Protein is one of the most essential elements of a dog's diet. We all know that protein provides the "building blocks of life" and are vital for proper growth and development in all animals. But as the ones responsible to maintain our animal's health, how much is the right amount? And more importantly, can we rely on the food manufacturers to provide the right quantity?There are two elements to the question about the right amount of protein. Firstly there is the issue of quantity, but secondly (and equally if not more important) is the quality of the protein.
The AAFCO minimum amount of protein for a food to be able to be labelled "complete and balanced" is 18%. However, this is in reality too low to really maintain a dog in peak condition. The true amount should be closer to 23%, although the actual amount for any dog will depend on a number of factors. These include:Size of the dog: Smaller dogs generally need more protein than larger dogs
Activity level: If a dog is highly active then a high protein food is advisable
Age: Puppies are in need of more protein than mature dogs..In saying all of this, it is always better to err on the side of more protein than not enough. Studies have shown that there are no adverse effects to a dog from a very high protein diet. In fact, in the wild dogs do survive on very high protein diets.
The other thing about protein, however, is the protein source. The higher the grade of the food the more the protein will come from meat, which is the natural source for dogs and of far higher quality than grain or vegetable-based proteins that predominate in low-quality foods. So in general, the more quality meat in a food, the higher the amount of quality protein - and the better the result.
Pro Pac and Earthborn Holistic both have high levels of quality meat which delivers top quality protein that dogs thrive on. Each formula is designed to deliver the right amount depending on the age and breed of dog.And what is the result? One of the immediate differences of a dog on a high quality protein food such as Pro Pac or Earthborn Holistic is the shiny coat and healthy skin. Many owners have been surprised just how good the coat starts to look after moving to these foods.
And of course a food with a high meat component is not only going to make your dog look and feel better - it's going to enjoy the food more as well. It is vital to choose a food that contains both the right quantity and quality of protein.