How Much Protein Do Dogs Need
For adult dogs, the general rule of thumb is 1 gram of fresh animal protein per pound of your dog’s ideal weight. If your dog is a high-performance athlete they may be able to process more protein, but other dogs may require less.
Certain health issues may also dictate a need for low-protein diets.
Protein Requirments For Dogs
When we feed fresh, moisture-rich animal-based proteins, we generally look to include 70-80% protein as the foundation of the dog’s fresh, balanced meal.
When making homemade foods, we also have to remember that not all meat sources hold the same amount of protein ounce for ounce. Example:
Rabbit tends to be 16% protein and 6% fat whereas 80/20 raw beef is 17.17% protein and 20% fat. Offal / liver will be even higher in % of protein per ounce than muscle meat — and yet it also varies between animal sources. Thus it’s important fully understand what you’re feeding and how it impacts your recipe or increase in protein, amino acids, Omega, vitamins, minerals etc.
Protein Requirements in Kibble Dog Food
In adult commercial dog food, protein is required to be at least 22% for on a dry matter basis. But, there is no requirement for this to be meat and there is a significant possibility that your dog will not be able to digest the protein effectively from plant-matter sources. You need to take a close look at ingredient splitting to start to understand what makes up your dog food protein %.
There is a strong possibility that your dog is not getting adequate protein. So the question becomes should you add animal protein to your dog’s bowl of kibble? Probably. But you need to keep a few things from the linked article in mind when you do.
If you’re feeding kibble, be sure to read the label carefully and choose a food that is appropriate for your dog's age, size, and activity level. Puppies require around 22%, while adult dogs range from 10-30% in most kibble foods on a dry matter basis.
It's also worth noting that different dogs have different protein requirements, depending on factors such as their breed, age, and activity level. While some dogs may thrive on a high-protein diet, others may do better on a lower-protein diet. If you're unsure about how much protein your dog needs, it's always best to consult with a dog nutritionist or veterinarian who can help you evaluate your dog’s unique needs and your recipes!
What Is A High Protein Diet
In kibble-fed dogs protein above 30% on a dry matter basis is considered high protein!
What Is Low-Protein Diet
In kibble-fed dogs low protein is generally under 20% on a dry matter basis
What the heck is dry matter basis? It’s the amount of protein per volume after all the moisture has been removed. With kibble generally only containing moisture, you can see that virtually all moisture has been removed to make those extruded little nuggets. Hence when we talk about fresh animal protein sources, the % of protein will be around 70-80% of the recipe.