Specialty Dog Foods Not So Special
May 17th, 2011
Hype reigns in many consumer product markets, with companies trying to convince us there is a need that their product fills. The dog food market is no exception. The wonks among us bristle at the marketing messages pet owners accept as gospel, including me at times. So, it’s interesting to learn that veterinary nutrition researchers from Tufts University found that the nutritional content of so-called “senior dog food” varied widely. In other words, these specialty food probably aren’t all that special.
Just because there is gray on your dog's face, that doesn't mean you should automatically change to a so-called "senior dog food."
We’ve talked before about the flaws in the logic that say you need to change your dog’s food ONLY because he is getting older. Personally, I don’t think that’s a good enough reason to switch foods. My big dog, Ginko, turned 11 years old May 13, and he continues to eat and do well on the same food as our younger dog, Lilly (the border collie, who is the canine heroine of my other blog Champion of My Heart).
Senior Dog Food: What We Think, What Researchers Know
In addition to discrepancies between what pet owners thought was in senior dog foods and what really is in senior dog foods, Tufts researches found a variety of actual nutritional content in dog foods targeting older dogs. For example, the senior dog foods studied featured many differences depending upon brand:
- Calories: 246 to 408 calories per cup
- Protein: 4.8 to 13.1 grams of protein per 100 kcal
- Fat: 2.4 to 6.3 grams of fat per 100 kcal
- Sodium: 33 to 412 mg of sodium per 100 kcal (important for dogs with heart disease)
- Phosphorus: 3x difference in phosphorus content (important for dogs with kidney disease)
“If an owner, for example, had a senior dog with heart disease, they might be inclined to feed them a senior food, thinking that it had less sodium,” says Lisa M. Freemann, DVM, PhD, a professor at Tuft’s veterinary school and a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. “Instead, they might replace a diet that has a perfectly acceptable amount of sodium for one that is considerably higher.”
Not All Senior Dogs Need a Senior Dog Food
“The decision to buy a certain type of food for your aging dog is an emotional one: You want to extend her life and ensure she’s healthy well into her twilight years, ” Freeman says. “However, not all older dogs require a senior diet, and if you do decide to change to a senior food, talk to your veterinarian, because these foods are not all the same. It’s important to select one that is right for each dog.”
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The full study published in the International Journal for Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, Vol 9, No 1.
Tags: dog food resesarch, fat, potassium, protein, senior dog food, senior dog food research, sodium, specialty dog food, Tufts Univeristy
Posted in Dog Food Basics, Dog Food Debates, Dog Food News, Dog Health, K9 Health, K9 Nutrition | Comments Off
February 17th, 2010
Protein in dog food typically comes from an animal source. In other words, “meat.” At some point, we’ll explore the Dog Food Debate over how much protein is enough or too much. For now, however, let’s just look at protein as a primary dog food ingredient.
Dog Food History
The use of animal byproducts as a protein source in pet food began during early industrialization. Someone, somewhere decided that anything deemed unusable for human consumption might be OK for our furry friends.
Over the years, I’ve heard some funny (and crass) phrases to describe these leftover body parts or fragments thereof. Since we aim to be a family-friendly spot for dog food information, suffice it to say we simply refer to such things at my house as “pieces parts.”
Protein Quality Matters
The K9Cuisine.com team believes that the protein level is not as important as the kind of protein used in dog food. That’s why the use of byproducts automatically disqualifies a food from the site.
Honestly, a lot of a poor quality protein cannot be as good for your pet as less of a good quality (and biologically usable) protein. The better the protein source, actually, the less a dog truly needs. And, all that unusable stuff left behind by icky proteins can be tough on a dog’s kidneys.
Since the goal of dog nutrition is to support — not challenge — a dog’s basic biological processes, starting with a good quality protein is key.
What constitutes protein quality is an interesting science. Proteins can be measured through “chemical scores” and “biological values.” Chemical scores basically compare one protein to another used as a reference point. Typically, that’s an egg. So, if an egg scores 100 on a 100-point scale, then other proteins earn scores compared to eggs. It’s much more complicated than I can get into here, but the score ends up being based on just a few “limiting” amino acids, rather than all that may be provided by the tested protein.
Ranking proteins based on “biological value” isn’t perfect either since it defines how much (%) of absorbed protein gets retained. However, it does not take into account digestibility.
Name That Protein
Check pet food labels, which we know can be confusing, for an actual “named protein.”
What do we mean by that? Well, the label should call the protein by its real name: chicken, beef, lamb, etc.
Calling it merely “meat,” or worse “meaty” in an advertising application, means very little. Remember all those cafeteria jokes about “mystery meat”? It’s a bit like that.
Protein Science
Just as carbohydrates are classified, based on their complexity, so are proteins.
Essentially, proteins get built in nature when amino acids team up from the hundreds of options. Yet, we find just 20 amino acids in most proteins. Once combined, they get classified like this:
- Peptide (two amino acids)
- Dipeptide (three amino acids)
- Polypeptide (more than three)
Your dog’s body breaks these peptides down into either:
- Usable basic amino acids from the bonded ones consumed
- Precursors that can be synthesized into what the dog needs
Dogs need essential amino acids in their diet because they simply cannot make them themselves through any biological process. Nonessential amino acids are the ones that dogs can make for themselves, if provided with building blocks through their food. Some amino acids are conditionally essential, meaning that certain diseases or other health issues make them more important.
Dog Food Protein Enhancements
To combat any deficiencies in protein sources used in dog food, manufacturers sometimes balance the amino acid profile by using several sources (called “protein complementation”). Some use “amino acid fortification,” which essentially means they add any missing amino acids.
Questions – Proteins in Dog Food
As always, I’m happy to hear any questions you have about protein in dog food so that I can research the issue and get you answers … or at least open up a discussion.
Tags: byproducts, dog, dog food, Dog Food Dish Blog, dog nutrition, K9Cuisine Dog Food Dish Blog, protein
Posted in Dog Food Basics, K9 Nutrition | 4 Comments »
A professional writer based in Colorado, Roxanne Hawn doesn't just love dogs. She deep-down requires them in life. Something inside her genes, perhaps? That's why it's such a joy to write about all things canine. Roxanne began writing about pets in 1995, when she worked for the American Animal Hospital Association and later for the American Humane Association. During this period in her career, Roxanne served on the board of directors for the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (a coalition of animal welfare groups). Roxanne also volunteered for many years at an animal shelter, where she witnessed firsthand what happens when the human-animal bond breaks or never forms.
