Can too much protein be bad 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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Is High-Protein Dog Food Healthy for Your Pup?

As a pet parent, you want to give your dog the best of everything including nutrition. However, choosing the right food isn't always straightforward. For example, you might have heard that high-protein dog food is best for pups. But while protein is an essential nutrient, like most things, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Too much protein in dog food or too little can cause health problems.

Here's what you should know about protein in dog food to help you make the best choice for your canine companion.

What Does Balanced Nutrition Mean?

It's easy to focus on one nutrient at a time, but it's important to look at dog food as a whole. You've probably heard advertisements stating that a particular food is "complete" or "balanced," and that's because those qualities are essential to good nutrition. But what exactly does that mean?

In addition to protein, dogs need carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. According to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, these vitamins and minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, D and E, among others. Many of these nutrients interact with each other. For instance, your dog needs fat to absorb certain vitamins, and carbohydrates help the body use protein more efficiently.

Dogs aren't carnivores but omnivores. This means their systems evolved to consume meat and plants. While meat is great for protein, as well as key vitamins and minerals, plants supply many other vitamins and minerals plus carbohydrates and fiber. Fat can come from both sources.

Bioavailability

A key feature of a nutrient is "bioavailability," which indicates how well the nutrient is absorbed and utilized by the body. This is one of the most important features of a dog food since nutrients won't do much good if they're left behind as waste. This is also why the crude protein level on your dog food label doesn't provide an accurate indication of the amount of protein your dog will absorb. Absorption is calculated by testing the food for nitrogen, which is then plugged into a formula and converted to a protein amount. It's not a reliable indication of the protein source's quality or how much your pup will actually digest.

Can Too Much Protein Harm Your Dog?

Kidney disease often goes undiagnosed in dogs who don't show any clinical signs. If your dog has underlying kidney disease, the high phosphorus levels associated with high-protein dog food can exacerbate and accelerate the disease process.

Excess protein can also lead to bone disease, which is typically seen in dogs who are only fed meat (e.g., your neighbor's super picky Pomeranian who only eats rotisserie chicken). Because meat is high in phosphorus and basically devoid of calcium, calcium levels fall and phosphorus rises over time. To correct this imbalance, the body pulls calcium from the bones.

Which Protein Source Is Best?

When most people think of protein, they think of meat. Poultry, beef, pork and fish are all excellent sources of protein that are common in dog foods. But, as any of your vegetarian friends will tell you, there are many other ways to get protein, including eggs, wheat, corn and legumes.

A complete, balanced dog food does all the work for you. Check the food bag's small print to find out whether it's been formulated and/or tested to be "complete and balanced," which means it meets the nutritional requirements for your dog's life stage as established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Whatever the protein source, this tells you it's the right amount to meet your pet's needs.

How Much Protein Does Your Dog Need?

Now you know that too much protein in dog food isn't recommended. But is a high-protein dog food ever warranted? If your dog is an athlete, meaning they complete field trials on a regular basis or run in agility, a high-protein dog food might be beneficial. If your dog is older, however, you'll want to back off on the protein since old kidneys aren't as forgiving as young ones. Likewise, if your dog has been diagnosed with kidney failure, your veterinarian will likely recommend controlled protein foods, among other nutrients.

Age, breed size, activity level and lifestyle are all important factors to consider when choosing your pup's food. Your dog is unique, so ask your vet which dog food they suggest. Rather than focusing on just one nutrient, aim to feed your dog a high-quality food that's complete and balanced with all the nutrients they need to thrive.

Contributor Bio

Dr. Karen Louis

Dr. Karen Louis owns a small animal clinic near St. Louis, MO. When not helping pets in her low stress clinic, she is walking her rescue dogs or taking nature photos.

Will Too Much Protein in a Dogs Diet Cause Health Problems?

Will Too Much Protein in a Dogs Diet Cause Health Problems?

Jan 08, 2024

High Protein Diet for DogsHow Much Protein Does Your Dog Need?

Does your furry buddy howl at the moon? No? Well, we are on the same pagedogs are not wolves, although, at times, they certainly think they are. Despite the popular opinion that these two species should eat similar food, they dont have the same food requirements.

A common misconception has grown around the theory that dogs need lots of protein to satisfy their meat needs. Canines are not obligate carnivores, despite what youve heard from many pet food companies.

