What Does High Protein Dog Food Mean?
High protein dog food has been formulated for dogs with specific nutritional needs. We must distinguish, on the one hand, grain-free feed or food , from those specifically formulated as high in protein.
A dog’s nutritional requirements vary based on several factors. The age or vital moment, physical activity carried out daily, health status and possible diseases that it may suffer, the breed to which it belongs and its weight will make the nutritional needs of the animal change.
So what type of dog is high protein food for? We show you!
What is high protein dog food?
Despite the fact that the dog is a facultative carnivore, whose main source of energy has an animal origin, not all the components of its diet have the same percentage of protein. Thus, whether we feed a dog the BARF diet or conventional products, such as feed or canned food, the protein concentration may vary.
High protein dog food is one that has at least 30% protein. This type of food is aimed at dogs with specific pathologies or lifestyle:
- Working dogs (police dogs, rescue dogs, etc.).
- Sports dogs.
- Breeds or crosses with a lot of muscle mass.
- Dogs with obesity.
Benefits of high protein dog food
Foods with a high concentration of protein keep the above types of dogs healthy. Protein is the basis of the canine diet; its deficit can produce nutritional deficiencies that will lead to avoidable pathologies.
Some of the benefits of high protein food for our dogs are:
- High digestibility. The dog’s digestive system is designed to digest meat, so this type of food is the one that will best promote digestion and intestinal health.
- They improve the bacterial flora. The microorganisms that inhabit the intestines of animals are essential for health.
- Maintains muscle strength and prevents muscle deterioration in very active dogs.
- Despite what many believe, foods rich in protein do not predispose our pet to kidney disease, nor do they make it worse if they already have it. The serious problem of this condition is the use of ultra-processed and low-quality food that deteriorates the health of the dog.
- A diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates – difficult for dogs to digest – helps weight loss in obese dogs.
Are all proteins the same?
If we are thinking of feeding our pet with a high protein feed, it is essential to understand that not all proteins have the same biological value.
For our dog to eat a diet high in quality protein, we must observe the origin of this and the processing undergone. Therefore, although the feed is formulated with very good quality meat, the extrusion process reduces it.
On the other hand, if the origin of the proteins is vegetable, such as soy, it will not be a good option for a dog. The best proteins are those that are digested from fresh foods and little or no processed.
