Is my 17lb dog getting enough protein? Should I change her food?

Hi and thanks so much for your post this afternoon. 18-20% protein should be just fine if Chloe is a lightly active dog. 25% protein would be better for more active dogs (such as dogs that do agility or are working dogs). I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, increased protein will likely not be of much benefit for Chloe if she is not very active. Either of those foods, provided they meet the AAFCO requirements for a maintenance life stage will be sufficient for Chloe. A higher protein food would likely benefit a working dog the most. 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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would just pick one protein source. I do not think Chloe is overweight, she has a waste. I wouldn't recommend letting her gain anymore though. I think the treats are fine as long as Chloe doesn't have a chicken allergy. I hope this helps and have a great day!

Hi and thanks for your post! Since Chloe is lightly active, I would choose the lower protein option (20% verses 25%). Higher protein foods are more appropriate for working dogs and highly active dogs. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unless your vet had given you specific diet requirements for a specific disease (kidney disease for example), this percentage should be fine. I will warn that some dogs actually develop diarrhea on high-protein foods, though I have seen many pets do great on it. Best wishes to you and Chloe!

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.