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.
Kibble And Crude Protein
Many complete dog foods of the kibble type all belong in the same category, although the only distinguishing characteristic is the type of grain used in their production.
Regardless of the choice of grain, all such products include an adequate amount of essential amino acids in the form of several essential amino acids in varying quantities and at varying times.
With the available information, a dog food manufacturer can produce a dog food formula from an ingredient list that meets both the nutritional and energy requirements of the dog, which must be balanced against the foods energy density.
Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs and the total amount of protein needed by each is dependent on breed, life stages, size and energy levels.
Always remember to read the dog food label to get an idea of the ingredients and sources of the specific pet nutrition within any dog food you are thinking of feeding.
What To Look For In A Low
Most commercial dog foods get anywhere from 25% to 60% of their calories from fat. Dry foods tend to be a little lower in fat than wet foods while commercial raw food diets are often at the highest end of the spectrum. When reading a pet food label, you can easily find the percentage of crude fat in the product but remember that youll need to convert that number to dry matter basis if it is a wet, moist, or fresh food. You should also remember that this calculation is made based on weight, not the percentage of calories.
If you take a look at a pet food label, youll find that a product with 20% crude fat minimum converts to more than 40% calories from fat that is much too high for a dog with pancreatitis or certain digestive issues. Generally speaking, veterinarians consider a dog food to be low-fat if it contains less than 10% fat measured by dry matter basis which equates to about 17% calories from fat. This may not be perfect in every case, but it is certainly a good rule to follow when shopping for low-fat dog food.
Here are some other things to look for in low-fat dog food:
Before we move on, we want to make a special note to say that it is not safe to feed a low-fat diet to growing puppies or to pregnant and nursing female dogs. These dogs have greater nutritional needs than most dogs and a low-fat diet could be very harmful. Low-fat diets are only recommended for adult dogs in specific situations such as pancreatitis, digestive disorders, or weight loss.
Recommended Reading: Can You Buy Dog Food With Food Stamps
True Protein Vs Crude Protein In Dog Food
The ideal ratio for true protein to crude protein is 1:1. It is a very close enough solution to give the dog enough protein to meet its true needs.
True protein is a measurement of how much protein is actually in the food. It does not mean that the dog has to eat one pound of actual meat, but the amount of protein in that pound of meat will help you calculate your dog’s protein requirement.
For example, a large steak has a lot of bone as well as protein. We call this bone protein. On the other hand, whole muscle meat is high in other proteins, as well as cholesterol, fat, and water. It is a very lean and valuable source of protein, but it is also very high in waste, not to mention extremely expensive if you have large dogs.
This means that a large steak, or large bone, has more true protein, or nitrogen, than a small steak, or small bone. This same concept applies to other meats, like chicken and eggs.
Is The Crude Protein Method Still Relevant Today
Well, this is a critical question considering that this method was developed over a hundred years ago. Advancements in nutrition and science generally have literally exploded since then.
There are far better, more modern, and more sophisticated ways to understand the nutritional requirements of pets and other animals these days.
Plus, the archaic assumption that protein is 16% nitrogen makes this method even more faulty. The nitrogen content in protein isnt constant. Instead, it varies by the amount of amino acids it contains per time.
A better way to determine nitrogen content, therefore, is to analyze the protein source individually for their amino acid profile. For instance, meat and fish have different amino acid profiles, and, therefore, contain different percentages of nitrogen.
Another reason this crude protein method is unreliable is that proteins can also contain nitrogen from non-protein sources. The crude protein method does not account for this but science has discovered that this non-protein nitrogen can account for up to 10% of the total nitrogen content in foods. This percentage may vary across foods, though.
So, putting this in mind, it would mean that whatever is presented as the protein content from crude protein analysis should actually be 10% less than the value presented.
Read Also: Is Iams Dog Food Grain Free
How Much Crude Protein Should Be In Cat Food
From the above discussion, you should know that both the crude content and guaranteed analysis do not talk about the quality but rather the quantity of nutrients present.
According to AAFCO, based on dry matter, the minimum required crude protein by cats for growth and reproduction is 30.0% while for adult maintenance, it should be at least 26.0%.
Basing on 1000 kcal metabolizable energy , the amounts will be 75g and 65g respectively. Therefore, the total amount will depend on the calorific consumption of your cat.
Although NRCs requirements have slightly lower amounts of 50g/1000 kcal ME for adult maintenance and 56.3g/1000 kcal ME for reproduction and growth, the AAFCO uses these amounts to come up with the above recommendations and therefore they are related.
