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Animal protein is the most expensive ingredient in dog and cat food next to marketing. Grocery and mass-market pet food companies meet the minimum recommended protein requirements and add a little extra to be safe. Their big dollars are saved for advertising.
Therefore, we must appreciate that not all proteins are created equal.
Most of us think only of meat as being protein. However, dairy, grains and vegetables contain a certain amount of protein as well.
Proteins contain amino acids, the building blocks of life. They build muscle,
organ, bone and connective tissue. They make up blood cells, antibodies,
and hair and are used in hormone and enzyme production.
In order to be assimilated properly, proteins are broken down into separate amino acids in the digestive tract by the action of enzymes, and are then reconstructed by the liver into the proteins that the body needs. The right amino acids must be consumed in order for the required proteins to be reconstructed.
Proteins can be divided into essential or non-essential and complete or incomplete. Essential amino acids can only be obtained through what is consumed. Non-essential amino acids are those that the body can manufacture itself. Complete proteins are the animal proteins because they contain all the essential amino acids. Plant proteins are considered incomplete as they are missing various essential amino acids, and why vegetarian diets leave both dogs and cats with protein deficiencies.
Protein quality is based on the chicken egg, which is considered to be the perfect protein. The chicken egg contains all the amino acids needed in sufficient amounts. After eggs come muscle meats, organ meats, milk, cheese, fish, rice, oats, wheat and corn.
Now, complicate this with how pet foods are analyzed. Protein is the total percentage of protein in the food and appears on the label as crude protein. Listed as a minimum level, it is a measure of all sources protein, not just meat. If plants are the main protein sources, an animal protein deficiency may develop.
Dogs and cats are quite able to tolerate diets with protein levels higher than 30% on a dry weight (moistureless) basis. After all, they are carnivores, (See Pet Taxonomy in side bar) that’s how nature made them! If left to catch and consume prey to survive, our dogs and cats diets would be even higher in protein than what is generally available.
The amounts of crude protein and most other nutrients appear less for raw and canned products than for dry ones because of differences in moisture content. A dry food may contain 26% protein and 10% moisture, a canned food may contain 9% protein and 75% moisture and a raw food may contain 13% protein and 68% moisture. You must figure dry matter (DM) to get a more accurate protein percentage. The formula is: (% protein) / (100 - % moisture) x 100 = % dry matter protein. Therefore, the DM protein for the dry is 28.9%, the canned is 36%, and the raw is 40.6%.
Too little protein will do more harm than good, and there is no research to show that too much protein is damaging to our fur-children’s health. According to Pedigree pet foods own research, "Protein nutrition is obviously still not completely understood, however it is an essential part of every dog's diet. You can't give too much protein in your dog's diet; however quality not quantity makes the difference." (Note: Unfortunately, Pedigree uses by-products, and soy as their protein sources and still uses BHA & BHT. How can they get it without getting it?)
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