| pstinard | 01-18-2018 05:39 AM |
Nutrition 101
Quote:
Originally Posted by sandy simpson
(Post 4748946)
I see that wellness core has 33% protein. Help me on this. Isn't that too high for protein level for a yorkie? Also how high should the fat level go?
| Calories in food come from three sources: carbohydrates (starches and sugars), fat, and protein. If you raise one calorie source, then you are lowering the others. It's a question of balance. People have a view of Yorkies as inherently sickly dogs, and they are not. Unless a Yorkie has an underlying illness or predisposition, they will not have any trouble eating a well-balanced food. 33% protein and 16% fat is not unusual for a dog food. Here is a good article from Drs. Foster and Smith on protein and fat content of dog foods: Dog Food FAQs: Protein
From the article: Quote:
Does high protein cause kidney disease?
No. This myth probably started because, in the past, patients with kidney disease were commonly placed on low-protein (and thus low-nitrogen) diets. Today, we often put them on a diet that is not necessarily very low in protein, but instead contains protein that is more digestible (therefore producing fewer nitrogen by-products). These diet changes are made merely because damaged kidneys may not be able to handle the excess nitrogen efficiently. In pets with existing kidney problems, nitrogen can become too high in the bloodstream which can harm other tissues.
Unless your veterinarian has told you your pet has a kidney problem that is severe enough to adjust the protein intake, you can feed your pet a normal amount of protein without worrying about "damaging" or "stressing" your pet's kidneys. Also, keep in mind the fact that you are not "saving" your pet's kidneys by feeding a low-protein diet.
| Here are a couple more articles from PetMD, a very reputable source, on balanced dog foods: https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/...anced_dog_food
And on fats in dog food: https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/...ur_dogs_health
Unless your dog has a specific health issue, most quality dog foods, and especially dog foods from companies with veterinary nutritionists on staff (like Royal Canin), are well-balanced. (I'll try to find out if Wellness has a veterinary nutritionist on staff, since they've been part of this conversation.)
If your vet makes a specific recommendation that is out of the norm, such as a prescription food, it is probably because he or she feels that your dog has a health condition that needs to be addressed, and you should follow their directions and ask them further questions if you're not sure. | 