Too much protein?

Question
I have recently been looking into dog food and what nutrients are better for dogs. I am trying to educate myself enough to judge which food is best for my dog. I have a young puppy I got from a local shelter. They dont know exactly how old he is but it is estimated he is around 6-7 months. He is wonderful and active and super playful. He has been neutered and is up to date on vet care. He is a mixed breed but likely a pit terrier mix. I have one particular question I cannot seem to get an answer too, can a dog have too much protein? I am looking into more premium foods and I find alot of stuff that those premium foods can have too much protein and it can be bad. This kinda baffles me because a wild dog or wolf lives on mostly meat, does it? I mean most premium foods average around 27% protein according to the guarantee analysis. I read alot about excessive protein causing liver damage, kidney failure, and pancreas issues. Are there any truth to these claims?

Answer
Rachel -

Of course, any animal can have too much protein!!  You are correct in stating that too much protein can cause problems to kidneys and liver. Too much of any nutrient can cause problems with the internal organs.

I am curious how you are determining what is "too much" protein?  There are diets that are formulated specifically for puppies.  There are diets that are formulated specifically for certain breeds of dogs.  If you buy diets that are made by well established pet food manufacturers then you should have no problem finding a dog food that has the appropriate nutrients.  Talk with your veterinarian to determine the brand of food that he/she recommends.  

It is true that wolves and wild dogs eat meat.  If your dog is not a wolf or a wild dog then you should not compare their diets.  The nutritional requirements of animals in the wild are different than those nutritional requirements of domestic animals because they live very different lives.


Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM