42% Protein? - Page 1

Hi was just a little confused regarding the suitable levels of protein because on this site: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showcat.php/cat/8 the 6 Star rated dog foods are basically all above 40% proten but then it warns that this food is not suitable for puppies because of the protein levels. Is this true? And if so then why do all the top brands sell this food as puppy food?

Thanks.

Oki if you google around, you will find a research done on large breed dogs, mostly is very important to keep the calcium level low as young undeveloped system can not remove it efficiently, and high level of calcium is linked to skeleton problems later on (bone anomalies' I believe). When comes to high protein level, is not recommended for large breed dogs due to a rapid growth, and the stress that extra weight places on a dog skeleton system. If I would be you I would find a food with lower level of protein and keep your puppy on the light side, this been proved to help with HD in large breeds dog. Personally I recommend Vets Choice, or even RC large breed formula, with RC I just have the problem with the meat content, so I choose Vets choice over it. Good luck in your research, by the way www.foodanalysis.com I think it is a bogus website, I seen it place low some good foods, and higher only the one with high protein content, I checked around and chicken has about 22%  protein, even less for rabbit, so you know what I don't think feeding food with 42% of protein content is a smart idea. But this is personal choice, so do your own research and decide on your own. Good luck.

This website warns that the high protein levels may not be suitable for puppies (particularly large breeds).

High protein means rapid growth which, in turn, may cause bone problems such as asymetrical growth. Apart from that some others claim that high protein levels may cause kidney failure. However, this is a conlusion drawn from research for high protein diet in mice, not dogs. So, this makes me less cautious...

Now, in practice, I have been feeding Orijen for the last 2 years (ever since it is in the market). The results have been the BEST EVER compared with all the other brands I have been using (Hills, Royal Canin, Nutro, Eukanuba, ProPlan). Ecxellent coat condition in only a month, high energy in my dogs.

Now regarding Orijen Large Breed Puppy I have noticed in my puppies this rapid growth which, sometimes caused bone problems but not irreversible ones. So, at present I feed my puppies ACANA Large Breed Puppy (produced by the same company that produces Orijen, namely Champion Pet Foods - Canada) in which protein is at about 30%, glucosamine & chondroitin at 1300 mg/kg ! and almost grain free (its only grain being rice). There are additionaly new product codes for adults in ACANA which are totally grain free (ACANA Provincial) in which the protein is at about 30% again.

So, my puppies eat Acana Large breed and when the growth is still too much I switch to Acana Adult Large breed at the age of 6 months.

My adults are on Orijen Adult and every 2-3 months I switch to ACANA Large Breed Adult for a month or so.

By the way, I do not think that the website "dogfoodanalysis" is a "bogus" one since it explains their policy on how a food is rated and there is logic behind this explanation. This is my opinion which has been formed from reading literature from University websites, about BARF, protein levels in dog food, etc. Just what I think.

I am not a dog nutritionist and even if I were opinions always vary. From experience though I faced considerable skin allergy problems with Hill's, fertility problems with Nutro, etc. To be more exact, I cannot definitely say that these problems were a result of the kibble I fed my dogs then. All I know is that when I switched to Orijen ALL these stopped. And we are talking about the same dogs (among other additional ones). Not to mention the recent dog food recalls by some of the above mentioned brands...So, even though I am not a nutritionist, why take the risk when my experience (small or not) tells me other?

Regards

Oh ok I see, the high protein causes rapid growth which can damage the skeletal system. To be safe I think I will use another food with lower protein until about 1 year of age when I will switch to Orijen.

Thanks a lot for the advice snajper69 and petros, I really appreciate it.

It really is not the percentage of proetin that counts it is the quality of that protein this is a big misconception.   Our dog's are carnivors there is no question about that in the wild they eat mostly raw meat which is all protein.  They do much better on a meat based diet as their sysems can better digest and utilize meat.

I feed my dog's Orijen and that includes large breed puppy never have had a problem.  My dogs are very healthy and grow at a normal rate and have no  joint problems.

Orijen gets their meat source fresh daily from local canadian farmers. Their quality control is second to none.  We are very lucky to have a company such as Orijen family owned since 1975 that manufactures their own food  and cares as much about quality as we do.

No problem, a lot of people are happy with the high protein food, like I said there seem to be concensus about not giveing it to puppies, adults its your choice, I simply don't do it because I keep my dogs lean and mean :), but that is personal choice, if I need more protein I add eggs few days a week, or on weekends feed only raw meat and bone. But other than that I stick to good quality kibble, I prefer the holistic type of kibbles, rather than any major brands, but once again that is person choice, I seen many people that use my approach and they are very happy with the results. Remember that every dog is different :) sometiems one thing work better with one dog while something else with a different one. Observe your dog and make adjustments as neccesery :). Good luck it will be fun :)

BTW I keep my dogs on one kind of kibbles thats it I don't like mixing and changing since this seem to encurouge picky eating. Good luck :)

Personally I would not feed my dogs (adults or puppies) the same protein that is in my cat's food (42%).  They simply don't need it.  And extra protein stored in the muscles can be damaging especially in high-energy or working animals (ask any competitive horse person).  Now, if I were training for the iditirod, maybe.

25% is plenty of protein for adults.  35% max for puppies or working animals.  That is "as high as I will go" for my dogs.

molly

Like you see it is  a personal choice, some back by research, some back by experience, and some just a huntch :). Nothing wrong with either approach, what you need to do is do your own research and decide what works beset for you and your dog. We all stand pretty strong by our opinons, but it dose not always makes them right, or wrong for a matter of fact. Good luck :)

My Dog was reared on Orijen Adult  42% protein from 8 months old

 He grew up perfect  Hips etc A normal, always in fantastic condition and in Condition i have not seen a Dog at the Clubs to match him in that way he gleams with health, The best Kibble on the market as far as i am concerned

as i have said elsewhere he gets a squirt of Salmon Oil on his morning kibble with a Vit E capsule and thats it

i always feed Dogs twice a day of any breed, i just measure oyut the total i am giving them in a day and feed half mornings and half evenings, never a moments problem with them in around 60 years of keeping Dogs

The youngest i have had one pass over the Bridge was 14 years old

We cannot get Acana over here made by the same firm

Steve

Extra protein is not stored in the muscles it is eliminated every day through normal body functions.