High protein diets--only for some dogs?

despite the claims, high-protein diets are much more appropriate for the couch-potato type dogs than the active dogs. What is missing from the high-protein diets are all of those empty calories from carbohydrates. Active dogs need carbohydrates to fuel their activity; couch-potato dogs do not. Couch-potato dogs fed a "normal" 20% protein kibble are consuming a huge amount of unnecessary carbohydrates which goes straight into body fat. And we wonder why so many dogs are fat these days- cause they are being fed totally inappropriate diets. You feed a super-active dog something like Evo or a raw diet and you often end up with a really skinny dog who has to be supplemented with grains.

Actually Mudpuppy, I'm seeing the opposite with Neiko. I've tried several foods with him and he was always super skinny and losing weight. I put him on Evo and that solved the problem. He now maintains a perfect weight on only 2 cups per day of Evo.

I agree that it makes sense that active dogs need more carbs, I'm just not experiencing that myself. 

you do have to take into account calories- 2 cups of EVO has 1074 calories. 2 cups of a typical 22% protein kibble only has around 700 calories. 1074 calories doesn't sound like much for a highly active mid-sized dog- I'd expect at least 2000 kcal be needed.

Anyway, I bet if you fed 1074 kcal of a high-carb diet compared to 1074 kcal of a low-carb diet to most dogs the dog would be skinner on the low-carb diet.

mudpuppy

Anyway, I bet if you fed 1074 kcal of a high-carb diet compared to 1074 kcal of a low-carb diet to most dogs the dog would be skinner on the low-carb diet.

   I agree; Atkins works for dogs; it did with Jessie when I needed to take some weight off her last summer. Also, some companies like Royal Canin have come out with weight loss diets which are higher in protein and lower in fat and carbs.
 

brookcove

Don't forget the type of meat you use is going to impact urine ph.  Depending on your source, some meats can be very phosphorous-rich and others less so.  Other minerals, or lack of them, may have impact on urine ph as well. 

   Thanks Becca, I didn't know that.
 

Jewlieee

Actually Mudpuppy, I'm seeing the opposite with Neiko. I've tried several foods with him and he was always super skinny and losing weight.

Bugsy was the same - I couldn't keep weight on him until we started increasing his protein with meat and fish on top of his kibble (with added calcium)  He is doing really well on Barking at the Moon which is higher protein but lower kcal than other kibble we fed 

His energy is much more manageable on higher protein too - it is much more evenly distributed than it was on lower protein diets.

We can't use Evo due to the eggs but I always thought it would be ideal for him. 

 On canidae he was eating 1872 calories per day and losing weight. Protein was 24% - not sure on the carbs but it has to have more than Evo., 14.5% fat

Taste of the Wild (grain free) - they don't list the carbs on their website, 32% protein, 18 fat, 1480 calories per day - lost weight

Evo, he's eating 12% carbs, 42% protein, 1074 calories per day, 22% fat - maintaining weight

Maybe it's the fat content.

Jewlieee

Maybe it's the fat content.

could be BATM has 42% protein and 20% fat - Ocean Blue was 26/16%

But we definitely saw a more even distribution of energy when we started to add meat/fish.  We started that when he was about a year may be.  If his evening meal had a hunk of beef heart he was noticeably calmer than if it didn't.  On just kibble he was super pyscho and then he would crash.  I swear it was blood sugar but we had some tests done and they said it was normal.  Who knows.  But once we started supplementing he finally got to a healthier weight

Bugsy can maintain on about 2500 kcal in the cooler months now where as he was at 3000 or more and losing weight previously.  I imagine that now that we are getting some heat we will be nearer to 2000 in July/August as he isn't as active in the NC heat.

Anyway for him high protein is the way to go.  He looks great on it, eats less, has a very even distribution of energy and generally seems calmer.

Whatever the pH of the food is there were no problems at his physical