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"Dogs physically can't utilize protein over 32%"

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Mulder Spooky Mulder     Barked: Sat May 12, '12 7:28am PST  So I came across this article: The 3 Most Important Words on a Bag of Dog Food Its mostly dealing with the Salmonella recall, but apparently they got an interview with the owner of Annamaet food brand. He had something inter sting to say in terms of protein in a kibble: Protein—Aim for a protein content of 23 percent for older adult dogs, 26 percent for active dogs, and 30 percent if you're buying a grain-free dog food. Don't be tricked into thinking protein contents higher than 32 percent are better for your dog. Dogs physically can't utilize protein in contents higher than that, he says. Anyone have a source to back this? Any studies done that actually prove this? Because it sounds like to me Mr. Downey is making one dewsy of an excuse for why most of his foods are primarily carb-based and loaded with things OTHER than protein my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Maxwell I'm triple- superior MAD- now!     Barked: Sat May 12, '12 8:22am PST  Iams has a short page on an equally short study comparing protein amounts and types. It compares 16% to 28% protein from either chicken or corn gluten or a combination of the two. Chicken protein at the higher % promoted higher lean muscle mass especially in senior dogs. "Senior dogs fed the 32%-chicken protein, chicken-based diet had better body composition and a muscle-specific protein pattern identical to that in healthy young adult dogs. However, those results were not seen in either of the other two diets." http://www.iams.com/pet-health/dog-article/importance-of-an imal-based-proteins-in-dog-foods#foot1 In my own experience higher protein promotes muscle mass too. Max weighed 33 pounds eating ~22% protein and couldn't sit pretty and hop. On ~45% protein raw his ideal weight ballooned to 38 pounds and he now easily can hop on his rear legs. All strong muscle. Perhaps he would be okay with 32% protein but even Max the couch potato senior is stronger with more protein. And Sassy got stronger and stayed on her feed to her last day even though she had DM because she got ~28% protein food. Unless he has links then that article isn't real useful. Perhaps it is that the protein isn't being used for muscle building over 32% but as a source of calories only same as carbs? Perhaps Max would retain his muscle if I dropped his protein intake and added carbs. Issue is he does poorly on carbs, gets goopy eyes and ears and more reactive on carbs. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Kodiak The cheese ninja     Barked: Sat May 12, '12 8:45am PST  I suspect that's hogwash. Given that dogs are hunters/scavengers, I think evolution would have long ago killed off any that couldn't use calories unless they were in a certain proportion. [notify]

Kodiak The cheese ninja     Barked: Sat May 12, '12 8:50am PST  Good point Maxwell. It would stand to reason that there's a maximum possible muscle building rate. [notify]

Savannah- Blue Belle A Heart of Gold!     Barked: Sat May 12, '12 9:33am PST  I go with the hogwash theory. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Zim OBEY ME     Barked: Sat May 12, '12 5:37pm PST  I actually am inclined to think there might be some truth to this. Beef is a very high protein food and it's 25% protein. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Conker - CGC, CA OBEY ME!     Barked: Sat May 12, '12 9:26pm PST  I think that's a load of... well, you know what I mean. He also mentioned that fat is bad. Umm, not for dogs! When you get a low-fat dog food, you are upping the carbs, so the dog's gonna get fatter than if the food had an otherwise "normal" amount of fat in it. Don't cut the fat, cut the amount of food and up the exercise. Duh. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Toto, CD,- RN, CGC We don't do- doodles!!!     Barked: Sun May 13, '12 4:51am PST  IMO, comparing protein levels in no grain, meat based foods to grain inclusive protein levels is comparing apples to oranges and doesn't mean very much at all! my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Olive Lab/Rottie/Chow/- Shepherd Mix!     Barked: Sun May 13, '12 5:25am PST  A more active dog could, in theory, utilize more protein, couldn't it? Doesn't this make sense? My dog is a pretty average family dog (in terms of activity), so perhaps 32% would be good for her - but would it be enough for a working/sporting dog? my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Maxwell I'm triple- superior MAD- now!     Barked: Sun May 13, '12 7:37am PST  Max is a senior couch potato and his raw diet built muscle. He definitely needs more than 23% protein to be his best! Newer research shows that senior dogs have trouble assimilating protein and need MORE protein, not less as they age. Sassy got stronger on 28-29% protein as a geriatric dog! In my limited experience that man's advice is outright wrong but I don't know that 32% would work or not as I haven't fed a 32% protein diet. Remember that going down is about the worst thing you can let a dog do and keeping muscles strong goes a long way to keeping aging joints supported and the dog active. Here is the dogaware article on feeding senior dogs. http://www.dogaware.com/articles/dwseniordiets.html This article from Purina [a reference from the above article] shows that healthy dogs fed up to 45% protein do fine. http://www.purinavets.eu/PDFs/ResearchReport1997_vol0.pdf my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

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