The Best High Protein Dog Food in 2022

Best High Protein Dog Food Buying Guide

What to Consider When Buying a High-Protein Dog Food

You may look at all the information above and begin to panic. How can anyone but a veterinary nutritionist with years of experience choose between all these options? The answer is to do your own research and know your own dog! Your vet will also be able to offer advice, especially if your dog has an existing medical condition or is overweight. Here are a few guidelines to get you started.

Know What the Average Protein Content in Dog Food Should be

In order to choose the right high-protein dog food, you need to understand what’s typical for the average dog. Vets recommend that the average content in terms of protein in a complete diet should be between 20% and 30%. At 30% or above, pet food is considered to be high in protein, so anything that contains 20% or less is classified as low. The average pooch requires somewhere in the middle.

Look for Products That Contain Animal Proteins

No matter whether you want to feed your pet a high or low-protein diet, it’s important to look for animal proteins in the ingredients list. Where proteins derived from animals are the primary source of protein in dog food, you know that they will be easier for your dog to digest. This means a maximum benefit, less waste from undigested proteins. Check the ingredient list carefully – these are always listed in order of the percentage of each ingredient contained from highest to lowest – and expect the top listed items to state chicken, beef, lamb, or fish. The generic term ‘meat’ is no guarantee of quality. You may also like some of the lamb foods for dogs, so be sure to check them out.

Ensure a Balanced Diet

Like all animals, including humans, dogs benefit from a balanced diet of all three of the macronutrients that provide energy – proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Discuss your pet’s needs at his annual check-up with your vet to make sure you’re addressing all of his dietary requirements.

Generally, in addition to a good amount of protein, you’ll need to ensure that your dog is getting other important nutrients and vitamins that will assist their overall health and the effectiveness of the protein. The addition of these ingredients will support their lifestyle and offer benefits that the protein cannot give by itself.

Probiotics

Probiotics are friendly bacteria that will keep your dogs gut in good condition and will also assist digestion throughout its life. A good amount of probiotics in a new formula will also protect stomachs when gradually changing diets. Also, those pups with sensitive stomachs will benefit from food containing good bacteria as it will also provide immune support and aid vitamin and mineral absorption.

Omega 3 and Omega 6

Omega is important in a dog’s diet and will go hand in hand with a high-protein option. These factors are crucial for cell membrane structure meaning that immune function and general growth will be optimized with their frequent presence in your dog’s food. Skin and coat health and appearance will also improve significantly with the inclusion of omega.

Omega fatty acids are always present in foods that contain fish ingredients such as salmon oil or meals such as menhaden fish meal, trout, or salmon meal. These are ingredients that definitely should not be overlooked although don’t fear if a particular food’s primary protein isn’t fish as they are still often present. Always read the label and the ingredients list to clarify the omega volume and content.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

These ingredients are effective in supporting your dog’s joints and bones. If you’re considering a high-protein diet for a working, athlete, or generally active dog then these are ingredients that you should heavily consider when picking a dog food.

This goes especially for those lively dog breeds who are likely to develop arthritis in their senior years. Glucosamine and chondroitin cannot effectively help rid dogs of arthritis although the inclusion of such minerals will effectively support joints and bones in their early years in an attempt to stave off the condition.

Vitamins

• Vitamin C: Dogs can naturally produce their own vitamin C although the supplementation can be beneficial to your dog’s health. This vitamin is a necessary antioxidant that can help to reduce potential inflammation and keep a dog’s wits sharp.
• Vitamin D: This will assist and support bone health and muscle growth. Vitamin D will be a crucial addition if you are particularly set on the development of your dog’s muscles.
• Vitamin E Supplement: You’ll often find that most dog food contains a vitamin E supplement. This is an important addition to assist a dog’s metabolism and to prevent eye, muscle, and reproductive issues. This is also known as a fat-soluble vitamin that can support cell function.

Taurine

Although not common in some dog foods, the addition of this amino acid can help the function of your dog’s heart. Dogs can produce taurine in their body however it isn’t uncommon for some breeds to become deficient and will rely on an extra intake to prevent eye, heart, and even urinary issues.

Chelated Minerals

Chelated minerals should always be welcomed in a dog’s diet as they can provide your dog with nutrients to help and support function and growth. When researching dog foods you may come across ingredients such as:

• Zinc amino acid chelate
• Copper amino acid chelate
• Manganese amino acid chelate
• Iron amino acid chelate

Chelation is where organic molecules can be merged with minerals to improve absorption significantly rather than allowing it to pass straight through the system.

Notes on Supplements

You can, of course, purchase the above ingredients as supplements in tablet form however, most reliable and trustworthy dog foods will add these in, saving you money and an extra trip to a pet store.

Animal By-Products in Pet Food

When researching the best high-protein dog food for your pup, you may come across foods that claim they are by-product-free however, when turning over to read the instructions you’re met with ingredients such as beef meal, pork meal, chicken meal, or even fish meal, etc. Reviewers often mention this and warn other pet parents of the recipe content but it’s important to understand what by-products and meals are before you refuse a product.

By-products and Meals

By-products are clean, animal left-overs that are processed into pet food. These may include organs or giblets which can still provide your dog with a source of protein. Some consider by-products to be unsafe or low quality however these factors are perfectly edible and provide dogs with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. There are some products above that contain such ingredients in their recipe deliberately to engage and encourage a dog’s appetite. This is because organs are often the first thing an animal eats after killing prey in the wild.

Meals are completely common in dry foods, especially high protein recipes, as they still contain an excellent source of protein and nutrients but exclude water. These parts are cooked and rendered to destroy bad bacteria and to separate fat from protein.

