High Protein Dog Foods: What You Need to Know

High protein dog food sounds like a good thing. After all, dogs are primarily meat eaters ... Aren't they? This claim is often made, but if you know dogs, you know that if left to their own devices they'll go for whatever edible thing is easiest to get to, be it meat, vegetables, potato chips, or the contents of your cat's litter box. Observing your dog's unsupervised eating habits isn't exactly the best way to tell what's good for him. Read on to learn how much and what kind of protein for dogs is best.

Carnivores vs. Omnivores

It's often thought that dogs are exclusive meat eaters that require high protein dog food. This belief stems partly from the fact that dogs are related to wolves, which are indeed carnivores, and from the fact that dogs belong to the scientific order Carnivora, which includes wolves and other meat-eating species. Despite its name, this order also includes herbivores and omnivores, such as bears, raccoons, and giant pandas, says Tufts University's Cummings Veterinary Medical Center. The truth is that dogs have evolved a number of differences from wolves over the millennia. One of those differences, according to a study published in Nature, is that the genome of dogs has evolved to not only enable them to digest plant-based starches, but to thrive on foods that include a wide variety of ingredients including fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, meats, poultry, fish and more, making them true omnivores.

How Much Protein Does Your Dog Need?

Dogs aren't carnivores, but they do need essential amino acids found in protein in order to thrive. However, some veterinarians still caution against feeding high amounts of protein to dogs with kidney disease, as well as to senior dogs. When in doubt, it's always best to check with your vet to ensure your dog is getting proper nutrition. So, rather than looking for quantity of protein in your dog's food, you should be looking at the quality.

Dog's can only use a certain amount of the protein that is digested and absorbed at once to repair and maintain muscles and other tissues. Any excess must be disposed of, which means it is broken down and burned for energy or stored as fat. Either way, the kidneys remove the byproducts of protein breakdown and are excreted in the urine. If you've ever noticed those yellow spots on your lawn from your dog doing his business, there is a good chance that that is caused by excessive protein in the system. Also, if your dog is putting on weight, it might be worth examining the protein content of his food.

Another danger is in feeding too little protein to your pup. Dogs need protein to provide energy and build strong muscles, bones, and joints. As a general guideline, the Association of American Feed Control Officials requires adult dog food to contain a minimum of 18 percent crude protein on a dry matter basis (meaning what's left after all of the moisture is extracted from dog food). Food for growing puppies and nursing mothers has a required minimum of 22.5 percent dry matter protein. Again, you should ask your vet how much protein is recommended for your dog's life stage and activity level.

High Protein Dog Food

Dog foods marketed as high in animal protein tend to take advantage of the common perception of dogs as domesticated wolves. Dogs are not wolves. They not only have the means to digest plant matter, but their digestive systems are equipped to access the amino acids in plant-based proteins. According to Petfood Industry, it's not the amount of protein in a dog's diet that is important, but the digestibility and bioavailability of amino acids. Often, high-protein, meat-based dog foods include protein sources that are neither highly digestible nor bioavailable to your dog. Unused protein ferments and goes into fecal matter, making your dog's solid waste stinkier, says Petfood Industry.

High Quality Protein for Dogs

When it comes to digestibility and bioavailability, it's actually a mix of animal-based and plant-based proteins that provide dogs with the highest amount of essential amino acids, says Petfood Industry. Beef, lamb, and poultry don't provide the optimal ratio of bioavailable amino acids by themselves. That's why higher-quality commercial dog foods typically include additional protein sources, such as fish and fish meal, eggs, animal byproducts, and plant-based proteins, such as wheat or corn gluten. Such a wide variety of protein sources ensures that their bodies will actually use the essential amino acids and receive better overall nutrition.

High Protein Dog Food and Food Allergies

Grains and gluten often get a bad rap for causing allergies and skin problems in dogs. The truth, according to Tufts, is that food allergies in dogs are relatively rare occurrences. What's more, when they do happen, the culprit is usually meat. Tufts lists proteins found in chicken and beef as two of the most common causes of dog food allergies. So while high-protein, grain-free dog foods are sometimes touted as a remedy for allergies, they can actually make things worse if you don't know exactly what your dog is allergic to.

Complete and Balanced Nutrition

Of course, protein is only one component of a pet food that provides complete nutrition for your dog. While some proponents of high protein foods claim that all your dog needs to eat is meat, the healthiest dog foods balance digestible, bioavailable protein sources with healthy sources of fiber such as grains, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and vitamins and minerals. Among other things, these additional components provide energy, aid digestion, strengthen and protect joints, make it easier to absorb vitamins and minerals, and contribute to healthy skin, hair, and teeth, says the ASPCA. While protein is an essential part of your dog's diet, protein alone can't provide everything that's needed for your dog's overall health.

When shopping for food for your dog, it's important to look beyond the marketing claims on the package. Instead, be sure to check the list of ingredients and nutritional makeup of the food. High quality protein sources should be high on the list, but so should quality sources of grains or vegetables and fats. Vitamins and minerals should round out the list. This will help ensure that you're feeding your pup a high-quality dog food that will provide not just one component, but all of the nutrition he needs to help him live a long and healthy life.