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Protein is an important part of any dog’s nutrition. Proteins make up muscles, help with growth and energy, aid in healthy hair coats, keep the immune system strong and are part of many hormones and enzymes. In fact, the dry matter that makes up your dog is half proteins! That’s why it is important that you understand the role of protein in your dog’s health and know how to identify good sources of protein in your dog’s diet.
The Building Blocks of Good Health Proteins themselves are made of small "building blocks" called amino acids. These groups of molecules are classified as "essential" or "nonessential". Essential amino acids cannot be produced by your dog’s body and MUST be present in their diet. Nonessential amino acids can be manufactured by your dog - sometimes from other amino acids. Dogs require 10 essential amino acids: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. You must include all of these in your dog’s diet or he will show signs of deficiencies. It’s not enough for these amino acids just to be present in the diet, though; they must be present in the correct amounts, proper balance and in a digestible form. Even an old leather shoe has some protein, but it isn’t very digestible and doesn’t have the right balance of amino acids. Plus you don’t want your puppy learning to chew on shoes! Proteins are rated according to their biological value, or “BV.” A top rated protein will contain the essential amino acids required for top health and in a form that is easy for your dog’s body to use and digest. Good Sources of Protein for Your Dog The "gold standard" for animal protein is the egg. Eggs rate a solid 100% with top-notch protein that is highly digestible and available. Fish is another top ranked protein with a rating of 92%. Beef, chicken and lamb and milk have a rating of 78%. Plant sources such as wheat and corn and legumes like alfalfa and beans may rank lower, but often are good sources of many amino acids. Animal source proteins can be low in certain essential amino acids for your dog. That’s why it is a good idea to combine meat sources with a plant source of protein for optimal nutrition. You do best on a diet of varied ingredients and so will your dog. Simply feeding your dog one food, eggs, for example, will eventually lead to serious health problems, even though eggs are very nutritious. And the protein shakes we love to grab for an “on the run” meal really aren’t appropriate for our dogs. Check Those Labels To ensure that you provide your dog with all the nutrients he needs, check your dog’s food labels to see what protein sources are provided. A good diet will provide the right protein in the right amount to keep your dog in top condition. Look for multiple protein sources, specifically some kind of meat, plus some grains. For example, a good quality dog food may include chicken meal, corn gluten, meat byproducts, dehydrated egg and wheat gluten. All of those ingredients will provide some protein. Also keep in mind that your dog may need more or less protein, depending on his life stage. Puppies need extra protein to grow, while older dogs need adequate amounts of top quality protein. Bitches who are pregnant require some extra protein and that protein needs to be top quality. Adult dogs, especially if they are spayed or neutered or not highly active, have the lowest protein requirement. Still, individual dogs and even certain breeds may have different requirements to be in optimum health. A recent report by the National Academy of Sciences, for example, indicates that Beagles and Labrador Retrievers may have different requirements for the optimum amount of the amino acid methionine. More research is underway to determine exact requirements for the best diet for our dogs. One final thought: remember that top quality protein alone is NOT enough to ensure optimal health. I treated a lovely young Yorkshire Terrier patient who was fed only the best Angus beef. As a result of her super rich diet, she developed a serious calcium deficiency that caused bone deformities and heart problems. Just like us, our dogs do best on a top quality balanced diet! Deb M. Eldredge, DVM graduated from Cornell University as the first recipient of the Gentle Doctor Award. She has been in private practice, is active in virtually all dog sports, and is also an award winning writer.
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted, individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified holistic veterinarian
or alternative practitioner and is not intended as veterinary advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Healthy Pet Boutique, its owners and our community. We encourage you
to make your own health care decisions for your pets based upon your own research.
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