Turkey, chicken, lamb, beef, and more and more meat; the prime source of protein in a canine diet. Most proteins are animal-based sources, while some proteins can be found in vegetable/grain-based sources. Aside from the protein type, proteins are prepared in different ways depending on the food type: kibble, raw, and dry. Protein bioavailability, also known as a biological value, determines how digestible the protein will be once prepared. Different cooking methods change the bioavailability of the protein. When meat is heated, it begins to break apart protein molecules, similar to how it is done during digestion, leaving the meat with less nutrients than before cooking. The higher temperature does not change the amount of protein but decreases the nutritional contents within it.
Animal vs Plant Protein
Animal-based proteins naturally provide more required nutrients than plant-based proteins. A plant-based protein may lack certain vitamins and minerals which will need to be supplemented into the diet. On top of plant-based proteins lacking some vital nutrients, heat impacts and destroys the viability of vitamins and phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables.
Before diving into the preparation of proteins and the changes in bioavailability, let’s discuss different types of animal-based proteins.
- Fresh animal meat is the best choice due to its freshness and nutrients, which will only say a meat name in the ingredients: chicken, beef, lamb, salmon, turkey, etc.
- Meat or bone meals are meat/bone products that have been rendered to create a highly concentrated protein powder. While it is highly concentrated in protein value, it’s hard to know exactly how fresh the meat used was to create it. Most often found in kibble, and canned food.
- Meat meal will never be as good as its raw materials, however, some are better than others. Meals labeled with an identified meat source such as beef meal or chicken meal are slightly better than proteins labeled just meat meal. Ingredients labeled meat meals can contain diseased, dead, and even expired meats from stores making it vital to look deeper into protein meals in your dog’s food.
- Animal by-products; the remains of the animal carcass after bones and meat are removed. While not all animal by-products are terrible, they remain too inconsistent to determine if every batch has all the valuable nutrients. By-product proteins are one of the lowest quality meats available making them lower in biological value and digestibility. Serving meat meals or by-products without supplementing can lead to nutritional deficiency.
Best Sources of Protein for Dogs
| Animal-Based Sources | Vegetable, Legume & Grain-Based Sources | |
| Concentration of Protein | High | Low |
| Incomplete or Complete Protein | Primarily complete proteins “full amino acid profiles” | Primarily incomplete proteins (must be combined to be complete) |
| Amino Acid Ratios | Favorable ratios | Unfavorable ratios |
Preparations of Protein
Animal-based protein differs in bioavailability depending on its preparation; for example feeding raw, vs feeding fresh but cooked meat. Fresh meats: raw, freeze-dried/frozen, and dehydrated preparation retains more protein bioavailability than slow-baked protein. Proteins cooked at high processing temperatures, such as kibble, retain the least protein bioavailability. While meat meals are denser in proteins than fresh meat, they are a low quality choice and can lead to protein deficiencies.
Top Tier vs Second Tier Protein
Similar to the chart above (Best Source of Proteins for Dogs), Animal-Based sources are considered top tier, and grain/vegetable-based sources second tier. Top-tier sources provide the most biological value whereas second-tier sources provide most or all of the nutrients, but do not digest as well as top tier-sources. Meat cooked at high temperatures typically has a higher ash content; ash content in dog food is the leftover contents after protein, fat, and carbohydrates are burned away. While some ash is good, too much ash can be just as bad. Top tier sources are whole eggs, chicken & turkey, Ocean Fish/Fish, and beef. Second-tier sources contain meat by-products(named), soy, and other plant-based proteins such as rice, quinoa, and flaxseed.
Protein Deficiencies
Lastly, some things that are important to look out for are protein deficiency and too much protein. High protein diets are essential but it’s key to ensure your pup is also staying hydrated. Protein metabolism requires a lot of water, which can lead to dehydration over time. Symptoms of protein deficiency include: licking or biting at feet, brittle toenails, and weak or poor coat. Feeding a top tier protein will help avoid deficiencies, and keep your pup happy.
