Protein is a key player in dog health. Not only does it serve in muscle building but it also supports bone formation, nerve functioning and wound healing in cases of injury. Ensuring your dog benefits from a high protein diet is important.
Care should be taken however in amounts administered because dogs are different in terms of activity, breed or even size causing the protein requirement by their bodies to vary. In today’s post we will be discussing the best high protein dog food worth your consideration. Shall we?
1)Purina Pro Plan Sport High Protein Dog Food
This best high-protein dog food is suitable for parents with dogs in different life stages. If you have a senior bud or a growing cute little pup, this is just the food to grab.
It gets its best share of protein from real chicken. This formula comes with a 30% protein to 20% fat ratio which ensures your friend maintains lean muscle mass with enough fat to keep him active.
Plenty of glucosamine present in the food guarantees healthy mobile joints. From this food, your dog also gets a treat of fish oils that keep his skin shiny and well-hydrated.
Supported by a rich vitamin-mineral blend, your dog’s nutritional needs are met. The natural flavors in this food deliver a tasty memorable meal experience for your friend.
Features
- Delivers rich protein content drawn from real chicken
- Helps maintain healthy body weight through the 30% protein to 20% fat ratio for lean muscle form with enough fat burn for energy
- Formulated for active dogs of all life stages
- Offers a balanced nutrient profile for overall good health
2) CRAVE High Protein Dog Food
If you are in search of the best high protein dog food that is brimming with protein but is free of grains, then CRAVE High Protein White Fish and Salmon Dry Dog Food would be your preferred choice. This delicious meal has whitefish as its first ingredient. Whitefish is low in calories, rich in protein and is easy to digest.
Salmon and fish meals are used to boost protein levels. These two produce fatty acids to boost immunity. Vitamins and minerals from various sources bring a perfect balance to the food ensuring all nutritional needs are met.
Being grain-free is a plus for dogs that have food allergies. The kibble is free from by-products, soy and artificial fillers, making it one of the best high protein dog food options worth your consideration.
Features
- Has a wide range of protein drawn from white fish, salmon and chicken meal.
- Uses lean meats for healthy body weight management
- Provides all-around nutrition
- A great choice for pets with gastrointestinal issues
3) Purina ONE SmartBlend High Protein Dog Food
This is undoubtedly the best high-protein dog food in the market today. A large share of its proteins comes from turkey which is complemented by venison to deliver an irresistible taste for dogs. Ingredients used are highly digestible and release essential nutrients to your canine’s body.
To support healthy body functioning, the food is fortified with minerals such as calcium for healthy bones and vitamins to protect against diseases. Fiber is in sufficient amounts to smoothen out the breakdown of food in the dog’s tum. The natural flavors incorporated in the food deliver a yummy taste that even the pickiest of eaters can never resist.
Features
- High protein dry dog food
- Contains easily digestible ingredients
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals for healthy body function
- Suitable for adult dogs for all breed sizes
4) Victor Classic High Protein Dog Food
Keep your canine buddy up and running with Victor Classic-Hi-Pro Plus Dry Dog Food. This best high protein dog food provides quality protein for dogs that require a high protein diet.
It uses multiple protein sources such as beef, fish and chicken meals all driven towards sustaining your dog’s activity. Additional protein is sourced from plant sources such as grains.
Vitamins, fatty acids and fiber are blended in appropriate portions to promote good health from the inside out. VPRO, a unique blend of ingredients specially made and included in all Victor dog foods, promotes healthy internal body systems while on the external they care for dog skin. This dog food is a go-to option for dogs that are pregnant, lactating, or growing puppies.
Features
- Contains multiple protein sources
- Quality protein supply for sustained energy
- Enriched with a unique blend of ingredients for a healthy body
- Great choice for puppies, pregnant or lactating dogs
5) Avoderm Natural High Protein Dog Food
The chicken, lamb and turkey combo are a great source of lean healthy protein. These three meals also come loaded with other nutrients. Turkey, for example, has potassium that assists with blood pressure regulation and the strengthening of neural function.
Avoderm Natural Triple Protein Chicken, Lamb and Turkey Meals Recipe Dry Dog Food is well packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to ensure your dog gets optimum satisfaction and nutrition at its very best.
