Does your furry buddy howl at the moon? No? Well, we are on the same page—dogs are not wolves, although, at times, they certainly think they are. Despite the popular opinion that these two species should eat similar food, they don’t 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 you’ve 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 pup’s 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 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
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 what’s 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 dog’s 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.
Dogs don’t need a diet that consists mostly of meat. That’s 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 yourself—whenever 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.
Proteins need to be part of every dog’s diet. Proteins contain amino acids, which are crucial for their nutrition. The lack of proteins can lead to severe issues such as
The problem with feeding your dog high-protein formulas is that your pup’s body can’t 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
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 it’s difficult to say what’s 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:
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, it’s 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 you’re 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.
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 don’t 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.
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, you’ll find the kinds of food that have this value.
Top-quality food brands always use different sources of protein. So you’ll see that apart from lamb, beef, or poultry, they almost always add extra protein sources from eggs, fish, or cheese. So, let’s see how much protein we can find in these ingredients.
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 that’s most often included in high-quality formulas is:
Meat by-products are slaughterhouse waste. They contain some proteins, but they’re usually difficult to digest. If you can afford it, always go with formulas that contain real meat. Meat by-products typically contain:
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.
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 they’re cooked.
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:
Below you’ll find two food formulas that we selected for you. They can serve you as a model while you’re searching for your pooch’s perfect diet.
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.
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:
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 pup’s healthy bones and a strong immune system. It provides the perfect balance between crude protein and crude fat. Glucosamine keeps your dog’s joints healthy. Omega 3 and Omega 6 acids maintain your canine’s skin and coat. The formula doesn’t contain any by-product meals.
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
| Crude Protein | 24.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 14.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 5.0 % max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Calcium | 1% min |
| Phosphorus | 0.7% min |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids* | 3.0% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids* | 0.5% min |
| Glucosamine | 400 mg/kg min |
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
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).
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 pup’s 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.
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
| Crude Protein | 25.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 15.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 3.0 % max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
| Zinc | 150 mg/kg min |
| Selenium (Se) | 0.35 mg/kg min |
| Vitamin E | 150 IU/kg min |
| Taurine | 0.12% min |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids* | 2.4% min |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids* | 0.3% min |
| Total Microorganisms | Not less than 80,000,000 CFU/lb min |
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.
As you can see, there are plenty of things you need to pay attention to when searching for your dog’s food. Use our guide to find perfect protein-balanced nutrition for your beloved one.
Too much of anything can be harmful, so don’t exaggerate by giving them a high-protein diet that their body can’t 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 dog’s food of choice. You’ll find food for both small and large breeds in these lists. If you’re looking for canned food, we recommend you to take a peek at the best canned dog food.
The medical, nutritional, or behavioral advice we provide is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our editorial content is not a substitute for formal or personalized medical advice from a veterinary professional. Only board-certified veterinary specialists who have examined your pet should diagnose medical conditions, provide personalized treatment, or prescribe appropriate medication. For questions regarding your pet’s health, or if your pet is exhibiting signs of illness, injury, or distress, contact your veterinarian immediately. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on our site.
