Protein levels effect energy levels? True or False? - Page 1

My vet had told me my adult pitbulls energy level is likely affected by the food I feed her and the level of Protein in said food. She was a couch potato for the first month I had her when I adopted her and was switching her from Hills Science Diet over to TOTW Sierra Mountain Canine. Once her coat started improving and she started putting on weight she 'zings' from one end of the house to the other and no amount of exercise seems to calm her down. Shes been on TOTW for over 3 months now and when I asked my vet about it she said that because my dog was normally inactive the amount of Protein im feeding could be whats causing her to spiral like she is.

Is there any fact to this and if so should I put her on a different dog food with a lower Protein level? thanks.

Is your exercise done every single day, and what exactly are you doing for her exercise? How old is she?

she is about three yrs, exact age is questionable as she was rescued. Yes, exercised daily and never had a probelm before when she was on Hills Science diet. The reason the vet seemed to think it was the food was because of how she was up until the switch to TOTW. Exercise is thesame as it has always been games of fetch for about 30mins strait and 30mins of speed walking.

I doubt the "high" protein (TOTW isn't an extremely high protein) is causing your new pup to be active. I foster lots of dogs and see that the first weeks I have them in the home they are very docile and cautions. Almost like they are checking everything out. Then they get more comfortable and start to become "themselves". You dog may just be feeling better also having put on some weight and being feed a relatively good food. Was your dog sick with parasites or was being treated for any infections prior to coming to you? Science Diet IMO is pretty much crap food full of corn and well... crap. Vets seem to think this food walks on water but I won't even feed this stuff to my foster dogs.

It is relatively normal for a young dog to need a lot of exercise. Between 6 months and 18 months is probably the toughest time. She may need some mental activities if you are positive she is getting plenty of exercise. Some people think you can take a dog on a 1/2 hour walk and that is enough. An active dog needs vigorous exercise for at least an hour a day and preferably twice a day. This means taking her on a bike, a hike, walking with a backpack, running, etc. Often fetch is something that will make an excitable dog more excited (depending on the dog and how you play with them). You need an activity that calms the mind and works the body. 

You can always switch back or switch to another food and see what happens but TOTW is a far better food than SD.

I wonder where my vet got the idea for the protein thing? I had never heard of it before she had told me. My vet was the one who told me to switch to TOTW because of its high quality she certainly didnt endorse Hills Science.

She didnt have any worms but she was about 5lbs underweight and has a severe flea allergy when the humane society had brought her in from the streets. She was on cephallexion (spelling?) for her flea allergy and to clear up her skin but other than that not that I know of. She only gets her energetic bursts about 30mins-1hr after meals which is why I thought my vets Protein theory had some founding to it but if anyone has any links to protein info that dispells or supports my vets protein theory id love to read it. thanks

Cephalexin is an antibiotic. Did they tell you why they put your dog on an antibiotic for an allergy? Did she has open sores from the allergy that were infected? Are you sure she doesn't have worms? Dogs get tape worm from fleas. Seems odd to me that they would put your dog on an antibiotic for an allergy to fleas unless she was scratching herself so badly that she had skin infection??

She had happytail I think they called it? Where she bloodied her tail from wagging, is what they had told me. She has had 3 negative fecals since I rescued her so i assume shes clean.

sheeesh!  what you are seeing here is the difference between a normal, healthy, active dog and a malnourished, unhealthy dog.
science diet is one of the absolute worst kibbles on the market! 
pjp

LOL....ditto, Ziegenfarm.

I doubt she would bloody her tail from wagging.  More likely she bloodied her tail from biting it.  Tail chasing and biting is known to be a problem in some bullies.