Finding the perfect balanced nutrition for your furry one is difficult, and you do need to use your Sherlock Holmes skills to rule out harmful products from your pups diet. There are a lot of excellent formulas out there, but you need to dig deep.

First, start with the specific nutritional needs of your pooch. Highly active dogs will have different diet requirements from pups, whose primary duty is to walk to the food bowl and back. Even these lazy couch potatoes need to have some exercise during the day, but the activity levels need to be reflected in their feeding.

All ingredients should be taken in moderation, and the same goes for proteins. Read on to learn how much protein is safe for your pet and why balanced nutrition is so important.

We are not affiliated with any food manufacturer, and we are not paid to promote products. Everything you read in our articles is based solely on verified and accurate information that we gathered for our research.

Our evaluation

Our team of avid dog lovers is here to help you. We investigate each dog-related topic to the fullest, with the aim of providing you with verified information. If you are not certain how much protein your dog can have, there is someone who knows.For this topic, we chose to consult

1. Three veterinary nutritionists
2. Dog parents
3. Dog lovers community

Veterinary nutritionists gave us their professional opinion on the matter. Years of experience have resulted in an in-depth knowledge of how much protein is sufficient for your pup.

Lots of dog parents perform diet trials on their pups, and this helps them figure out whats the best nutrition for them. Dog owners who have gone through this process told us the most common mistakes the other pet owners make, and how they should correct them. They stressed that every dog owner must be informed adequately and have valid information at their disposal.

Lastly, our dog lovers community-recommended lots of products that provide our pups with balanced nutrition. They told us these formulas are costly, but if you worry about your dogs health, then you should not put a price on it.

And remember, we are not sponsored to give promotion to any food company. We present to you our findings to help your hairy companion have a healthy life. Everything you read in the article is the result of our detailed research.

What Are the Typical Mistakes and Misconceptions among Dog Owners

Dogs dont need a diet that consists mostly of meat. Thats the greatest misconception circulating in the dog world. Dog food companies have instilled this idea as part of their marketing strategy. Just like us humans, our little friends are also omnivorous. You must have noticed this yourselfwhenever you leave them unsupervised, they eat anything they find in their way.

This misconception also stems from the fact that dogs are related to wolves, which are carnivorous animals. After many years of evolution, these two species have gone different ways, and while wolves remained carnivorous, dogs have developed the ability to digest plant-based nutrients.

How Much Protein Should Be in Dog Food

Proteins need to be part of every dogs diet. Proteins contain amino acids, which are crucial for their nutrition. The lack of proteins can lead to severe issues such as

• Weight loss
• Sickness
• Fatigue
• Rough coat

The problem with feeding your dog high-protein formulas is that your pups body cant digest too much protein at once. All excess protein can either be burned in energy or turned into fat. For dogs who like to sleep and rest day in day out, too much protein can lead to severe health problems with

1. Kidneys
2. Liver
3. Obesity
4. Immune system
5. Diarrhea

Puppy pups need a greater amount of protein in their diet because their bodies are developing. However, you should be careful with large breed puppies. If they gain too much weight, it will put enormous pressure on their growing spine and joints. The same goes for dogs who have short legs. Their nutrition needs to be tailored not to stress their joints. Dogs who put on too much weight are less likely to be active, and thus will turn into a dog version of Garfield.

So its difficult to say whats the exact amount of protein that your pooch should get. It all depends on their breed, activity, lifestyle, size. According to our research, a rough estimate would suggest that puppies should get around 29 percent of protein. Adults require approximately 18 percent dietary protein along with all amino acids that their body needs.

The ten most essential amino acids for our dogs are:

• Lysine
• Arginine
• Threonine
• Histidine
• Valine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Tryptophane
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine

Your task is to find food that contains as many amino acids as possible, as each one of them contributes to healthy development of your pooch.

You should also know, its not always the amount of protein that matters, but its quality and digestibility. Make sure that your pup gets protein from high-quality ingredients. The food youre giving to your pet must contain both animal-based and plant-based proteins.

Protein is burned in the liver, and the excess protein is filtered in the kidneys. High-quality protein does not produce much waste. Poor quality protein is not easy to digest, and it puts too much pressure on kidneys. The liver needs water to process protein, so we advise all dog owners to mix dry food with canned food. Extra moisture found in the wet food will be beneficial for them, and it might prevent liver disease.

