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Location: Wiltshire UK
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,404
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To begin with dogs do not have a need for protein, they have a need for specific amino acids. These are divided into essential and non essential; and thus when looking at protein levels the crude levels posted on a label do not provide sufficient information for a person to make a decision.
It makes no mention of how bio available that protein is (I could make a food out of 100% protein, but if it came in the form of leather it would be useless to the dog).
Also it does not state what %age of this protein is complete or incomplete.
There is no ACTUAL min or max protein level for dogs that has been established.
It is not the PROTEIN that is the issue with kidneys but rather the phosphorus that is the issue. So you would need to reduce high phos foods eg bone, organ meat and eggs.
Protein does NOT cause hyperactivity (an overused and wrongly used term)
Eggs are not the BEST source of protein but the food against which all others are compared to in terms of measuring bio availability.
The FIRST thing you should look for when choosing a kibble for a dog that needs to lose weight is the oil/fat content. You need to choose a calorifically less dense food and one that is lower in oil/fat. Not all labels carry the kc content but the firms will tell you if you ask, they ALL carry the fat content.
But the main thing is like us, increase exercise! Make the dog work for its food, scatter it on the lawn, put it into treat dispensers rather than giving free food in bowls at either end of day.