In each serving, your pup gets omega 3 and 6 which support the body in fighting off health threats like inflammation. The omega fatty acids are also important for the development of healthy puppies in pregnant dogs.
Avoderm pet foods enrich their recipes with avocado oils that leave your dog’s skin flourishing. The all-around approach used in this approach makes this recipe feature among the top best high-protein dog foods.
Features
- Gives a high protein supply that is fetched from multiple sources
- Packed with nutrients that support the dog’s defenses against diseases
- Rich in avocado oils for healthy skin
- Suitable for dogs of all life stages and pregnant pups too
6) CANIDAE All Life Stages High Protein Dog Food
CANIDAE is a powerhouse of quality dog food production and this formula is no exception. This best high protein dog food features a wide selection of meals derived from several animal sources to supply necessary amino acids for the development of skin, tissues, muscles and energy for activities. With this food, you need not worry about your dog’s age or breed because the ingredients have been combined to suit all breeds and ages.
Farm fresh fruits and veggies avail a variety of vitamins and minerals for uncompromised efficient body systems. Every piece of this dog food contains zero artificial fillers.
This nutrient-dense CANIDAE formula contains added probiotics to help with digestion thereby delivering a completely balanced meal for your pups to chow down.
Features
- High amounts of proteins from multiple sources
- Added probiotics for smooth digestion
- Nutrient-dense formula suitable for all dog breeds and ages
- Quality dry dog food made without artificial fillers
7) Diamond Naturals High Protein DogFood
This formula from Diamond Naturals has an impressive nutrient profile making it one of the best high protein dog food that you should get for your pooch. Beef, the first ingredient in the food, is a high-quality protein source supplying necessary amino acids to the body while satisfying your dog’s craving for meat. Rice is an easy-to-digest carbohydrate that provides the energy needed for the activity.
Chondroitin is combined with glucosamine to maintain healthy cartilage in joints. In the food, your dog also gets taurine to help with vision, healthy reproduction systems and a well-functioning heart.
Added probiotics in this formula enhance the digestibility of ingredients in the stomach. The food is well supplemented with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet.
Features
- High protein food formulated for adult dogs
- Has chondroitin and glucosamine for healthy joints
- Features added probiotics for a healthy digestive tract
- 100% complete and balanced for optimum nutrition
8) Taste of the Wild High Protein Dog Food
Treat your dog’s taste buds to this protein-rich and grain-free recipe. Its first ingredient is real meat from roasted venison, bison and beef. Together with lamb meal, chicken meal and various plant protein, these ingredients help with the formation of strong lean muscles.
Healthy oils from salmon are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that modulate inflammation, aid in the absorption of vitamins and promote skin health. Fruits and veggies used for the food supply antioxidants to support the immune system.
Taste of the Wild dog foods has the inclusion of the K9 Strain Probiotics in their formulations to promote healthy digestive systems. This food also contains salt which is essential in maintaining the acid-base balance in your canine’s body. Salt also assists with nerve signal transmissions. This is one of the best high protein food that should never miss on your shopping list.
Features
- Multiple protein sources
- Grain-free dog food enriched with K9 Strain Probiotics for healthy digestive systems
- Rich in antioxidants for boosted immunity and omega fatty acids for healthy skin
- Suitable for all dog breeds
9) Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dog Food
This flavorsome dry dog food from Blue Buffalo is next on our list of best high protein dog food. Real meat is used as the first ingredient and as the primary source of protein for the development of healthy muscles.
Carefully picked ingredients are put together to keep your furry companion active all day. It is well fortified with minerals for healthy bone structures, vitamins for strong body defense mechanisms and omega fatty acids for healthy skin.
This high protein kibble contains Life Source Bits, unique well-blended nutrition for overall good health. Blue Buffalo founders are dog parents so you can rest assured that feeding your canine this food will provide him a high protein diet coupled with all the other nutrition that he needs.
Features
- High protein kibble fortified with vitamins and minerals
- Packed with Life Source Bits to support the immune system
- Provides balanced nutrition for highly active dogs
- Made with all-natural ingredients and is preserved with natural flavors
10) Wellness Core Natural High Protein Dog Food
Help your buddy retain the spring in his step with Wellness Core Natural Dry Dog Food Original Turkey and Chicken. Its rich protein content is derived from turkey and chicken for lean body muscles. Turkey is a great source of selenium that promotes healthy cognitive function ensuring your pup stays sharp and alert during his activities.
