High Protein Dog food

The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) has established nutritional thresholds to ensure your dog receives the necessary protein intake for their health. For a growing puppy, this threshold is 22.5%, while for an adult dog, it is 18%. Therefore, dog food is considered "high protein" when the protein content exceeds 29% (on a dry matter basis).

Choosing a high-protein diet offers numerous benefits for your dog's overall health:

• Muscle support: Essential for puppy growth, recovery for active dogs, and maintaining muscle mass in seniors.
• Immune System: Proteins help create antibodies, helping your pet stay protected against illnesses.
• Vitality and Energy: Supports metabolism and provides endurance without making your dog hyperactive.
• Skin and Coat Health: High protein intake ensures a denser, shinier coat and a stronger skin barrier.
• Weight Management: A protein-rich diet helps your dog feel full longer, promoting fat loss while preserving muscle.

To provide a balanced diet, dog food manufacturers typically combine two types of protein sources. Animal proteins sourced from meat (chicken, beef, lamb), fish, and eggs are highly beneficial as they naturally contain all the essential amino acids your dog needs. This is precisely why more owners are choosing raw dog food for their companions.

There are also plant-based proteins derived from legumes (peas, lentils) or grains. While these proteins provide important fiber and minerals, they cannot cover all of your dog's nutritional requirements on their own.

No, not all protein sources are equal. Beyond the source itself (animal or plant-based), we also distinguish between complete and incomplete proteins.

A protein is considered complete when it contains all 10 essential amino acids that a dog requires. These are almost exclusively animal-based and are highly digestible and "bioavailable," meaning the dog's body can easily absorb and utilize them almost entirely.

An incomplete protein, on the other hand, is missing one or more of these 10 essential amino acids. These are typically found in plant-based proteins or low-quality animal by-products. They are harder to digest and require more effort from the kidneys and pancreas to be processed and eliminated.

There is currently no evidence to suggest that a high-protein diet causes kidney problems in healthy dogs. The real issue is not the quantity of protein, but the quality of the sources chosen. Complete proteins are easily digestible and require much less filtration effort from the kidneys than plant-based proteins, bones, or organ meats. Therefore, it is essential to choose a food that prioritizes high-quality animal proteins.

However, if your dog has an existing kidney or liver sensitivity or disease, excess protein can be more difficult for their body to manage. In these cases, we recommend consulting your veterinarian before transitioning to a high-protein diet.

Nutrition often depends on your dog's lifestyle and habits. A high-protein diet is particularly beneficial for growing puppies, pregnant females, and highly active dogs, as it supports tissue development and repair. It is also valuable for senior dogs to help maintain their muscle mass.

However, if your dog is sedentary, this type of diet is less relevant and could be counterproductive to their health. The same applies to dogs with pre-existing health conditions. In these cases, we recommend speaking with your veterinarian beforehand.

As with any food change, you must transition gradually. Monitor how your dog reacts to the change to ensure everything is going smoothly.

• From days 1 to 3, mix 25% of the new food with 75% of the old.
• From days 4 to 6, move to a half-and-half mix (50% / 50%).
• For days 7 to 9, offer 75% of the new food and 25% of the old.
• Finally, by day 10, your dog will be ready for 100% of their new food.

There is no concrete research proving that a high-protein diet causes diarrhea. Often, several other factors are involved, such as food intolerance, a transition that is too sudden, or poor-quality protein sources. Therefore, it is important to monitor your dog when changing their food and to adjust to their specific needs.

A higher protein intake can be beneficial for senior dogs to help counter muscle loss associated with aging. However, it is very important to prioritize bioavailability to avoid overworking the filtration organs by choosing high-quality complete proteins. If your dog suffers from kidney problems, it is important to speak with your veterinarian before making any dietary changes.

Proteins play a vital role in your dog's development. It is important to primarily provide high-quality, complete animal proteins to fully benefit from a high-protein diet. Here are a few brands we recommend:

• Nordika
• Orijen
• Open Farm
• Acana

Some studies show that a high-protein diet can indeed contribute to weight loss, but it is important that carbohydrates and calorie intake remain low.