For dogs, does more protein = more energy?

Comments

• ShikokuSpirit

  November 2009 edited November -1

  Might co-inside with the "meat makes dogs vicious" theory. Extra protein/high protein might just give dogs their sugar high . Well...not exactly, maybe just the added energy burst. I've heard of some working dog people increasing protein in their dogs diet if they work them like crazy.
  
  
  Interesting experience on your behalf. Insane Luytiy and Masha...maybe not so bad...but "egg-butt" Hilo....eww...that sucks .
• WrylyBrindle

  November 2009 edited November -1

  "coincide"- verb related to the word "coincidence"
  (Sheepishly sorry, Corina, Word-Nerd here.)
  
  We need tsukitsune Jen in here for the actual question, however.
• tjbart17

  November 2009 edited November -1

  It may be a combination of a couple of things, protein, iron, vitamin D, and no major Carb content other than potato. All of these things can raise your energy levels.
• Calia

  November 2009 edited November -1

  Could it also be the fact that it is something different, somethings his body isn't used to having and thus doesn't know what to do with it all? The closest example I can think of is sugar (even though it is nowhere near as healthy), where a child that is used to eating sugar everyday doesn't show nearly as much of a reaction to it as a child who has had sugar for the first time.
• montanadoglover

  November 2009 edited November -1

  FWIW, many people claim that putting their dogs on a raw meat or higher protein diet gives their dogs more energy -- which is usually a positive thing, for them. In general, higher protein foods are best for most dogs -- there are very few exceptions, from puppies to seniors. Or so says the researched literature.
  
  When you run out of a food and have no choice, you're stuck, but I would always advocate changing over to a new food very gradually -- the longer the dog has been on the old food, the longer the switchover should take. On the other hand, a dog that is given variety constantly can take just about anything without the intestinal upset.
• BradA1878

  November 2009 edited November 2009

  I thought about the meat/protein = aggression thing too, tho Luytiy was not acting aggressively, he was just very busy and jumpy.
  
  Good point Beth, that makes sense too. I had a similar thing when I cut sugar out of my diet years back, then when I started eating sugar again it really freaked me out.
  
  The % difference between the Acana and the Orijen wasn't that large - that's what is so surprising! We're talking 34% protein for Acana and 40% for Orijen.
  
  Yea, we paid for the fast switch to Orijen for the Akita... we hated doing it but we didn't have a choice. Hilo got the Egg Butt and Fuji had a few accidents in her crate... And Luytiy freaked out. Jeez.
  
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• kati

  November 2009 edited November -1

  I don't have an answer for this but I do have a question. Sorry! I'm looking at the Acana and Orijen sites, Orijen lists their protein as "crude protein" where as Acana just lists "protein". What exactly is the difference, if any? Maybe that would have an effect? Sorry to bring more questions.
• BradA1878

  November 2009 edited November -1

  No worries about the question, never feel bad for asking a question here!
  
  I dunno the answer to your questions tho, but...
  
  Acana recently changed their bags to be more like the Orijen bags, I looked at the ones we have here and both Orijen and Acana use "crude protein" to describe the %.
  
  It said...
  
  Acana: 33% crude protein
  Orijen: 40% crude protein
  
  The Acana we have here is a different flavor from the one I quoted above - so that is where the 1% difference comes from.
  
  Just a bit more info, in case anyone is interested, we used to feed all of our dogs Orijen but we never had great results with the Akita on it, their coats and weights were great but we always saw the straining to use the bathroom. So, after switching between a million foods we finally found that they do GREAT on Acana.
  
  The COs do well on most food, but we see the best formed poops and the best coats when they are on Acana, so we keep them on that now.
  
  In the winter we mix in a food called Artemis Power Formula, it's only a 3 star food but it got that rating because of the beet pulp, which is not great but not horrible either... But it's very high in calorie and low in protein so it helps to fatten them up in the winter. The food is in a "large bite" form too, which is important for our big dogs - a few other high calorie foods we would rather feed are small bite and we fear that may lead to bloat. Also, it is one of the few high calorie food that is not manufactured by Diamond - my wife refuses to feed anything manufactured by them.
  
  Then there is Blue, and his 10 cups of food a day, he only does well on Orijen! We have tried so many others and he gets the worst gas ever - but not on Orijen... the most expensive food. *sigh
  
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• shimaurashibalover92

  November 2009 edited November -1

  I'm pretty sure that an animal can only absorb so much protiein to begin with. Any excess is released through urination. Don't quote me on this since I think I learned it in a highschool science class which I was probably half asleep in. It could be a combination of certain ingredients, or like Chrys said.
• tjbart17

  November 2009 edited November -1

  I think you are referring to Vitamin C with the peeing out extra.
• shimaurashibalover92

  November 2009 edited November -1

  guess i was fully asleep that day