Can protein sources cause allergies in dogs?

While pet owners usually suspect that their pooch is having issues with grain, the actual problem can just as easily be protein-based. Chicken and beef are proclaimed the biggest causes of dog allergy. Even though they belong to high-quality protein sources, in case your pet is allergic or sensitive to beef or poultry, look for the products that dont contain these ingredients.If your pup suffers from allergies, we advise you to consult with your vet to help you find the perfect diet for your buddy.

Where to Find High-Quality Protein

Our hairy companions are omnivorous. We need to give them protein if we want to keep our dogs healthy and strong. Search for the food with a high biological value that your pooch will digest easily. In the list below, youll find the kinds of food that have this value.

Top-quality food brands always use different sources of protein. So youll see that apart from lamb, beef, or poultry, they almost always add extra protein sources from eggs, fish, or cheese. So, lets see how much protein we can find in these ingredients.

Meat as Protein Source

Meat is an excellent source of protein, but you need to make sure you find products that contain real meat. Despite the claims of dog food companies, always read the ingredient list before opting for a certain formula. Meat thats most often included in high-quality formulas is:

Meat by-products are slaughterhouse waste. They contain some proteins, but theyre usually difficult to digest. If you can afford it, always go with formulas that contain real meat. Meat by-products typically contain:

• Feathers
• Horns
• Claws
• Beaks
• Hooves
• Hair

Fish as Protein Source

Fish is used in many high-quality products as it is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. These acids maintain healthy skin and provide your pup with a lustrous coat. Your pup will be proud of their look, and they will want to have some friends over, just to brag.

Eggs as Protein Source

Believe it or not, dogs can sometimes get more proteins from eggs than meat. You can give eggs to your pup as part of their homemade meal, as long as theyre cooked.

Balanced Diet

Your beastie must get protein from different sources. If they continuously eat the same food, based on the same protein sources, they can grow a sensitivity to it. As we have already mentioned, the best formulas are the ones that mix animal and plant-based proteins. Several factors also influence well-balanced nutrition, and those are:

1. Vitamins. Vitamins contribute a lot to your poochs health, especially their eyesight. The formulas youre feeding to your dog should contain around one percent of vitamins.
2. Carbohydrates. Regular intakes of carbs will keep your canines colon healthy. They contain fiber that aids digestion and regulates colon bacteria. Carbohydrates are excellent energy providers.
3. Minerals. If you want your pups bones and teeth healthy, look for food that contains about two to four percent of minerals.
4. Fat. Your dogs food should contain from ten to twenty percent of fat. It promotes healthy coat growth and a strong immune system.

Below youll find two food formulas that we selected for you. They can serve you as a model while youre searching for your poochs perfect diet.

Top Picks for Boosting Your Dogs Appetite

Ensuring your dog has a healthy and robust appetite is essential for their overall well-being, and there are excellent products designed to stimulate their hunger. Explore top-rated appetite boosters such as specially formulated supplements, palatable treats, and enticing food toppers. These products are particularly beneficial for picky eaters or dogs facing a temporary loss of appetite due to illness or stress.

9.4

• Puppy dog food tailor-made for small-breed puppies up to 10 months old with an expected adult weight of 4.4-22 lb.
• Optimal energy levels support a puppy's growth and development.
• Formulated with a complex of antioxidants to support a developing immune system. Beet pulp, fish oil, and highly digestible proteins support a developing digestive system.
• Stimulates a puppy's appetite with a highly palatable formula that is moderately high in fat and energy density.
• This wet puppy food can be fed alone as a complete and balanced diet or mixed with Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food.

9.4

• Supports and boosts a healthy appetite: irresistible taste that is ideal for picky eaters and sickly pets that are off food
• Great for active, hunting, or working dogs. Also beneficial to sick or stressed dogs, dogs with a suppressed appetite, or pups that need extra vitamins added to their diet
• Concentrated formula packed with carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids (omegas 3, 6, and 9)
• Veterinarian formulated for adult dogs
• Palatable gel is easy and enjoyable to administer

9.4

• Ideal as a food topper for your sidekicks next mealtime.
• Crafted with superfoods to support whole-body health and formulated using only premium, all-natural ingredients.
• Features high-quality chicken and turkey, which are rich in nutrients and flavor to deliver the whisker-licking taste even the pickiest pups will love.
• Crafted without any added grain, corn, soy, wheat-gluten, artificial colors or flavors.
• Proudly made in the USA with the finest globally-sourced ingredients.

