Good sources of protein for dogs

Protein For Dogs

Author: Kirsti Arnoldi

Proteins are amongst the most important nutrients required in the diet of a dog to ensure that they remain fit and healthy. The question is, how do you acquire protein for dogs?

Canines are primarily meat eaters and have thus adapted to getting most of the large amount of proteins that their bodies require from meat. Even though their natural diet varies very little, they are able to get the other nutrients that they needed as well – fats, carbohydrates and fiber.

For many years, domesticated dogs ate mostly meat, mixed with everything that their owners ate, and thrived on this diet. However, after World War 2, meat was in short supply, and it was deemed wasteful to give the limited supplies of good meat to dogs. Instead, they began producing commercial pet food, using the parts of the animals that humans don't consume, such as hooves, beaks, feet, heads and intestines, combined with poorer quality grains to make the food more filling. These are still the ingredients that many commercial dog food manufacturers use today.

As the quality of the ingredients is not very high, the level of nutrients has dropped. Much of the protein that commercially produced food includes, is indigestible protein and thus does your pet no good whatsoever. However, as awareness about health and nutrition rises, this is beginning to change.

Why Is Protein So Necessary?

Proteins are important for the growth and development of your pet, as well as helping to make up and boost the immune system. They may also be stored as fat and burned as calories. Your pet does not really need the protein itself. But it does need an essential element of those proteins, known as amino acids. Canines need 22 amino acids and are able to create 13 of them themselves. The rest, they need to obtain from the foods that they eat. These are known as essential amino acids. If any of these amino acids are lacking from the diet, health problems can ensue.

What Does The Source Of Proteins Matter?

Different levels of amino acids are contained in different sources, and each can be broken down differently. The easier it is for the dog's digestive system to break down the amino acid, the better. The amount of useable amino acids in a protein and the ability of the protein to be broken down and used by the body is calculated as protein quality. Knowing the protein value of an ingredient will help you establish whether or not it is a digestible protein.

Protein Requirements

It is important to remember that the protein requirements do vary from breed to breed, and also that size and age play a large role in determining how much protein is needed in the diet. For example, puppies require a large amount of proteins as they are still developing, whereas an older dog needs a lot less.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/protein-for-dogs-5113450.html

About the Author

To learn more about how to give your dog the best food and nutrition possible, see Protein For Dogs. While there, sign up for my free email course, giving you tips on how to have a happy and healthy canine!
http://homemadedogtreatsrecipes.net/.

Commercial dog food is not healthy for your dog- View more recipes here for good sources of protein for dogs

Highly Digestible Meat Proteins for Dogs

Author: Healthy Choiceorganic

Animals like dogs require lots of protein ingredients in their food which they obtain from two main sources which is meat (beef, red meat, fowl and fish) and plants.

There are labels which identify the protein content in the dog's food including the ingredients such as chicken, chicken meal or poultry by-product meal. We often buy meats which we think are the actual meat of cow, lamb or pig etc. But in reality our dogs get only 50% of meat protein from such products because they generally contain meats which are discarded and not usable.

Inexpensive dog food includes meats and bone meal which results from other mammals. But those contain less protein and are not helpful for dogs. Stress should be given to the term called "meat" not the "meat and bone meal" because meat protein is a very essential ingredient for a dog's life. But many customers who purchase such meat food products do not really know the distinction between meat and bone meal. It should be kept in mind that the more inexpensive the meat, its nutritional content is likely to be that much lesser.

The standard of meat protein is measured by the AAFCO, and AAFCO do not permit such meat and bone meal to be the main food for any dog. Good meat protein product includes ingredients like, lungs, Spleens, Kidney, Brain; oily tissues those are defatted under regulated temperature conditions. Dog's liver absorbs less amount of protein from low quality foods. So you should take that extra care to make sure your dog's liver stays healthy by giving him or her good quality food.

Dogs' kidney is responsive enough which might be harmed by abnormal food products, and it might affect their health. High protein content food regulates their body flow and keeps the kidney healthy.

So just for a little extra cost, high protein meat foods have good quality ingredients which not only give your dog energy but will also help them fight against any diseases.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/highly-digestible-meat-proteins-for-dogs-2959067.html

About the Author

For some very useful tips on selecting the right chicken based diet for your dog visit
http://www.healthychoiceorganic.com/index_natural_holistic_dog_food_1.htm

View natural dog food recipes here
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