High Protein Wet Dog Food

How Much Protein Should A Dog Have Daily

In general, a dog should have 1 gram of protein per pound of body weighta day.

For example, if your dogs ideal healthy weight is 40lbs, it should have 40 grams of protein per day. This amount should be divided between the daily meals. Exceeding the recommended daily protein intake can result indigestive issues andobesity.

How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Dog

Determining how much wet food to feed your dog is a processNOT a one-and-done decision.

Since the size and activity level of every dog is unique

And because every wet food contains a different number of calories per can

Its best to start with the recommended feeding amount printed on the label. Then, adjust that amount up or down to keep your dog at her ideal weight.

The following image is an example only. Since can sizes vary and each recipe has its own unique calorie content, be sure to refer to the label on your own product to estimate the initial serving size.

Dr Tims Pursuit Active Dog High Protein Recipe

Rating:

Active Dog is one of 8 dry recipes evaluated in our review of the Dr. Tims product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, chicken fat, whole oat groats, dried beet pulp
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: All Life Stages
• Best for:Adult and small or medium breed puppies
• Other recipes: Kinesis All Life Stages, Metabolite Weight Management, Glacier Athletic Blend and others

Dr. Tims Pursuit Active Dog gets the better part of its meat protein from chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis demonstrates the formula contains 33% protein, 22% fat and 36% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.

Dr. Tims products are prized by members of the large breed athletic and sporting dog community. A top choice and one thats especially easy for us to recommend.

Sample buyer reviewMy English setter, a Llewelyn has been on Dr. Tims Pursuit dog food since she was a puppy, over ten years ago. She is a very active dog and thrives on this food. She has been very healthy. Her white and spotted fur coat is shiny!! I highly recommend this product.

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Meadowland is one of 6 dry recipes contained in our review of the Acana product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, chicken liver, turkey giblets , chicken meal
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: All life stages
• Best for:Adults and puppies
• Other recipes: Red Meat Recipe, Poultry Recipe, Freshwater Fish Recipe and others

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Raised Right Fresh Human

Rating:

Adult Beef is one of 11 wet recipes covered in our review of the Raised Right Fresh product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Beef, beef heart, carrots, beef liver, cranberries
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult dogs
• Other recipes: Turkey Recipe, Pork Recipe, Chicken Recipe, Turkey and Pumpkin, Puppy Growth and others

Raised Right Adult Beef gets most of its meat protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis shows the recipe contains 61% protein, 24% fat and 8% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 39%.

All recipes contain a single source of animal protein with no hidden fillers. One of the best high-protein fresh foods on the market. Easily recommended.

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Orijen Original is one of 9 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Orijen product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, chicken liver
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: All Life Stages
• Best for:Adults and puppies
• Other recipes: Puppy Large, Six Fish, Regional Red, Senior and others

This particular Orijen recipe obtains the better part of its animal protein from fresh chicken, turkey, flounder, and whole mackerel. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 20% fat and 28% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.

Is It Ok To Mix Wet And Dry Dog Foods

In a word yes.

One way to enhance your dogs appetite is to add a tasty wet food topper to her dry food.

Mixing a few tablespoons of one of the flavorful wet foods on this page with your dogs kibble can make a big difference.

Just be sure both foods meet your dogs nutritional needs and are suitable for the same stage of life.

In other words you dont want to mix a puppy food with an adult formula as this can upset the delicate nutrient balance of the complete meal.

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Weruva Harmony Chicken Turkey And Salmon Dinner With Pumpkin Review

Weruva is a brand that is best known for producing cat food, but they have a smaller range of dog food. What makes Weruva unique is that they produce some of their products in Thailand.

While this may be offputting for some consumers, the facility is said to be state of the art and enacts all of the required policies and safety measures.

All of Weruvas dry dog food recipes are high in protein, but some, in particular, have a very high protein content. Two members of the Harmony range, Chicken Dinner with Pumpkin and Chicken, Turkey, and Salmon Dinner with Pumpkin, are noteworthy examples of this.

These recipes use whole meat and fish ingredients such as Chicken, Turkey, and Salmon, as well as Whole Eggs to provide high-quality protein.

As we have mentioned throughout this article, meat, fish, and egg ingredients such as these are the ideal source of protein and are very easily digested and utilized.

The recipes also contain a range of whole legumes such as Peas and Lentils, which are considered high-quality sources of carbohydrates.

The portion is significant, but the protein they provide supplements already high levels, and so is not worth being concerned about.