9.4

• All-natural, minimally-processed, real raw nutrition makes an excellent topper to kibble.
• Made with protein-packed, all-natural beef and beef organs plus non-GMO fruits and vegetables.
• Raw, whole-food ingredients are freeze dried to gently remove the moisture and lock in nutrients and flavor.
• Supports proper digestion, a healthy coat and skin, and energy and vitality with the finest ingredients from around the world.
• Made in the USA with no grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal or artificial colors or preservatives.

9.4

• Proudly sourced and made in the USA with human-grade, small-batch protein from local farms.
• 100 percent, single-ingredient, lamb liver meal topper is easy to digest and offers plenty of healthy protein without gluten, soy, grains, additives or preservatives.
• Adds excitement and good nutrition to your picky pups mealsimply mix with kibble, or add some warm water to make a drool-worthy gravy.
• Freeze-dried meal topper retains all the nutrition, flavor and texture of raw meat without the mess and safety concerns.
• Comes in a resealable, portable pouch thats paw-fect for meals on the go and maintaining everyday freshness.

How We Chose Our Top Picks

We choose two products that we would like you to use as a paragon when buying food for your hairy pup. We had in mind that these formulas would provide your canine with a well-balanced diet, meeting all their nutritional needs. It was vital for us that it meets the following criteria:

1. Have a specific meat source as the number one ingredient
2. Dont have meat or vegetable by-products, as well as grain
3. Meet the requirements of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
4. Doesnt include ingredients that most often cause allergies

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food Review (Dry)

Source: blue buffalo

This Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe contains tasty, high in protein deboned chicken along with natural ingredients that your dog will adore. It is full of vitamins and minerals that promote your pups healthy bones and a strong immune system. It provides the perfect balance between crude protein and crude fat. Glucosamine keeps your dogs joints healthy. Omega 3 and Omega 6 acids maintain your canines skin and coat. The formula doesnt contain any by-product meals.

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Pea Starch, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Pea Protein, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Potatoes, Dried Chicory Root, Pea Fiber, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Dried Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor DL-Methionine, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Garlic, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Vegetable Juice for color, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Blueberries, Barley Grass, Parsley, Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract

Additional Ingredients

Niacin (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Copper Sulfate, Biotin (Vitamin B7), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), L-Lysine, L-Carnitine, Vitamin A Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Oil of Rosemary, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Sulfate, Taurine, Cranberries, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9).

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Source: taste of the wild

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a formula that gets all proteins from fish. Smoked salmon will provide your doggo with their inner-wolf requirements. High levels of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids maintain your pups healthy skin and coat. This product will give your puppy pal food that will support their active life. The grain-free formula also contains peas and sweet potatoes that render your pooch lots of energy.

Ingredients

Salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), lentils, vitamin E supplement, salmon meal, smoked salmon, potato fiber, copper proteinate, natural flavor, salt, thiamine mononitrate, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride.

Provide Your Pooch with the Best

As you can see, there are plenty of things you need to pay attention to when searching for your dogs food. Use our guide to find perfect protein-balanced nutrition for your beloved one.

Too much of anything can be harmful, so dont exaggerate by giving them a high-protein diet that their body cant process. Always pursue well-balanced nutrition that will provide your little friend with everything their body requires.

You can also find some ideas in our list of the best dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food and see if any of these could be your dogs food of choice. Youll find food for both small and large breeds in these lists. If youre looking for canned food, we recommend you to take a peek at the best canned dog food.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_food
2. Tjernsbekk, M. T., et al. Protein and Amino Acid Bioavailability of Extruded Dog Food with Protein Meals of Different Quality Using Growing Mink (Neovison Vison) as a model12. Journal of Animal Science, vol. 94, no. 9, Jan. 2016, pp. 37963804., doi:10.2527/jas.2016-0526.
3. Robertson, Debora. Bone appetit: 50 Clean Recipes for Healthier, Happier Dogs. Harper Design, 2019.