However…

Be wary of recipes that don’t specify what animal meal is contained in their food. Dog foods that simply contain ‘meat meals’ could be using unreliable and untrustworthy vendors to supply their ingredients.

Are Dogs Carnivores?

Generations of vets have been taught at school that dogs are omnivores. Their constitutions are built to digest foods containing carbohydrates, with ten key genes that act to digest starch and metabolize fat. Nonetheless, there’s no escaping the fact that a dog, like its close genetic relative the wolf, shows a strong tendency towards meat as its primary source of nutrition. This can be illustrated by their teeth, for instance, which are designed to tear and chop up meat in their mouths rather than grind plant material and grains from side to side like herbivores such as cows. Higher concentrations of stomach acid than herbivores have also allowed for the faster digestion of animal proteins. Moreover, dogs have larger stomachs in relation to their size than herbivores do, to cope with fewer but larger meals. Overall, then, while dogs are capable of eating an omnivore diet, they show strong tendencies towards a carnivorous one.

Why Do Dogs Need Protein?

Dogs need 22 different essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein, to survive and live healthily. About half of these are naturally occurring within your pet’s body, but the remainder must be supplemented through their food consumption. Protein plays a range of roles in your dog’s health. Not only do proteins assist in the building and repair of the body’s tissues, but also they help in the formation of new skin cells, the growth of hair, and repairment and development of muscle. Protein is also an important ingredient for the creation of enzymes and hormones; supplies the dog with energy, and helps support a strong and healthy immune system.

Is Excessive Protein in Dog Food Bad for My Pet?

As with humans, the general rule is that a balanced diet is an all-important factor. The other highly important factor that cannot be stressed enough is that every dog is different, and in deciding whether to give your pet a high protein diet, you will need to take his or her individual needs into account. There are some persisting myths around the internet that suggest that a high-protein diet is universally bad for canines, but this is not the case.

• “too much protein is just plain bad for a dog” – wild canines exist on a diet of meat they catch as prey, they do not survive on a diet of grasses and berries! So you’ll find no consensus among animal experts on the internet as to what constitutes “too much” protein. In fact, dogs’ bodies are built to digest and utilize nutrients from proteins. Of course, other macronutrients, i.e. carbohydrates and fats, are also important in terms of good health, so you’re looking for a balanced diet. But there is no scientific research to suggest that proteins constituting 30% or more of a dog’s overall diet will do them harm.
• “high protein diets will make your dog hyperactive” – there is no proven scientific link between hyperactivity and a high protein diet.
• “high protein diets are harmful to the dog’s kidneys” – it’s true that dogs with existing kidney conditions will benefit from a restricted protein intake, but there is no medical research to suggest that high levels of protein intake actually cause illness in an otherwise healthy pet.

Can All Dogs Eat High Protein Diets?

It’s easy to get confused with the huge range of dog foods out there, all promoting themselves as the best of their kind. The critical factor when making your decision about what to feed your dog is to recognize that one size definitely does not fit all. Consider your dog’s lifestyle, time of life, and nature. Puppies, for instance, need a higher concentration of protein than fully grown canines because their bodies are growing. Below are examples of dogs that will rely on more protein in their diets due to specific requirements.

Working Dogs and Canine Athletes

Working dogs or ones that have heaps of energy they need to burn off every day will have a greater requirement for protein than an older, lazy dog who’s content to sleep in front of the fire the majority of the time. You should also consider a high-protein diet if your dog is competing athletically. A diet such as this will provide working dogs and canine athletes with the energy to fuel their muscles and ensure they have the strength and stamina to complete arduous tasks and trials.

Pregnant and/or Nursing Dogs

Additionally, pregnant and active reproducing dogs will also require a lot more protein, similar to what puppies need. This is because they will need the extra energy and vitamins in order to help develop healthy pups. Nursing dogs will need just as much to be able to provide their feeding pups with adequate sustenance needed to grow healthily. Here are some other considerations if you are looking for dog food for pregnant dogs.

Specific Breeds

The breed is also important, especially at the puppy stage. Too much protein in the diet of a large breed dog can cause excess weight gain in a short space of time, which can put stress on developing joints and lead to conditions such as arthritis in the future.

Medical Conditions

Dogs with medical conditions such as kidney or liver disease should avoid too much protein, as this can cause additional stress on the organs, accelerating the progression of the illness. Take advice from your vet, and use information supplied by pet food manufacturers who have invested in research to formulate the best pet foods for your pooch at all stages in its life.

Price

Be aware that when looking for suitable high-protein dog foods you may find the prices are a little higher than standard food options. This may be due to the volume of animal protein included in the formula but those pet parents who have bought the foods listed above claim it’s worth every penny to see their pooch benefit in several ways. You may also find that the sellers offer deals that could help save you money in the long run.

The Benefits of a High-Protein Diet for Dogs

For active and growing dogs, the benefits of a diet that’s rich in protein include:

• The development of lean, strong muscle;
• A healthy coat and better skin condition;
• The energy to keep active over long periods of time;
• A boosted immune system;
• Support of organ function, such as the liver and kidney, in healthy dogs.

In summary, getting the right amount of protein in your dog’s diet is all about their individual requirements. In an otherwise healthy dog, there’s no need to assume that a high protein diet will be harmful, provided you ensure a balanced mix of the three main macronutrients overall. Consult your veterinarian for a guide on what to feed your furry friend, and then choose the right one for your pet from our list of the best high-protein dog foods above!

Sources:

1. Krista Williams, BSc, DVM, Feeding Growing Puppies, VCA
2. Dog Nutrition Tips, ASPCA
3. What are Animal By-Products in Dog Food?, Purina
4. Donna Spector, DVM, DACVIM, Pet Food (What You Need to Know) for Your Pet’s Sake, PetMD