For those of you who have read some of our other best of articles, youll know that Merricks Grain-Free range is one of our favorites.

Can Dogs Have Too Much Protein

Absolutely. Just like any animal, a healthy diet consists of great food, made from great ingredients and given in moderation. Despite many modern marketing tactics cashing in on the idea that dogs are carnivores, the truth is actually very different.

Dogs are omnivores, and their diet needs both meat and vegetable-based nutrients to live a long, happy and healthy life. In order to meet these needs, dogs require a healthy dose of proteins, without being excessive. Since protein requires a good amount of carbohydrates and fats to help the body absorb their protein, you may notice that a lot of dog food that is high in protein, can also be high in calories- which means your dog is likely to put on weight with these ingredients.

Naturally, any extra weight can be very bad for your dog and lead to a range of health problems from arthritis to heart issues. Therefore, if youre looking for a good high protein dog food- like the ones in our top picks- youll need one that has been formulated either for a very active dog, or one that comes with low calories.

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The Advantages Of High Protein Dog Food

Youre only likely to see the advantages of a high protein diet if your dog has the lifestyle to match. That said, for those dogs who fall under the right categories , you can see some huge benefits to switching to a high protein diet for your dog, which include:

• Muscle development

Since protein feeds your muscles, you can see a huge improvement in the health of your dogs musculature if you switch over to a high protein diet. This is great for dogs who love to run around all day or for those who take part in agility or flyball.

As long as you go for the low calorie, high protein dog food, you will notice a difference in your dogs weight, through using a high protein diet. This is because the extra muscle your dog is likely to build, along with the reduced caloric intake, will allow your dog to burn through the fat used in their diet, resulting in overall fat loss.

Since your dog will have a more complete nutritional program, youll likely notice that your dog is less likely to ask for a refill in their food bowl. The higher proteins keep their muscles fed, which in turn leads to an overall decrease in appetite.

• Increased alertness

Since protein-based diets for dogs are less likely to be packed with carbs, youll probably notice that your dog doesnt feel so lethargic . The overall alertness of your dog will increase during the day, meaning your dog will sleep better at night, too.

• Better quality of life

What Kind Of Dogs Need A High Protein Dog Food

If your dog falls under one of the following categories, youll likely see some huge benefits to feeding your dog a high protein diet:

• Dogs with weight problems

If your dog has started to put on a few pounds, it might be time to switch them to a high protein, a low-calorie diet that will allow them to shed the weight and keep their joints and overall health in top condition. The added protein will also help to curb their appetite, so you may notice Fido is less likely to request a full bowl, once they start their new diet. Head over to our review of dog food for weight loss for more options.

Dog food designed for elderly or senior dogs usually come with added protein- but it still might not quite be enough to manage the overall wellbeing of your pup. Having high protein dog food helps to keep your dogs overall body shape in a much healthier condition- feeding their muscles well into old age while supporting their joints. Find out more about senior dog food here.

The biggest example of the more athletic breeds is the border collie- designed to spend all day running around, herding sheep, this is a breed that will have boundless energy and can become bored very easily. Of course, all that energy needs to be fed, so as to avoid any health problems, later.

• Pregnant and lactating dogs

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How Do I Know If A Dog Food Is High

To ensure whether your choice of dog food is high in protein or not, consider the following things:

• Protein Content. For dog food to be considered high, it should contain at least 30% protein in the formulation. Higher levels are also acceptable.
• Protein Source. Make sure that the source of protein content is fresh meat and not meat flavoring or meat meals the latter two dont provide complete nutrition compared to fresh meat.
• Ingredient List. Ensure that theprotein source is listed as the first ingredient or at least in the first five ingredients in the ingredient list. This indicates the protein is present in high amounts.

What Is High Protein Dog Food

Most dry foods contain 23 to 27 percent protein. Wet food a bit more.1

Since some recipes contain more moisture than others

We used simple math to first remove all the water from each recipe. This makes it possible to accurately compare the protein content of ANY 2 recipes wet or dry.

After rating more than 5750 recipes, we consider any food that contains over 28% proteinhigh in protein.

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How To Choose The Best High Protein Dog Food

While you would think that the easiest way to decide on what makes the best high protein dog food would be the amount of meat used in the production, youd be wrong. Thanks to marketing ploys and sneaky manufacturers, the ingredients listed on the back of your dog food dont necessarily have to be as plain as youd think.

