Food Protein % Question

[madbella]

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I have just been out looking at the different feeds at the pet shop and was comparing protein %.

So how come James wellbeloved (complete biscuits) has about 21% (if I remember correctly)

And nature diet has 10%?

But they are both meant to be a complete food for adult dogs.

What is the required daily % protein that a healthy dog should be getting?

 

[T Hoare]

Puppies require more protein for obvious reasons.

Adults less so, adults that are active would require slightly more than a dog that doesn't do anything. I am not sure this is quite as clear as I hoped!

I am sure there is somebody that can explain this easier than I have???

 

[whippetsrus]

I read somewhere that protein in dried food always seems higher than a wet equivalent. If you moistened the dry food to the same consistency then the dried food would actually come out with a lower protein level than a traditional wet food.

In my experience the problems I have seen with protein levels has been more to do with hyperactivity. If you are correct in the protein amount of James Wellbeloved this is one of the lower protein foods. Some adult dried dog food (not puppy or working) comes in at nearly 30%.

Several years ago we had a rescue dog who suffered from hyperactivity on most dried foods. We ended up having to pad it out with veg etc to lower the protein he was receiving.

I am not sure what the required protein level is for an adult dog. I would imagine if your dog is looking healthy and there are no obvious problems then you are doing something right. I have used both Nature's Menu and James Wellbeloved until recently and I have had no problems with either of them.

 

[Holliepup]

I tried to get Hollie to eat James Wellbeloved, because I thought it looked like the best food, natural etc. She wasnt keen! I think she found it bland. She is on Bakers now which she is thriving on, but every time I buy it I feel uneasy, because as a matter of principle I cant believe that a product found on every super market shelf can be the healthiest. I am careful not to eat packaged food and so dont like the idea of her having it. Having said that she is doing well and so I guess we will keep her on it.

I recall years ago my father had his gun dogs on dried food. Ever last one of them developed horrible cancer and I was sure at the time it was food related. I guess the quality of dog food has improved a lot since then.

 

[alfie]

I have just been out looking at the different feeds at the pet shop and was comparing protein %.
So how come James wellbeloved (complete biscuits) has about 21% (if I remember correctly)

And nature diet has 10%?

But they are both meant to be a complete food for adult dogs.

What is the required daily % protein that a healthy dog should be getting?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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Hi Madbella,

I work in pet foods, so will try and answer your question without boring you with too much technical jargon! :thumbsup:

The protein content in pet foods is listed on a 'dry matter' basis- i.e if you removed the moisture content from the wet food, it would be a MUCH higher protein content than the dry food, since most wet foods are approx. 80 % moisture. However, as you feed more, weight for weight, of the wet food, the protein content is 'diluted' so you don't end up feeding too much.

I would suggest a protein level of between 20-25% for an adult dog with normal activity level. The important thing is that it should be a high quality protein, derived from meat, rather than a cereal based protein, which is not utilised as well by the dog, who is basically a carnivore. A food based mainly on cereals is more likely to cause problems with hyperactivity than a good quallity meat based food.

Hope this helps :thumbsup:

Liz and the Monellis

 

[madbella]

Thankyou that does help!

Nature diet here we come!! :lol: