Is my 1-year-old dog's food protein content too high for him?

Pete is a cutie! Individual pets' protein requirements will vary depending on their health status. For example, very active working dogs may need a higher-protein diet than a normal household dog. Also, pets with kidney disease or other health conditions may need a protein restricted diet. If Pete is an average healthy pet dog any dog food that is labeled for maintenance feeding will be adequate. This is a great resource from the FDA explaining pet food labeling: https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/ucm047120.htm Please remember to transition your dog slowly over five to seven days whenever changing the diet. If Pete has specific health conditions such as food allergies or kidney disease, please consult with your veterinarian before changing his diet.

Not necessarily. While protein needs to be included in your pet's diet, excessive protein consumption is unnecessary and can actually be harmful, especially if your pet suffers from kidney or liver health issues. At the same time, the quality of the protein is also important, and too much low quality protein may eventually lead to digestive upsets. The reality is that pet food should be balanced, above all, and this balance will depend on your pet's breed, age, and activity level, among other factors. For example, puppies and kittens generally need more protein than their adult counterparts in order to be able to grow and develop properly. Instead of looking for foods that contain high levels of protein, I suggest that you find a quality food that has been specifically formulated for pets like yours, preferably by a pet food company that invests in scientific research and consults with veterinary nutritionists. Finally, since all pets are different, consulting with your veterinarian to make sure you're feeding your pet the right food is always a good idea.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina and Iams/Eukanuba. These companies employ veterinary nutritionists and have above industry standards regarding quality ingredients and care to prevent contamination at their facilities. These companies are far superior than the boutique brands. Have a good day!

I wouldn't worry too much about it having a higher level of protein as the body simply excretes what it doesnt use. In the case of a dog with liver issues I would recommend a diet low in protein but this is only a concern if your dog's liver is impaired.

Interesting question! There are no hard and fast rules here and ut depends on the quality of protein and amount which is digested/absorbed, the lifestyle of the dog and any medical conditions, illness or injury. Maintenance diets in healthy pets are often lower in protein, injury, illness and intense exercise such as agility would require an increase in intake. Obesity is a concern and if Chloe is maintaining a kean, healthy weight i would not be concerned about changing her diet

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Both foods are good! Personally I would save the novel protein (trout) for animals with GI or skin disease. My only requirements for food brands for my clients are: the dog likes the food and eats it well, has a good coat, defecates normal stool regularly and isn't too thin or overweight. Most of the dog foods on the market are aimed at making the owner happy and use marketing ploys to get owners to feed foods for incorrect reasons (grain free, listing ingredients on the bag in differnet orders making owners think that it is better than another brand). Expensive food doesn't equal better. I like Purina, Royal Canin and Hill's Science diet. I hope this helps!

Hello, neither of them are wrong or better than one another. The difference being is that the food with the higher protein is likely leaner (more energy is derived from protein) and has less carbohydrates or fat associated with it. Now, unless your dog is working dog, she may not need that much extra protein. Vice versa, the lower protein food may have a higher carbohydrate or fat percentage. Both foods however, if formulated for "maintenance" should meet the AAFCO requirements for energy of an adult dog. Meaning, you're going to be feeding the same amount of energy to Chloe, except one is going to be coming mainly from protein and the other one from fat and/or carbs. AAFCO recommends a minimum protein content of 18% in canine dog food formulations for maintenance. Therefore both of the foods you were feeding meet this minimum requirement. One of the contraindications for a high protein food is if your dog has kidney disease. With kidney disease, excess protein may worsen this disease and therefore, kidney diets actually contain less protein. Hope this helps.