We all know that dogs are primarily carnivores by nature, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they benefit from a high-protein diet. However, there are certain circumstances where high-protein dog food, especially that made with high-quality protein, is not only beneficial but even essential for a dog’s health.
Protein requirements in dogs can vary greatly depending on the individual dog’s life stage, activity level, health, physiological condition, and overall diet. A regular intake of dietary protein is crucial for tissue growth, maintenance, and sustaining normal metabolic processes. That’s why dogs in their growth stage (puppies and young dogs), as well as those with increased metabolic demands (such as lactating females and athletic dogs), usually benefit from a high-protein diet.
Puppies and young dogs require higher levels of dietary protein, as protein provides the building blocks for tissues like muscles, skin, hair, and other connective tissues in various organs. Protein is also essential for the proper development of the brain. During growth, proteins need to be of high quality and highly digestible to provide the body with enough essential amino acids for tissue development. For females in the later stages of pregnancy and during lactation, high-protein dog food is vital for proper fetal development and for producing good-quality milk, which is rich in protein. It’s also important to note that a high level of dietary protein benefits the health of the female dog herself, as late pregnancy and lactation place significant metabolic demands on her body. Additionally, in athletic dogs—especially those engaging in highly intense physical activities—protein requirements are elevated due to the increased degradation and synthesis of muscle proteins and the greater use of proteins to produce energy during exercise.
The Importance of Protein in Dog Food
In the circumstances mentioned above, the protein content of the diet should be no less than 25% (a percentage between 25% and 30% is considered optimal). However, it’s not just the percentage of dietary protein that matters, but also its quality. The quality of protein can be judged based on its usability and digestibility.
Usability refers to the content and proportion of essential amino acids in the protein (the amino acids that the dog’s body cannot synthesize and must be provided through diet). The more usable a protein is, the better its amino acid profile. Digestibility refers to how well the dog’s digestive enzymes can break down the protein into simple amino acids that can be absorbed from the intestines and used to build the dog’s body proteins or produce energy. The better the protein’s usability and digestibility, the higher its quality, meaning less food is needed to provide the dog with the optimal level of amino acids.
When considering the protein content in commercial dog food, it’s important not only to look at the percentage of protein on the label but also the protein source. Real meat, fish, and eggs provide the best protein for dogs. In contrast, vegetable protein and protein derived from animal by-products (which mostly consist of collagen) have a poorer amino acid profile and are typically less digestible.
As mentioned, high-protein dog food isn’t always beneficial for dogs’ health. In fact, there are situations where it may even be harmful. To understand this, it’s important to note that excess amino acids—those not needed for protein synthesis—aren’t stored in the body as such. Instead, they are deaminated (losing their nitrogen-containing amino group), and the resulting products are used to produce energy or stored as glycogen or body fat. The nitrogen-containing amino group is converted into urea and excreted by the kidneys.
This process means that a high-protein diet can put a significant strain on the kidneys, making it unsuitable for dogs with renal impairment or other kidney disorders. In these cases, the kidneys may not be able to efficiently remove excess nitrogen (in the form of urea), leading to urea toxicity and the accumulation of other nitrogen-containing waste products. High-protein dog food should also be avoided for senior dogs, as their bodies are typically less efficient at digesting protein, and their kidneys are not as effective as those of healthy adult dogs.
From what’s been discussed, it should be clear that the decision to feed your dog high-protein dog food should be carefully considered, based on the individual dog’s health, life stage, and physical activity. Remember, it’s not just the percentage of dietary protein that matters, but also the quality and source of the protein.
