The post Meating of the Minds<\/a> by Elizabeth Anderson Lopez<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n \u201cProteins are one of the most important parts of your dog\u2019s complete and balanced diet, along with healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals,\u201d says Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a>, a certified veterinary food therapist in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. \u201cProteins are necessary to maintain a dog\u2019s immunity by synthesizing hormones, enzymes and antibodies, to keep the skin and coat healthy, and build strong bones and muscles. Proteins also serve as valuable energy sources to keep your dog bounding all day.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr. Ward says, \u201cAccording to Association of American Feed Control Officials<\/em><\/a> (AAFCO) nutritional guidelines, adult dog food must contain at least 18% crude protein. The majority of dry dog foods sold in the United States. contain about 21 to 27% crude protein. Dogfoods higher than 28% protein have become labeled \u2018high-protein,\u2019 although that term has no actual regulatory or medical meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n But what\u2019s the right amount for your dog? Like many things, that depends.<\/p>\n The protein needs of each dog, \u201cvaries by individual,\u201d points out Dr. Valerie Parker, an associate professor of Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine and Nutrition at The Ohio State University in Columbus. \u201cThe minimum amount of protein established by AAFCO for canine adult maintenance is 4.5 grams of protein per 100 calo-ries (kcal). Puppies need more; (5.6 g\/100 kcal).\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe amount of protein a dog needs can vary depending on a number of factors like age, level of activity, stage of growth and stress,\u201d adds Johnna Devereaux, CPN, director of nutrition and wellness for Bow Wow Labs, based in Novato, California. \u201cFor instance, as dogs age toward their senior years, their need for protein increases in order to fuel muscle and preserve muscle mass. Dogs that also need extra protein include puppies, pregnant or lactating moms and dogs that are healing from injury.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHealthy, active dogs can easily handle, and likely benefit from, diets containing 28 to 32% protein,\u201d Dr. Ward says. \u201cThis amount of protein, when combined with higher fiber, may also help prevent obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n But there can be too much of a good thing if your dog has certain ailments. \u201cFor some health conditions, excess protein can worsen the disease process or make the pet feel worse,\u201d writes Dr. Cailin R. Heinze, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist on Petfoodology, a nutrition blog run by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. \u201cTwo common diseases where this occurs are kidney disease and some types of liver disease.\u201d<\/p>\n Another consideration: Johnna says, \u201cThe holistic belief when dealing with dogs with kidney issues is to pay attention to the quality of the protein, which is often overlooked. High-quality, minimally processed protein from animal meat allows phosphorus to bind to other minerals and get excreted through the digestive tract, minimizing the load on the kidneys.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaking of animal meat, it is often the first thing peo\u00adple think of when it comes to dog food ingredients. \u201cTypically, animal proteins have higher overall protein quality than plant proteins, but even within animal pro\u00adtein sources commonly used in pet foods, there is a lot of variation in protein quality,\u201d Dr. Heinze says. \u201cTo maxi\u00admize protein quality, proteins sourced from both plants and animals may be combined to overcome limitations that the proteins may have independently.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnna adds: \u201cIn general, animal protein will always provide the required amino acids and is the best source of protein in the canine diet. With that said, rotating the source of animal protein will help ensure that your dog is getting balanced amounts of the right amino acids; each source of animal protein varies in the quantity of amino acids it provides.\u201d (More on amino acids is below.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A common ingredient listed on many dog food labels is not just meat, but meat meal. \u201cMeat meals can be a good source of protein,\u201d Dr. Parker says. \u201cIt just means that the water has been removed; it has no bearing on ingredient quality or protein quantity.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnna poses some considerations: \u201cThese meals can include tissues from animals that have been deemed unsuitable for human consumption and, though they provide protein, are highly processed. Before feeding a diet with meals, call the manufacturer and find where the meat came from. There are some high-quality food companies that use human-grade dehydrated meat.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some vegetarians and vegans<\/a> have a hard time feeding their dog animal products. That\u2019s understandable but is often considered a mistake. Consider your dog\u2019s rela\u00adtionship with meat as similar to your relationship with toilet paper \u2014 one is a must for each of you but not necessarily both of you.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is generally recognized that plant protein sources have lower digestibility than do animal protein sources; however, studies of dogs have found equal total digest\u00adibility for soy-based protein when the soy product is adequately processed,\u201d according to an article assessing vegetarian diets in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).<\/p>\n \u201cPets fed diets containing no animal protein (i.e., vegan diets) or pets fed home-prepared diets that are not carefully designed are at higher risk of becoming deficient in protein or amino acids,\u201d Dr. Heinze cautions.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean animal proteins are the only ones beneficial to your dog. And plant proteins can help the planet, too. \u201cProtein, especially ani\u00admal protein, is a resource-intensive industry,\u201d Dr. Heinze points out. \u201cIt requires a lot of land, water and food crops to produce. Avoiding excessively high animal protein diets and feeding a comple\u00admentary mixture of plant and animal proteins can help reduce the environmental burden while ensuring good health for dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n And there\u2019s one vegetarian protein for dogs that really packs a punch. \u201cEggs have the highest biological value of any protein and are also highly digest\u00adible,\u201d Johnna says. \u201cEggs are a great protein source for all dogs, especially those that are ill, because eggs are the easiest protein for the body to process.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two critical things to look at when it comes to the protein quality in your dog\u2019s food are the amino acids and BV.<\/p>\n \u201cAmino acids are the building blocks of protein \u2014 when an animal eats protein, its body breaks the protein down into these amino acids, which can then be used to build new proteins or be \u2018burned\u2019 for energy,\u201d Dr. Heinze explains. \u201cNot all proteins are the same in terms of amino acid types and amounts. The best quality proteins will have the highest amounts of the essential amino acids and will be the easiest for the pet to digest.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnna says, \u201cOf the 22 amino acids, 10 are considered essential to the canine body. When an amino acid is essential it means that the body cannot synthesize it on its own and that it must come from his diet. All dogs regardless of breed, age, etc., require the same 10 essential amino acids.\u201d<\/p>\n AAFCO sets minimum requirements for each amino acid. (See AAFCO\u2019s Minimum Dog Food Protein and Amino Acid Guidelines chart.) The essential 10 amino acids for dogs are Arginine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine.<\/p>\n And now that BVD: \u201cBiological value is based on a protein\u2019s unique combination of amino acids and measures the potential quality of that protein,\u201d Johnna explains. \u201cWhen a protein contains the proper amino acids, in the proper amounts, it is said to have a high biologic value. Animal protein has a much higher biologic value than most plant protein and it is also easier for the canine to digest; therefore, you should always look to feed your dog a protein with a high biologic value (preferably over 74) as well as one that is highly digestible.\u201d<\/p>\n Every food has a Biological Value<\/strong>. Below are some common ones for dog food ingredients:<\/p>\n Sometimes it seems like there are almost as many different protein sources as there are dogs. \u201cBefore you make significant changes to a dog\u2019s diet, always consult with a veterinarian,\u201d Dr. Ward advises. Set up that \u201cmeating\u201d soon so you know your dog is getting the best diet possible \u2014 and that doesn\u2019t have to mean most expensive.<\/p>\nHow Much Protein?<\/h3>\n
Does the Source Matter When it Comes to Protein for Dogs?<\/h3>\n
What is Meat Meal?<\/h3>\n
Nonmeat Proteins for Dogs<\/h3>\n
Acid Trips and BVDs (Biological Value Descriptions)<\/h3>\n
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AAFCO’s Minimum Dog Food Protein and Amino Acid Guidelines<\/h4>\n