Share This
When you start looking into a healthy diet for your dog you may start to feel overwhelmed. Some of the information you might find may contradict each other making it even harder to decide the best diet.
Below are some reasons why too much protein is dangerous and why:
Proteins are the building blocks of the body and an absolute necessity for daily function. However, when a dog consumes too much protein in a meal it cannot all be utilized at one time, nor can it be stored for later. The body will then excrete the excess protein through the kidneys and out of the body via urine. Thus the quality of the protein actually becomes more important that than actual amount as a high quality protein is more bioavailable and can be better absorbed by the body.
Protein is a calorie dense nutrient and many of the high protein diets are extremely high in calories and can quickly lead to weight gain. With over 50% of dogs in the U.S. considered overweight or obese, dog owners need to be aware of where those extra calories are hiding. If a dog has kidney or liver issues consuming too much protein can increase the workload on these organs and upset the balance of nutrients leading to exacerbation of disease.
Puppies, meanwhile, require more protein than adult dogs because their bodies are busy growing. Among breeds of puppies there are different requirements for nutrients as well. For instance large breed puppies like Labrador retrievers need a much different diet than a Yorkie for optimal growth. Feeding large breed puppies something that is too high in protein may make them put on weight too quickly causing abnormal joint development and making them more prone to issues like arthritis in the future.
A working dog and one that doesn’t do much on a daily basis should have totally different diets. The healthiest diets are ones that have been developed with scientific research and veterinary nutritionists. That way they don’t have too much or too little of anything that may be harmful to your dog over time.
What do you feed your dog and why?
Leave a Reply