Vegan Protein for Dog Food – Cornerstone of Your Dog’s Diet
Protein is a prominent subject when it comes to both human and canine nutrition.
Your dog’s overall health relies on receiving the right amounts and proportions of nutrients from six essential groups: water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, minerals, and vitamins. For commercial dog foods to be considered 100% complete and balanced, they must contain all these vital nutrients, except for water. (1, 2)
Protein’s Important Role In Dog Nutrition
Protein plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy and balanced diet for your furry companion. It serves multiple functions in your dog’s body, such as building and repairing muscles and other tissues. It contributes to the formation of new skin cells, hair growth, muscle tissue development, and more. Additionally, protein aids in producing essential body chemicals like hormones and enzymes, which are crucial for normal bodily functions. Moreover, protein plays a key role in supporting your dog’s immune system, keeping it strong and resilient. (3, 4)
The fundamental units of proteins are known as amino acids. Among the numerous amino acids, 20 are unique and genetically encoded, each containing varying quantities and configurations of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and sometimes sulfur. The correct balance and levels of these essential amino acids are vital for your dog’s optimal health and vitality.
Protein Sources for Dogs
Proteins can be sourced from plants, algae, fungi, and animals. Similar to humans, dogs require nutrients—not ingredients—to thrive physically and emotionally. Dogs possess the ability to digest protein from various sources, and as long as they receive the appropriate balance of amino acids from their diet, they will flourish.
In fact dog’s, and in fact mammals, systems are so finely tuned to their needs that a study by Shuzhen Hao et al, found that they can tell when their food lacks a single amino acid and will avoid such a meal in favour of a meal that contains all the indispensable amino acids their bodies require.
AAFCO and FEDIAF, organisations responsible for providing nutritional guidelines for dogs in the USA and the EU, respectively, recommend a minimum protein content of 18.5% on a dry matter basis for adult dogs and 22.5% for puppies and nursing mothers.
However, some pet food manufacturers market high-protein foods (exceeding 30%) as superior options, appealing to the notion that more protein is always better. Unfortunately, such high protein levels can be detrimental to your dog’s health and have adverse effects on the environment.
Research study showed that feeding high protein dog food leads to a shift to proteolytic gut bacteria, higher faecal pH, and is associated with increased levels of metabolites linked with inflammation and kidney dysfunction.
Both dogs and humans can only utilise a certain amount of digested and absorbed protein to repair and maintain tissues. Any excess protein must be eliminated, either broken down and used for energy or stored as fat, which can be harmful to their health. Overweight dogs are at higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and joint/mobility issues. (5)
The key factor lies not in the amount of protein in a dog’s diet but rather in the digestibility and bioavailability of amino acids. Some high-protein, meat-based dog foods may contain protein sources that are not highly digestible or bioavailable to your dog. This unused protein may ferment and contribute to smellier fecal matter or lead to yellow spots on the lawn due to excess amino acids excreted in their urine.
A medium protein dog food, with a protein level between 21-29%, can provide all the necessary amino acids for adult dogs. Opting for a food with a diverse range of protein sources ensures that your dog’s body can efficiently utilise the essential amino acids, promoting overall better nutrition.
At Bonza, we offer vegan dog food with a protein level of 25.2%, providing a wide variety of hypoallergenic and highly bioavailable proteins, including pea, nutritional yeast, potato, chickpeas, fava (broad) beans, quinoa, seaweed, and oats.
In a world where increased protein production, particularly from animal sources, negatively impacts the environment, we take pride in using protein sources that are less harmful and contribute to better soil, reduced erosion, lower water and fertiliser requirements, and improved food security for all inhabitants of our planet. (6)
Nutrition Is Key
The most important thing we can do for our dogs is to provide them with food that enables their bodies and minds to thrive.
Much like us, a healthy lifestyle significantly enhances your dog’s ability to fend off diseases and infections. Unfortunately, the food we often feed them falls short. It may contain artificial flavours, low-quality protein sources, and inadequate fibre.
Bonza is a Veterinary nutritionist-developed plant-based food that offers balanced, varied vegan protein and high-fibre source of complete nutrition.
Our food is enriched with potent phytonutrients, anti-inflammatories, and antioxidants found exclusively in plant-based ingredients, bolstering your dog’s immunity and providing support for potential health issues they may face as they age—such as digestive, joint and mobility, skin and coat, oral and dental, heart and cardiovascular, brain and cognitive, eye and energy and fatigue-related concerns.
Bonza is formulated to deliver the ideal balance of high-quality plant-based proteins, along with PhytoPlus®, our proprietary blend of phytonutrients from superfoods, super herbs, and botanicals – designed to support your dog in living a long, carefree life while also reducing the environmental impact of their diet.
Bonza: Nose to Tail Good Health.
