Protein and Your Dog By Jeff Nenadic At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

There is much speculation among animal nutritionists as to the way protein affects dogs. The dog is a meat eating machine and it is essential that he has a regular supply of high quality protein such as that found in animal tissue. Without this protein your dog will not be strong, his coat will not be in good condition and he most certainly will not be healthy.

Maintaining a healthy dog's metabolism involves 23 amino acids. Of these, 10 need to be supplied in the dog's diet. The remaining 13 will be produced internally in the dog's liver. If a puppy does not eat the required amount of amino acids it will not flourish, may become ill and will possibly die. If a dog is mature and lacking in the 10 essential amino acids his strength will diminish.

Meat is by far the best food for your dog because it is high in amino acids. If you feed your dog with manufactured dog food make sure that it contains a large percentage of poultry, beef or fish. Look at the label for protein percentages to be certain that the food is suitable for your dog's protein requirement. The same applies to dry "complete meal" dog food.

The importance of maintaining your dog's protein levels cannot be stressed enough we have produced the following list of facts to enhance your understanding of the way protein works in your dog's body.

Protein - the Facts

a) Protein is necessary for the development and maintenance of strong bones and muscles.

b) Protein deficiency will lead to a weakened immune system, weak bones and muscles and stunt the growth of your dog. Over a sustained period your dog will become susceptible to infections due to the lack of development of his immune system and its inability to fight disease. The immune system is reliant on protein so that it can protect your dog's health.

c) The intake of the correct amount of protein will keep your dog's coat shiny and healthy, the nails strong and the skin free from dermatological problems. Protein deficiency is evident in a dog if clumps of fur are falling away from his coat.

d) Bonemeal is not high in protein but if you feed your dog on a dry complete meal you can occasionally increase the protein intake with some raw beef. Your butcher should have scraps of beef left over from cuts of meat he has sold and usually will not charge very much money, if any, for the scraps. You can get him to grind this for you or do it yourself at home and just add it to your dog's normal dry food. If the scraps contain a little fat this is not a problem for your dog, he's not likely to be looking in a mirror to see whether he has gained a few pounds or not.

e) If your dog is older, there is some valid research that suggests he may need a higher amount of good quality protein than he did when he was younger

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