Best High Protein Dog Food
03.05.2021.
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Protein is the most important nutrient in your dog’s diet. Many dog owners have to feed their dogs with high-protein dog food, but not all dogs will actually benefit from it. While protein is essential, not all protein is the same, especially when it comes to your dog. Keep in mind that only certain dogs absolutely need to have a high-protein dog food diet. Others will benefit from the balanced recipes you can find in most dog foods on the market.
Which dogs need high-protein dog food?
Like wolves, coyotes, and dingoes, dogs should get most of their calories from protein and fats. However, dogs are omnivores, and they need carbs and other nutrients. They can easily digest carbs, and they should be an essential part of a balanced dog diet. However, some canines will benefit from a high-protein diet, and those are;
Working dogs
Working dogs nap less than average pets. They are a lot more active, and they will benefit from high-protein dog food. Working dogs include police, military, search and rescue, herding, or hunting dogs.
Sporting dogs
Dogs included in dog sports such as agility, canicross, skijoring, or go regularly jogging with their owners need to have a high protein diet. Their muscles need more “fuel,” and it is completely expected their owners provide them with plenty of healthy protein.
Nursing or pregnant dogs
Amino acids and proteins are fundamental building blocks for the dog’s body. It is expected to provide pregnant dogs with a lot more protein than you would typically expect. In fact, some vets even say that pregnant females should get the same amount of protein as developing puppies.
What constitutes high-protein dog food?
Theoretically, all dog foods that have a protein content above 22.5% can be considered high-protein. However, we will only pick dog foods that have protein content higher than 30%. Another thing we will be looking for is - carb contents should be less than 43%. However, if you have a very active dog at home, you should make sure they get plenty of carbs and fats. That is basically the energy they will use for their activity.
Here are our favorite high-protein dog foods that will be ideal for your dog.
High-protein dog food usually comes with a higher price, but Taste of the Wild Roasted Bison And Roasted Venison comes with a friendlier price tag. This is the best pick if you are looking for a great balance between the price and protein content in your high-protein dog food. The majority of its protein comes from bison and venison, which is very similar to the diet wild canids would have. However, this dog food includes additional omega fatty acids that promote the dog’s skin and coat healths, taurine, and probiotics. Taste of the Wild is an excellent choice for active dogs that need to have more “gas in their tank.” Plus, dogs seem to really like the taste of this dog food.
- Includes omega fatty acids
- Includes taurine
- 32% protein
- Unusual but high-quality protein source
- Includes legumes
Many dog owners recommend Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein dog food. This dog food gets most of its protein from salmon, one of the world’s healthiest protein sources. The best thing about using salmon as a protein source is that it is packed with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. These fatty acids will do wonders for your dog’s skin, coat, and joint healths. It is one of the best things you can do for dogs with arthritis. This dog food has other recipes, and they are all rich in protein. Still, the salmon recipe offers plenty of additional nutrients your dog can benefit from. It includes antioxidants, probiotics, omega fatty acids, and minerals. This is a top choice and an excellent recommendation.
- Salmon-based
- Rich in omega fatty acids
- Includes probiotics
- Grain-free
- Includes sweet potatoes
This is another fish-based dog food, but that is actually a very positive thing. Fish are fantastic protein sources and CRAVE Grain Free High Protein dog food gets its protein from white fish and salmon. Different types of fishes mean more taste, and dogs usually really appreciate that. This dog food is absolutely packed with protein. Its guaranteed dry matter analysis should give us the result of at least 34% protein content. This dog food is also rich in carbs, which means your active four-legged companion will have plenty of energy for all of their daily activities. However, if your dog stops being active, you should be careful how much you feed them. Your dog might gain weight and be on the road to obesity once their active days are behind them.
- High in protein
- Different protein sources
- High in carbs
- Affordable
- No probiotics
- No antioxidants
World Dog Finder team
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