High Protein and Puppies

[Brandyb]

I have a friend asking me about Orijen puppy food. I feed Orijen to Brandy, and am extremely happy with the results. I've pointed her to their site, but I'm not sure if there are any ill affects associated with feeding a high protein diet to a young dog. Does anyone here know if there is any, or if high protein is fine for pups (I believe it's 40% analysis on the bag - and I think it's chicken).
Thanks

[Dekka]

I feed all my puppies raw, as do many many breeders I know (all breeding a variety of dogs...) I would say it should be fine.

[sammgirl]

I think it depends on the size/breed of the puppy.

You wouldn't want to feed a great dane a high protien diet. Nor would you want to feed a basset hound or corgi a high protien diet. Extra large and dwarfed dogs need food that encourages slow growth. That usually means an all life stages food with lower protien and calcium/phosphate ratios.

[Dekka]

So far I know of large breeders and dwarf breeds who feed high protein with no problems. I have heard that high protein raw diets encourage nice steady slow growth in large breeds. (no idea why a good quality high protein kibble diet would be different)

I have heard the high protein is bad for giant breeds, but then know of cane corso breeders who feed raw. Is there any studies out there that prove it one way or another? I would think metabolism even in large breeds is 'fixed' and if you need to deprive your dog to get a 'normal' dog then there are genetic issues. (I can see making sure young giant dogs don't get fat.. I can totally see how that could cause lameness etc)

[sammgirl]

All I know is the lady I know who breeds cardigans was very adament that due to the issues that dwarfed breeds have with growth plates, not to feed a high protien diet until they reach adulthood.

There may be people who are all about RAW and I think that's cool. I use RAW to supplement sometimes, with RMBs and pork neck bones and chicken backs and such.

But, I think with puppies that don't grow normally I wouldn't risk it with a high protien diet.

I know that on a corgi board I'm on, that's just one of those things that everybody agrees on- not to feed foods like innova to corgi puppies of either variety, but especially not the Cardigans as they are somewhat heavier then the pemmies.

[xpaeanx]

I've heard that raw encourages a slow steady growth instead of "spurts."

But of course, that's just one of those word of mouth things... I've never seen any actual case studies... but I would be very interested to read some!

I do know of a few cardi breeders that feed raw/modified raw... perhaps I'll shoot them an email and see what their thoughts on the subject are.

[sammgirl]

Puppy Feeding - Pembroke & Cardigan Welsh Corgi Forums
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Sorry to break up the HTML, didn't want a bot to find it.

I don't know a whole lot about RAW and puppies, primarily because I'm not going to feed a completely RAW diet to my puppy if and when the time comes that I'm able to get one. I don't know whether RAW would promote slow growth or fast growth.

I do know that for the purposes of dog food that a high protien diet is not good for large or dwarfed breeds.

[Dekka]

ok but why? I know its been said often enough, but I know from enough people who DO feed raw (and have for many many generation) that it promotes a nice steady growth pattern.

So is there any truth to biologically appropriate protein levels causing growth problems? Or is it something that has been repeated so often that no none wants to risk it? (just wondering I have no idea...)

[sammgirl]

Originally Posted by Dekka

ok but why? I know its been said often enough, but I know from enough people who DO feed raw (and have for many many generation) that it promotes a nice steady growth pattern.

So is there any truth to biologically appropriate protein levels causing growth problems? Or is it something that has been repeated so often that no none wants to risk it? (just wondering I have no idea...)

You and me both, hon.

There's sooooo much information out there on dog nutrition and food and really I have no idea what's the best way.

**shrugs**

I wish someone on here was a dog nutritionist. As a pet owner, I just really want to do whatever is going to make me have the healthiest animals.

[xpaeanx]

K, so here is what I found so far. They go by protein percent by bite. Raw is about 20% by bite where as a kibble like evo is 40% per bite. So a puppy eating that kibble is getting two bites of food for every one they take.

All that "extra" food (mainly protein and fat) is what causes the problems.

You want to stay around 20% protein per bite.



Now my question here is, why can't you just feed smaller portions? If a dog would eat 4 bites of 20% then can't you just feed them 2 bites at 40%?

I'll keep looking though. I'm interested myself!