Chicken, on the other hand, supplies chondroitin to the body essential for joint health. Oils from plant sources like flaxseeds are used in this food to give your dog smooth supple skin.
In addition to this, the food will ensure your dog is sufficiently supplied with minerals to assist with metabolism. Vitamins together with added probiotics complement the minerals to promote a healthy body from the nose to the tail. This dog food uses limited ingredients to reduce the chances of stomach irritation.
Features
- Dry dog food high in lean protein for strong muscles
- Suitable for dogs with food allergies as it uses limited ingredients
- Rich in minerals that support metabolism
- Promotes nose to tail health with its careful combination of ingredients
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Best High Protein Dog Food Buying Guide & FAQs
Factors to Consider When Buying Best High Protein Dog Food
Source of Protein
The best sources of protein for dogs are mostly those based on real meat. Meat-based sources offer quality protein but you should be keen on related fat content because they are accompanied by large quantities of fat. Muscle meats, organs like chicken liver, animal protein, some grains and seeds like quinoa are some of the ingredients that deliver high protein content.
Animal protein refers to protein drawn from several animal sources like a combination of fish, pork and beef. Meals made from animal sources such as chicken meals are also good protein sources.
The best high protein dog food can either contain protein from a specific source or multiple sources. The choice of the food will be determined by the health status of your dog and other underlying factors.
Life stage
For each stage, your dog’s body requires only a certain amount of protein. Feeding too little or too much can be detrimental to their health. For instance, at the puppy stage, you are looking to lay a good foundation for a strong body.
Your little furball will therefore require considerably high amounts of protein at this stage especially after the weaning process, which then steadily decreases over time as they grow.
It is also not recommended to feed adult formulas to puppies. This is why it is always important to consult a vet or a nutritionist whenever you are in doubt of how much content is just enough for your dog’s age.
Activity Level
Highly active dogs require more protein than the less active ones. Dogs engaged in guarding, herding or hunting require more protein and calories to fuel their muscles during their activity.
If fed less, these dogs get exhausted fast and could experience muscle loss if the deprivation of protein is experienced over long periods. Also, if you engage your furry friend in regular exercise or training like daily jogs, he will benefit from the best high protein dog food.
Weight Management
High protein diets with lower carbohydrate-fat composition have been linked to weight loss. Such a combination lets your dog lose excess fat while retaining lean muscle mass.
Dogs burn more calories when fed meals with abundant protein leaving them feeling full and active for longer periods. This is a healthy weight loss strategy for dogs that need to lose some pounds.
High Protein Diet and Food Allergies
Food allergies are a common occurrence in dogs. The diversity in dog food formulations present in the market today helps solve this problem. For example, if your dog is on a multiprotein diet and he reacts to it, you can switch to dog food with a single protein source.
Some dogs on the other hand develop allergies to a given period when it is fed to them over a long period. This is why sometimes it is important to change dog food once in a while.
However, if you try different foods with no success, consider involving a veterinarian who can pinpoint what exactly is triggering the reaction. In some cases, it is not the protein that is the issue but how the food was processed, that is causing problems.
Read: Protein Sources for Dogs
Frequently Asked Questions on Best High Protein Dog Food
Q: What is considered high-protein dog food?
Food with a protein composition of 30% and over is considered a high protein food. Most dogs require 18 to 29% protein with puppies and highly active dogs requiring a higher percentage.
Q: Is too much protein intake harmful to my dog?
If taken in high abnormal quantities, protein can strain your dog’s renal functions. Kidneys are overworked causing their function to deteriorate. It is vital therefore important to avoid overindulging your dog with too much protein and just feeding them the quantity they only require.
Q: How often should I switch my dog’s protein?
If your dog has no underlying conditions that could react adversely to frequent switching of food, then you can opt to change foods after each bag runs. This will ensure your dog benefits from the different protein sources. However, if they suffer from different food intolerances, then always consult a nutritionist or vet before making any switch.
Conclusion
From their ancestry as wolf pack members to cherished family members, dogs should be showered with love and care. Show your affection for them by always serving them the best foods available.