When comparing two bags of dry food, your eyes often fall on one figure: the protein percentage.
28%, 32%, 38%… and one could easily think that the higher the number, the better the kibble.
In reality, it is not that simple.
To evaluate the nutritional value of proteins, you have to look at their quantity, but above all their origin, quality, and digestibility.
What is the purpose of protein for dogs?
Proteins are made up of amino acids. They participate in many of the body's functions.
They are particularly essential for:
- building and maintaining muscle mass;
- renewing skin and coat;
- producing certain enzymes and hormones;
- contributing to the functioning of the immune system;
- renewing many tissues in the body.
Dogs therefore need high-quality protein daily to provide the amino acids their body requires.
Not all proteins are created equal
Two kibbles displaying 30% crude protein can have very different compositions.
Why?
Because the figure indicated in the analytical constituents provides information on the total quantity of crude protein, but not directly on:
- their origin;
- their amino acid profile;
- their digestibility;
- the quantity actually assimilated by the animal.
A well-chosen animal protein can provide a particularly interesting amino acid profile for dogs.
Plant-based ingredients can also provide protein. Their presence is therefore not automatically bad, but you must look at the recipe as a whole rather than just a single percentage.
Fresh, dehydrated, or hydrolyzed proteins: what is the difference?
Fresh meat or fish
A fresh ingredient naturally contains a lot of water.
Thus, seeing:
“fresh salmon 30%”
in the first position does not mean that 30% of the finished kibble will consist of salmon.
During manufacturing, a significant part of this water disappears.
This is one of the reasons why you should avoid judging a recipe solely on the first line of the ingredient list.
Dehydrated proteins
Dehydration removes a large portion of the water before incorporation into the recipe.
A dehydrated animal protein is therefore much more concentrated in dry matter than fresh meat.
In principle, it is not worse than fresh meat.
What matters more is:
- the animal species used;
- the quality of the raw material;
- its traceability;
- the manufacturing process;
- the final balance of the food.
Hydrolyzed proteins
Hydrolysis involves breaking down proteins into smaller elements.
This technique can be used in certain diets intended for animals with adverse food reactions.
Be careful, however: the term "hydrolyzed" does not automatically transform a kibble into a therapeutic hypoallergenic food.
In the case of a genuine suspicion of food allergy, the protocol must be much more rigorous and may require a specific veterinary diet.
And what about digestibility?
A food can contain a lot of protein without all of it being used with the same efficiency by the body.
Digestibility corresponds to the proportion of a nutrient that the animal can effectively digest and absorb.
It is therefore an essential piece of data… but it is generally not indicated directly on the bag.
One can, however, observe the dog's actual tolerance.
A diet that suits a dog is generally associated with:
- well-formed and regular stools;
- an appropriate weight and muscle mass;
- a healthy coat;
- good vitality;
- the absence of persistent digestive issues.
These observations obviously do not, by themselves, diagnose the quality of a protein. They do, however, provide useful information on how the diet is actually tolerated.
“High protein = bad for the kidneys”?
This is an idea that comes up very often.
In a healthy adult dog, a high protein level is not automatically synonymous with danger to the kidneys.
However, when a dog suffers from kidney disease or another condition requiring a special diet, its needs may be different.
In that case, you do not choose a kibble based on a general rule found on the Internet: the ration must be adapted to the medical situation with the veterinarian.
And for senior dogs?
Getting older does not automatically mean that a dog should eat very little protein.
On the contrary, maintaining muscle mass becomes particularly important with age.
Therefore, we must distinguish between:
a healthy senior dog
and
a dog suffering from a condition requiring a nutritional adjustment.
The age written on the package is not enough to determine an animal's needs.
Its weight, activity level, body condition, muscle mass, and state of health also count.
The Sköll & Hati perspective: how to compare two kibbles?
When I look at the “protein” part of a composition, I never stop at the big number written on the package.
I look instead at:
1. What is the protein rate?
It provides initial quantitative information.
2. Where do they come from?
Chicken, beef, salmon, lamb, plant proteins... The ingredient list provides the context.
3. Are the animal sources clearly identified?
A precise designation allows for a better understanding of what the recipe actually contains.
4. Fresh, dehydrated, hydrolyzed?
These terms describe different forms and do not, by themselves, constitute a quality scale.
5. What is the overall composition?
Kibble is never just about its protein content.
6. And above all: how does my dog tolerate it?
Because an excellent composition on paper is only useful if it actually suits the animal.
Key takeaways
The percentage of protein is never enough to judge a kibble.
You must look together at:
- the quantity;
- the sources;
- the precision of the composition;
- the digestibility;
- the general balance of the recipe;
- the dog's individual needs.
A kibble with 38% protein is therefore not automatically better than a kibble with 28%.
The right reflex is always the same: read beyond the number.