Is 30 protein too much for dogs

The Dangers of High Protein Dog Foods

By Ashley Gallagher, DVM

Choosing what to feed your dog can be an overwhelming decision. Pet food stores are packed with row after row of different brands of food all containing clever marketing slogans to convince you they are the best for your dog. Many of these dog foods boast about containing extremely high levels of protein that claim to satisfy your dogs instinctual need for meat as well as make them healthier and live longer.

Are Dogs Carnivores?

Marketing tactics by some pet food companies have fueled a common misconception among pet owners that dogs are obligate carnivores and require a diet that consists mostly of meat. This is not true. Dogs, like people, are omnivores and do best with a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Excessive protein consumption is unnecessary for dogs at best and for some dogs with medical conditions can actually be harmful.

Proteins are the building blocks of the body and an absolute necessity for daily function. However, when a dog consumes too much protein in a meal it cannot all be utilized at one time, nor can it be stored for later. The body will then excrete the excess protein through the kidneys and out of the body via urine. Thus the quality of the protein actually becomes more important that than actual amount as a high quality protein is more bioavailable and can be better absorbed by the body.

Another issue is that the meat in these diets acting as the protein source contains other nutrients that you do not want in excessive amounts. For example, when a diet is mostly meat it becomes very difficult to maintain a proper calcium-phosphorus ratio. When this ratio is out of balance disruptions in bone growth or kidney damage can occur. Well formulated dog foods have an appropriate balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to prevent this from happening.

Is Excessive Protein in Dog Food Bad for My Pet?

Protein is a calorie dense nutrient and many of the high protein diets are extremely high in calories and can quickly lead to weight gain. With over 50% of dogs in the U.S. considered overweight or obese, dog owners need to be aware of where those extra calories are hiding. If a dog has kidney or liver issues consuming too much protein can increase the workload on these organs and upset the balance of nutrients leading to exacerbation of disease.

Rather than look for a dog food that contains excessive levels of protein you should find one that is specifically formulated for your dogs lifestyle, life stage, and size. A working sled dog, for example, will have significantly different nutrient and caloric requirements than the average pet dog that ventures outside for a few walks a day and spends the rest of the time lounging. These two dogs should not be fed the same diet.

Puppies, meanwhile, require more protein than adult dogs because their bodies are busy growing. Among breeds of puppies there are different requirements for nutrients as well. For instance large breed puppies like Labrador retrievers need a much different diet than a Yorkie for optimal growth. Feeding large breed puppies something that is too high in protein may make them put on weight too quickly causing abnormal joint development and making them more prone to issues like arthritis in the future.

The safest diets are those that have been developed by pet food companies that invest in scientific research, consult with veterinary nutritionists, and perform feeding trials to develop their diets. This will provide a pet food that is properly balanced without any excess nutrients that are unnecessary and in some cases harmful for your dog.

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Can Dog Food Have Too Much Protein?

Of all the nutrients in dog food, protein is the one that gets the most attention. We know its crucial to dogs development and lives. But can you have too much of a good thing?

The Dog Food Advisors nutritionist, Laura Ward, discusses the highs and lows of protein in dog foods and how much is too much.

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If youve checked out the AAFCO Nutrient Profile, youll know that the minimum protein requirement for adult dogs is 18% and for puppies its 22.5%. This is expressed on a dry matter basis or DM, a way to compare foods of different moisture (such as a wet food and a dry food) by theoretically removing the water content.

However, theres currently no nutritional maximum for protein so what does that mean for our dogs food? How much protein is too much?

How high is high-protein?

We consider any diet with a DM crude protein content of more than 28% is high-protein. It isnt unusual, however, to see protein levels above 35%, or even over 40% in dry foods. In fresh and wet foods this is often greater, at around 60% DM. This high protein bracket, therefore, covers a wide range of protein possibilities.

Benefits of high protein in dog food and when to be cautious

Protein is linked to palatability for dogs, so high-protein foods are usually super tasty. Dogs will often choose a high-protein food over a lower-protein option, so if you have a fussy eater, high-protein food can be a great choice. There are other scenarios too where higher protein is particularly valued.

For active or working dogs, the protein they need for maintenance is increased. Not only is there a greater need for the replenishment of muscle tissues, but other changes in the body require proteins from the diet too. This is because endurance activities require more efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscles, which the body becomes conditioned for, just like with human athletes.

These changes include increased blood volume, red blood cell quantity, and increases to other parts of the body cells used for energy generation. The protein building blocks for this come from increased protein being delivered through the diet.

Its also important for senior dogs to have a high-quality source of protein in their diet. Protein, making up a larger proportion of the calories in a senior diet, can support their lean muscle and help to avoid the muscle-loss associated with ageing. Moderate- to high-protein wet or fresh food options can be good choices for senior dogs, as they improve hydration, are very palatable, and are also soft on weaker teeth.

Weight-loss is another situation where protein is important. The energy (or calorie) content of the food is carefully controlled to aid weight loss, but its also important to support muscle. A good quality protein supply and higher-protein content in the diet is essential to avoid muscle wastage.

