Too much protein?

[Diane Margetts]

I am a bit confused on protein in a dog's diet. I have heard that older dogs are often "limited" on protein intake for health reasons. Yet, reading some feeding guideline from credible sources, such as the literature from Acana, it seems that protein is the most critical nutrient in a dogs diet.

I ask because I add shredded chicken breast and green beans to Dakota's kibble (which is now Acana); and for treats he gets dehydrated chicken breast chips or dehydrated lean beef chips.

 

How much protein is too much??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Acana formulas vary in their protein content, and if I'm not mistaken, you are feeding one of their "singles", which are lower in protein than their grain-free lines. The chicken & Burbank potato formula has only 28% protein, which is a modest amount. Personally, I don't think 50% protein would be too high for most dogs, and my research bears this out. You only have three sources of calories: protein, carbohydrate, and fat. If the protein in a dog's diet supplies 30% of his calories, that means that 70% is coming from carbs and fat, and that doesn't sound better to me than higher protein levels.

As far as how much protein is too much, I don't think there is a level that is too high, as long as the dog is getting all of the vitamins and minerals he needs and is healthy. If you think about dogs who are raw fed exclusively, all of their calories are being supplied by protein and fat, as they don't eat any plant foods, and animal proteins don't contain carbohydrates. Assuming that they are not getting half their food in the form of fat, they are eating diets that are considerably higher than 50% protein, and most of the their owners would tell you they are thriving.

[Diane Margetts]

Thank you Karen! Dakota is eating the lamb and apple and the protein in that is even lower--25%. The omegas ratio is 5:1 (he does get a daily fish oil supplement). We were going back and forth between the lamb (he has been eating a lamb kibble for most of his life) and the Ranchlands. Based on your information, the Ranchlands looks like a better food. I may try him on that next time . . . 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

IMO, Ranchlands is a better food for most dogs. It has 31% protein, and an Omega 6:3 ratio of 3:1

[F, Calla & Luca]

Do you think there is a big difference between the Acana grain free varieties, Karen. I think they are all similar and I do a bag of Ranchlands or Grasslands with Wild Prairie in between.

[Diane Margetts]

I talked to one person at the feed store about the Acana and he said he rotates his dogs through most of the Acana and Orjen formulas. I seem to remember reading on this forum that it's usually ok to switch proteins within the same food brand.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, rotating formulas is fine and in fact, it's recommended by many canine nutritionists.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Omega fatty acid ratios are different among the four Regionals (grain-free) formulas:

Pacifica: 1.25 to 1 (pretty amazing!)

Grasslands: 2 to 1

Ranchlands: 3 to 1

Wild Prairie: 4 to 1

All are very acceptable and better than most kibbles.

The protein percentage is 31% for all of them except Pacifica is 33%.

So very similar in that regard, and the rest of the nutritional profiles.

[Deb & Pete]

Diane, can I ask how you make Dakota's treats? I dehydrate sweet potatoes for Pete and he loves them, but would be interested in making different dehydrated treats for hom.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Diane's discussion on making your own dehydrated treats: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/dehydra...

 

[Diane Margetts]

Karen has the discussion link--just as a follow up, Dakota's very favorite treat is the dehydrated chicken. We use chicken breast with nothing added. My husband generally does this!! He first boils the chicken and slices the cooked chicken as thin as he can. We dehydrate it for 4-5 hours. We generally completely fill all 5 shelves of the dehydrator. I vacuum seal what I'm not going to use right away . . . Same for beef but we are carefully to use lean cuts of meat. Dakota generally prefers the chicken . . .

I was re-reading the link that Karen posted and I realized I have never tried the oat and apple recipe. Now that the evenings are soooo much longer, I think I'll give it a try!