Protein Levels in Dog Food

"Protein" is a popular word when it comes to dog food. Many pet owners are concerned about giving their pet enough protein in its diet. Although the percentage of protein listed on a bag of dog food can tell you much about the food, it is not always an indicator of a high quality meal. Viewing the ingredients from which the proteins is derived is essential for properly evaluating the protein levels in dog food.

  1. Importance

    • Protein in dog food is important to give dogs the factors that they need for a healthy immune system and for proper development and growth. The foundation of protein is amino acids. There are 22 amino acids needed by a dog's body. The body itself can only create 12 of these acids. The other 10 amino acids must come from food. The essential amino acids needed from dog food are histidine, valine, arginine, leucine, methionine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and threonine. A lack of any of these can contribute to health problems.

    Myths

    • Many believe that a dog food bag listing a high protein percentage automatically means a better food. But not all proteins are equal. Some proteins are more easily digested and used by the body.

    Good Sources

    • Proteins are broken down into amino acids differently. Eggs have the highest value when it comes to protein. The biological value of protein from egg is 100. Milk and fish meal proteins are valued at 92. Beef has a value of 78. Soybean is a little lower at 67. Wheat and bone meal come in at about half the biological protein value of eggs. Even though feathers and other byproducts in some dog foods are high in protein, they are not good sources for protein.

    Needs by Age

    • The protein percentage needed in dog food varies by the age and activity level of the dog. An extremely active working dog, such as a sled dog, needs the highest protein percentage, about 35 percent. Puppies and mother dogs come in next with a need of 28 percent protein from their food. Other working and performing dogs require about 25 percent protein, while the average dog needs a food with 18 percent protein.

    Too High Percentages

    • If a dog eats too much protein, part of the excess will be released from the body in the urine. The other will be stored as fat or burned as calories. The dog typically is not harmed. However, too much protein can be bad for dogs with kidney problems.