You might be aware of this since the same tricks are used in human food as is used in animal food- but, depending on the wording used on the labels, you might not be getting what you pay for when it comes to your dogs dinner. For example, a chicken formula might be made up with only 7% chicken within the production- and thats not including the added water, which doesnt need to be listed on the ingredients.

Still not sure how that pans out? Let me explain:

In order to be called a formula, the manufacturer needs to add in at least 25% of chicken to the overall ingredients- in terms of weight. However, because their chicken may be pumped with salts and water, 70% of the weight of the chicken will actually dry up as the food is processed. Whatever is left will make up the ACTUAL chicken intake- but the weight at the time of manufacturing will have changed from the final product. Sneaky.

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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused

Rating:

Great Plains Red Recipe is one of 7 dry recipes covered in our review of the Merrick product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, lamb meal, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult dogs
• Other recipes: Heros Banquet , Pacific Catch Recipe and others

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe receives the better part of its animal protein from deboned beef, lamb meal, and salmon meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 19% fat and 30% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 45%.

An above-average kibble fortified with bits of freeze-dried raw beef. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewLove this food !! My dogs are so healthy no majors problem with them ! Keeps them full longer and the skin is so shiny ! The best product ever for your dogs

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Natures Logic High Protein Dog Food

Rating:

Canine Chicken Meal Feast is one of 11 dry recipes included in our review of the Natures Logic product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, millet, chicken fat, pumpkin seed, yeast culture
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Best for:Puppies and Adult dogs
• Other recipes: Canine Beef, Canine Duck and Salmon, Canine Venison and others

Natures Logic Canine Chicken Meal acquires the bulk of its meat fraction from chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis shows the recipe contains 40% protein, 16% fat and 36% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 42%.

Natures Logic is one of only a handful of brands that meets AAFCO nutrient guidelines using actual real-live canine feeding trials. Top choice from a trusted and ethical manufacturer.

Sample buyer reviewI have been looking for a more natural dry food with some greens and fruits. I have used this product in the frozen form, and was pleased to find it also as a dry food. I like the small kibble. My dogs are doing great on it, maintains weight and coats are beautiful. Thanks fir a great product!

The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain

• 30% off on first orders of $30+ using code VETERINARIANS30
• GRAIN FREE, RANCH RAISED BEEF: The Honest Kitchen Grain Free Beef dog food is high in protein and made with real whole food ingredients.
• EASY HOMEMADE: Just add warm water for a wholesome & delicious meal. Serve alone as a complete meal for maximum nutrition, or use as a topper to their dry food.
• HUMAN GRADE: Unlike most pet food, this recipe is 100% human-grade.

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Why High Protein Dog Food

Different dogs require different amounts of protein in their diets depending on their age, activity level and body condition. For example, highly active dogs need extra protein and puppies can benefit from high protein puppy food.

A high protein dog food can be helpful for dogs who need weight management support. Whether youre looking for a high protein wet dog food or high protein dry food, we offer a variety of nutritious, delicious high protein diets for dogs, including one that will perfectly fit your dogs needs.

Our high protein dog foods offer complete and balanced nutrition for each life stage, which is what the best high protein dog food should provide.

Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete

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Extreme Athlete is one of 13 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Diamond Naturals product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, chicken, ground white rice, chicken fat, cracked pearled barley
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult dogs
• Other recipes: Small and Medium Breed Puppy, Small Breed Adult, All Life Stages and others

Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete draws much of its animal content from chicken meal and fresh chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the formula contains 36% protein, 28% fat and 29% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 78%.

An exceptional grain-inclusive formula, offering multiple recipe and flavor options. A top-rated, high-protein pick, containing no plant-based protein concentrates.

Sample buyer reviewDogs love it, and do great. Ive tried several types of foods, but always come back to this. It also makes my dogs coats shiny, and keeps a good weight on them. Especially since they are very active Belgian Malinois

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Merrick Classic Healthy Grains High Protein Formula

Rating:

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy is one of 13 recipes included in our review of the Merrick Classic product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Growth
• Best For:All puppies
• Other recipes: Real Beef, Real Chicken, Real Lamb, Small Breed Recipe, Senior Recipe, Healthy Weight and others

This Merrick Classic product derives the bulk of its animal content from fresh chicken and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis shows the food contains 31% protein, 18% fat and 43% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

A top-rated dry puppy food thats completely based on a safe, proven grain-inclusive design. Contains no legumes.