Protein is often cited as the foundation of the canine diet. Protein helps build strong muscles, promotes good health, and helps a dog to develop a healthy coat. However, you may have heard about “low protein” dog food formulas that are sold by some companies. If protein is so good, why do some veterinarians recommend that certain dogs be put on a low protein diet? Here is a guide to low protein dog food formulas.
Kidney Problems
When a dog is healthy, they are able to consume protein, which causes them to excrete uremic toxins. These toxins are released in a dog’s urine, as a by-product of digesting protein. If your dog is experiencing kidney problems, they may not be able to process these uremic toxins. The dog’s kidneys (which are already experiencing problems) have to work extra hard to process the uremic toxins in order for them to be secreted through a dog’s urine. A low protein diet means that your dog will be ingesting a lower percentage of protein, meaning that the kidneys won’t have to work quite so hard to process uremic toxins.
Heart Problems
In some rare cases, a veterinarian may prescribe a low protein dog food formula for a dog that is currently experiencing heart problems. This is usually because as the protein content of a dog food formula rises, so does the percentage of fat contained in the formula. It’s always recommended that you check with your veterinarian first before beginning to feed your dog a low protein dog food formula. Most dogs need a minimum of 25% - 28% protein in their diet in order to remain healthy. Only feed your dog a low protein diet if they are experiencing a medical condition that requires them to eat a low protein diet.
Low Protein for Large Breed Puppies
While the diets of large breed puppies are not technically low protein, they do tend to have a lower amount of protein than some other dog food formulas. Protein is required by growing puppies, in order for them to develop properly. However, with some large breed puppies (especially giant breeds) a diet that is too high in protein has been suggested to actually cause problems. If a large breed puppy grows too fast from being fed a high protein diet, some pet experts believe that this can cause problems with joints and bone structure. Since large breeds are often prone to problems with their joints (such as hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia), some owners of large breed puppies choose to have them in a lower protein diet.
However, the nutritional requirements of puppies are very specific, so it is always better to consult your veterinarian about the food you want to feed your puppy. If you have a large breed puppy, ask a pet nutritional expert about what the best type of pet food is for proper growth. Use your judgment, and be sure to keep your puppy’s best interests in mind.
4 Responses to “Low Protein Dog Food”
Try a food with moderate protein. We were feeding TOTW, and it has a high protein of 33% and my puppy is developing hip dysplasia. We have switched her to
Natural Balance for now, which has lower protein, in the 25% range. Fourteen is WAY too low.
Now Taste of the Wild has high protein but low fat, so my dogs always felt they were hungry on it and ate a lot of it. Balance is the key. TOTW gave them
such a nice sheen to the coat, when the puppy reaches a year, I am switching back to it. I have a small dog with allergies who I will still feed it to in another room as it is the only food she does not have an allergic reaction to.
My vet put my 14y/o pug on Royal Canine SO which is only 14% protein. This is very low compared to most other dog foods. She was having reoccurring UB infections (about one a year) so we are trying this. She has been on it for about 3 months and I have never seen her so unsatisfied with her meals. She woofs it down but it seems no matter how much I give her she is always hungry! She has always had a healthy appetite (as most pugs do I think), but I have never seen her so insistent on begging for food as she does now. It’s really getting on my nerves and I feel bad that she is always hungry now. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Just as a side note… It seems counterintuitive to me to have a dog on low protien.
My Pug has just been to the vet and his liver shows high levels of enzymes. Would the amount of protein in his diet have anything to do with this?
It does have a lot to do with it, but your dog could also have a medical problem. My dog had the same problem and ended up having a liver shunt. Surgery and %5,000 later he’s a brand new dog. But it could be a number of things. My dog is on a lifetime food diet that requires him to eat low proteins food. Hope this is somewhat helpful.