High Protein Dog Food

When shopping for the best food for their canine companion, many people assume that high protein dog food is a better choice for their pet. They incorrectly assume that the higher volume of protein in...

When shopping for the best food for their canine companion, many people assume that high protein dog food is a better choice for their pet. They incorrectly assume that the higher volume of protein in the food means that all the pet抯 nutritional needs will be satisfied. Unfortunately, this is not true.

While protein does indeed constitute an important part of the pet抯 diet as well as play a large role in the maintenance and development of the body, it is most definitely not the only element that should be present in a healthy diet. It is also vital that you remember that not all proteins are the same.

Some proteins are of a higher quality than others. Imagine that you are holding two bowls. In one bowl you have a mixture of ground feathers, bones and corn and in the other bowl you have some fresh tender chicken. They both contain equal amounts of proteins, but the proteins contained in the first bowl are of a less quality than those within the second bowl.

The protein contained within the bowl of fresh chicken is more digestible than that within the feathers, bones and corn. Because the feathers, bones and corn are harder for the body to digest, the body is unable to extract the protein and the major portion of it usually just passes through the system unused, while that within the fresh chicken is easily extracted and easily used.

In order for the animal to get enough protein from the first bowl, you would have to give your dog a larger quantity of food, this results in your dog eating more calories, and thus putting on more weight. This also increases the chance of your pet suffering from obesity ?a condition from which a rapidly increasing number of dogs are suffering from, worldwide.

Thus, it is very important that you examine the ingredient label on the package of commercial dog food before you choose to buy it. Food that doesn抰 contain fresh meat ?i.e. meat is not the first ir second item on the list of ingredients ?probably contain meat by-products which are a source of poor quality proteins and should be avoided.

The best way to make sure that your pet receives food containing only good quality proteins is to make the food yourself. With homemade dog food, you monitor the freshness and quality of the ingredients that have been put into each meal.