Senior cats tend to have kidney problems as well as sarcopenia. Formulating the right amount of protein needs to account for these two.
On average, an adult cat weighing about 9 pounds whose daily food consumption is 250 calories should be given 12.5g of crude proteins daily while kittens weighing 1.8 pounds require about 10g since they are growing.
Nursing cuts will require much higher amounts with one that has 4 kittens and weighs 9 pounds requiring a whopping 41g of crude proteins daily.
Carbohydrates In Dog Food
One of the most important reasons for carbohydrates in a dogs diet is to supply energy.
Carbohydrates are needed in a dogs daily diet as they provide energy in the form of glucose and are a main source of dietary fiber. The body craves glucose, and if it is not available with carbohydrates, then it will take amino acids away from other processes in the body.
Carbohydrates also:
-
Generate heat in the body
-
Form the base for other nutrients
-
Can be converted into fat
Growing animals and dogs that have high-energy needs should be fed a diet with at least 20% carbohydrates.
Don’t Miss: Darwin Pet Food Reviews
Call The Company If You Have Questions About Any Protein Listed Among The Ingredients
If you have questions, try to get in contact with the nutritionists of the company. Most of them are passionate about pet health and will help you with what you should know rather than what they want you to hear.
This video explains how to select a good dog food among the many terrible dog foods out in the market. Eric Letendre especially zeroes in on how to read the ingredient label of dog foods.
Why Do Some Dogs Need A Low
Youve probably heard that high-fat diets lead to heart problems such as clogged arteries in humans. While this is a common belief, it is not true at least, not completely. This doesnt take into account the fact that there are different kinds of dietary fats, some of which are good for the heart and some of which are not. When it comes to dogs, there is no evidence that high-fat diets are linked to heart disease. In fact, dogs and cats simply arent affected by the same kind of heart disease that clogs the arteries, so there is no need to restrict your dogs fat intake based on concerns for his heart health.
There are, however, other medical conditions that may necessitate a low-fat diet.
Pancreatitis in dogs is the most common health problem which a low-fat diet is recommended. This is not to say that a high-fat diet will cause pancreatitis in dogs, it simply means that dogs who have pancreatitis often respond well to low-fat diets because it puts less stress on the pancreas and gives the dogs body time to recover. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is related health issue that may necessitate a low-fat diet.
Also Check: Where To Buy Pedigree Dog Food
When Is A Low Fat Diet Necessary For Dogs
As important as fat is as part of a balanced diet for dogs, some dogs need to be fed a moderate- or low-fat diet because they have certain health conditions. For example, dogs with sensitive stomachs can sometimes have trouble with high fat diets. Fat is more difficult for dogs to digest than protein, so if you feed your dog a product with high levels of fat, it could result in digestive upset. Another reason a dog might need a low fat dog food is if he is overweight or obese. Many dog owners do not realize that table scraps and other kinds of people food are very high in calories for dogs and feeding your dog too many treats can lead to unhealthy weight gain or obesity. Once your dog is overweight or obese, his risk for other serious health problems increases as well.
Unfortunately, the exact cause for pancreatitis in dogs remains unknown, though there are several theories. Pancreatitis is often linked with a sudden intake of very high fat foods but there also seems to be a genetic component. Another potential cause is hyperlipidemia, or high fat levels in the blood or hypercalcemia, high calcium levels in the blood. Some experts suggest that pancreatitis is caused by certain bacterial infections or that it might be a side effect of certain diseases like Cushings disease. Additionally, it seems as though some breeds have a higher risk for developing pancreatitis , and it is more common in old and overweight dogs.
What Is A Good Brand When Selecting A High Protein Dog Food
Feeding a diet rich in meat protein helps promote the optimal health of all dogs from the timid Teacup Chihuahua to the burley Great Dane. When high meat is combined with a moderate fat level and a lowered amounts of grain free carbohydrates the result is perfectly balanced nutrition ensuring a dog can thrive in all life stages from an active puppy to a sedentary senior.
Now, this approach is different to brands that claim to feed your dog like a Wolf. Whilst these diets are high in protein, they may also be combined with high fat levels. These high fat levels were crucial for wolves to fuel their highly active lifestyle as well as ensure they survived the harsh times of famine. Today though, our dogs not only look very different from a wolf, but they are far less active. So, whilst protein remains a very important dog food ingredient, we need to make sure the fat levels are not too high.
Wellness CORE delivers natural, superior protein-rich, nutrition thats specifically crafted for modern dogs to thrive. Featuring fresh meat and concentrated meat sources as our key ingredients, every recipe is combined with moderate amounts of fat, low carbohydrates and a unique blend of wholesome fruits and vegetables, superfoods, botanicals and nutritional supplements to be the best meat-based nutrition available.
Don’t Miss: Nutro Rotations Dog Food Reviews
Why Is There A Guaranteed Analysis Panel
Dog foods are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. They do not require pre-approval before being introduced into the market like some other products. However, the FDA does require both that ingredients in dog food are legal ingredients and there is an accurate listing of ingredients and nutrients in the food. The guaranteed analysis panel is used to provide consumers information about what nutrients are in the dog food, so they can make informed choices between brands and ensure they are buying a product that meets their needs.
How Much Crude Fat Should A Puppy Have
4.8/5Fatfatfatpuppies should
Common fats used in dog foods include chicken or pork fat, cottonseed oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, fish oil, safflower oil, and many more. A balanced diet that provides about 10-15 percent fat is essential for health in the majority of adult dogs.
Additionally, what is crude fat? CRUDE FAT – Crude fat is the amount of fat or oil content of a feed, which is extracted by ether. This ether extract contains not only true fat, but fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, free fatty acids, cholesterol, chlorophyll, lecithin, resins, and volatile oils.
Considering this, what percentage of fat should puppy food have?
A minimum of approximately 5.5% of the diet should come from fats and 10% from protein. Petfood labels do not generally list amounts of essential nutrients in grams.
What percentage of protein should be in puppy food?
According to the National Research Council, a growing puppy requires a diet that is about 29 percent protein . This protein should provide about 20-25 percent of his dietary calories.
Read Also: Who Makes Dr Pol Dog Food
Wellness Core Reduced Fat Dry
First 5 Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas
The Wellness pet food company is dedicated to providing high-quality, natural diets for pets. This company follows a holistic approach to pet nutrition and they make it their goal to use natures finest ingredients combining them in exact proportions to help support your pets health and wellbeing. Not only does Wellness seek to produce high-quality pet foods, but they also support various animal wellness programs and educate pet owners about the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle for their pets. When it comes to their products, Wellness offers their customers the Wellness difference which promises an ideal balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate with no empty calories. Each and every one of Wellness products is made with premium protein as the first ingredient and is balanced with a variety of fresh, wholesome ingredients for nutritional balance.
How Much Should I Feed
The ideal method for determining how many calories to feed your dog is to determine what your dog’s lean weight should be and feed according to that weight. Unfortunately, this requires constant monitoring and is not always practical.
“Your veterinarian can estimate how many calories your dog needs each day based on his lifestyle and body condition score.”
Your veterinarian can estimate how many calories your dog needs each day based on his lifestyle and body condition score. The standard formula used for calculating the energy requirements of the average adult dog that lives inside your home, receives light daily exercise, and is spayed or neutered is:
30 x weight in kg + 70 = daily caloric needs
Be aware that few of our dogs are “average,” so this formula is merely a starting point. Most dogs will require fewer calories on a daily basis, while a few will require slightly more. This daily caloric total includes not only your dog’s meals, but also any snacks and treats. If your dog needs to lose weight, your veterinarian will recommend caloric restriction .
Recommended Reading: Iams Prostora Max Gi
Crude Protein And Lean Meat
When you do some calculations, remember that it is difficult to count the nitrogen content of a meat product that is not lean. In fact, there is not a high enough value for that nitrogen content to put on a label on an uncooked bone.
Most dogs in the modern world are fed a high-quality commercial grade, ground meat, complete with pre-digested proteins and essential amino acids , while those that have no active interest in their own welfare are given higher-quality poultry and ground meats. These commercial grade proteins are fortified with minerals, vitamins, and nutrients and make for easy digestion.
Although the latter makes sense for many older or mentally or physically disabled dogs, it can be misleading when looking at the total picture, especially when comparing to the diets of smaller animals.
How Much Protein Do Dogs Need
Technically, only 18%. According to the Association of American Feed Controls who determine the minimum requirements for nutritional adequacy when it comes to formulating canine nutrition, the adult maintenance minimum that dogs need to survive is just 18% Crude Protein and 22.5% Crude Protein for dogs that are growing or reproducing. But providing a diet that exceeds these minimum amounts of Crude Protein is one way of ensuring that dogs dont just survive, but that they are eating nutrition that truly can make them thrive.
You May Like: Iams Intestinal Plus Canned Dog Food