and
for ferrets recovering from surgery.  The high water content also helps to
correct the dehydration in ECE ferrets.  Hopefully Dr Willard will be able
to explain how to convert food values from an "as is basis" to a "dry
matter basis" in an easy to understand way for everybody.
 
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3409]