However, dogs are more likely to eat more of a high-protein diet, which is counterproductive for weight loss. High-protein diets at the higher end of our high protein range (more than 35% DM) are often particularly nutrient dense and can be ill-suited for weight loss. Dogs need only a small quantity of these foods which, when combined with weight loss measures, can leave dogs fed a high-protein diet which isnt designed for weight loss, feeling hungry.

For pregnant and nursing dogs, protein is a crucial element of the diet. During these phases, the requirement for proteins, through changes to the body and the development of puppies or the supply of milk, is great. AAFCOs nutritional profile for growth is most suitable for pregnant and nursing dogs, to represent this increased requirement. High-protein foods can be a great choice during this time.

With diabetic dogs, its the carbohydrate content of food which is the greatest focus. As diabetic dogs cannot safely regulate their response to blood sugars, carbohydrates should be limited in the diet. This generally means that energy is primarily supplied by fats and proteins in the diet to minimise peaks and falls in blood sugar after meals. High-protein and low-carbohydrate foods are recommended, but your veterinarian will advise further what this looks like for your dogs diet.

In the case of any susceptibility to kidney problems, or renal insufficiency, take advice from your veterinarian before feeding a high-protein diet. Although its important for dogs with renal insufficiency to still have a high-quality source of protein in their diet, diets which contain a moderate, rather than high, protein content are often more suitable.

Studies have shown that protein is not connected to the progression of chronic renal failure, however, recent studies have also found high protein (46%) can be linked to an increase in markers of kidney dysfunction. Although veterinary advice now doesnt call for protein restriction, it often recommends avoidance of excessive dietary protein.

Whats wrong with low-protein dog foods?

A real low-protein diet is only available when prescribed by a vet, as feeding a low-protein diet without medical need could cause deficiency diseases in a healthy dog. There are foods, however, which meet AAFCO protein requirements without supplying very much extra protein. These foods supply the majority of the energy from fats and carbohydrates.

This is often associated with lower quality or cheaper foods, as protein is often a key driver of cost in a dog food recipe. As protein is linked to palatability in dogs, lower protein foods can be less tasty.

Carbohydrates are broken down differently to proteins, into sugars. The carbohydrate source in the recipe determines how the blood sugar is affected. For foods which are high on the Glycaemic index, a peak, followed by a fall in blood sugar is seen. Although not an area which has been sufficiently studied, this is thought to be linked to fizzy and lethargic behaviour like children fed sugary foods.

Summary how important is protein in dog food?

The quality of the protein in a food is far more important than the quantity. A protein source which supplies all of the amino acid protein building blocks in the correct quantities and in a digestible and accessible form is the goal.

There are certainly benefits to be gained by supplying high levels of protein in a dogs diet, but the effects of some of these super-high-protein foods are not well studied yet. If in doubt, feeding a moderately high protein food to begin with of 28% to 30% DM protein and monitoring your dogs reaction is recommended. Remember, you can always ask your vet about changes to your dogs diet.

Is 30% protein too much?

Your response was very disrespectful. You have no idea what I do for a living. I will not discuss my job here, as I think that is inappropriate and, frankly, my company does not allow it. I have spent most of my adult life studying science and I did not find what I wrote on an "internet search."I am not a dog nutritionist. I do not work with animals, and I don't know why you brought up ash content, because that was nowhere in my original post. I don't know about this, and my dog does not eat kibble.There are peer reviewed studies and journal articles to back up what I wrote in my initial post about dietary protein and phosphorus. Additionally, I never said high blood phosphorus was healthy. I said that a diet high in phosphorus is not considered to be a cause of the onset of kidney failure. If you can find a peer reviewed study that confirms that it does, I will be very interested to read it. People and dogs with kidney failure do need to reduce the phosphorus in their diets. This is because phosphorus is filtered by the kidneys and then absorbed by the small intestine. When the kidneys are failing, increased phosphorus (among other minerals) puts a strain on them, causing further damage, which is why a low phosphorus diet is extremely important for dogs/humans/cats/etc with any stage of kidney failure. A high phosphorus diet in someone with kidney failure will lead to increased phosphorus in the blood, which leads to it leeching calcium from the blood (dietary) and/or bones, which can lead to extraosseous calcifications; however the calcification can occur in blood vessels, lung, heart, and skin tissue (pretty much anywhere). Nephrocalcinosis (which is what you were talking about) does occur, but it is important to understand that the calcification is not the cause of kidney failure, it is the result of it.The above information is paraphrased from the text "Hemodialysis: Principles and Practice" edited by George L. Bailey, MD (which happened to be sitting on my nightstand because I'm a layperson who knows nothing about science), not from an internet search.I will not come back to this thread. I understand your desire to get information out there and I understand that you think ash content in dog food is a terrible thing, because you post about it often on this forum. However, I am offended that you are not willing to have a discussion about these topics, your response is critical and condescending, and it certainly seems that you are far more concerned with being right than with sharing helpful information. The only reason I participate in this forum is for discussion purposes and I find your aggressive demeanor extremely off putting.