Moisture 67.2%, Protein 18%, Fat 13.8%, Ash 0.9%, Fibre 0.3%
Ground British beef breast (40%)
Tripe (40%)
Heart (10%)
Liver (10%)

The nutrition part of my dog book says that you have to remove the moisture content of both dry & wet food to be able to compare like with like.

So above would be 32.8% dry matter, then divide the protein level by the amount of dry matter to determine how much protein the dog is getting.

0.18 /32.8 = 0.548 55% protein

I presume that quantity eaten is also important as often with some of the higher protein dry foods you feed much less and it only has about 10% moisture.

We were told we shouldn't feed over 20% protein dog food to our retired greyhounds as it would make them hyper, but T has fish4dogs at 26% and had no change at all in energy levels. He does eat about a 1/4 less than he needed on the 20% food so guess actual protein consumed isn't that different. Doubt its always as simple as looking at the protein % on the product.

I always understood that growing puppies shouldn't have too much protein as it would cause growth spurts which would result in problems such as OCD in certain dogs. For that reason, I always feed my puppies (Collies) the large breed version to try and ensure denser bone and steady growth.

Aparently now its not the protein but the calcium: phos ratio - which a raw bone has down to a T.


I think its all rumours, sales, spin etc. They are all selling something after all.

For some types of dog foods, the only difference between normal and 'large breed' is the size of the kibble.

I agree fat and oil is more important than protien to energy.
However I think high protien foods often have high fat and oil content as well, so high protien becomes associated with high energy.

Example.

Dr john gold is 20% protien, 9% fat and oil.

Dr john silver is 18% protien, 6% fat oil.

Adam

...its high in protein because its main ingredient is as it should be meat!! dogs do not need cereals.

with large breeds its how 'fast' you grow them,too heavy too soon leads to problems.

So high protein leads to excess weight?
Growing puppies need more protein, than say senior dogs, don't they?

And I'm just thinking as I type.
A rabbit is quite a natural food source for a dog, that surely has a high protein content being as as good part of it is meat as well as veg (stomach contents) and other bulk.

never said high protein leads to excess weight

i said growing a large breed dog to fast(ie they should be lanky teenagers not chubsters) leads to problems not high protein.

A few years ago when my dogs were about 6 years old they had half-price senior dog food in Waitrose so I thought as they weren't far short of senior age I would buy a bag.

It was awful as they were climbing up the walls with energy-really hyper and normally they are vey calm when at home because they get a lot of exercise and training. This was apparently lower protein than standard age dog food so must have been additives? It was Arden Grange and I would certinly never buy that for them again!!

It just shows you that you should buy the correct food for your dog! My oldie (now 13) has been on Arden Grange Senior for about three years now and is still doing agility (albeit just veteran classes). She is extremely well on it. All my pets of varying ages and types are on AG and none of them is more hyper than normal. I buy AG because it is a good food with no additives.