12% protein right for adult boxer?

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simmons

simmons

Boxer Insane
Bosco went to the vet and the lady said he was a little chunky (which I agree, he's 86 lbs and 3 years old) I told her he eats 1 cup of solid gold and I mix 1/4-1/2 cup of cooked veggies, friuts and gizzards twice a day. He gets alot of exercise and I don't know why he's not losing anymore weight.

She said that your not supposed to feed anymore than 12% protein, our solid gold is 18%, sometimes 22% depending on the flavor. Is this true?

I have started to cut back on his treats so only time will tell
 
gmacleod

gmacleod

Elusive Moderator
Staff member
12%?? No. Or at least, not unless you're talking about canned or raw food (which then translates to about 40% by dry matter basis).

But for a dry dog food? I don't think there is any such food in existance to be so incredibly low in protein content. And if there were, it *could not* be labeled as adequate nutrition for any animal. The minimum (that is *minimum*, not ideal) for adult maintenance is 18%. Go below that, and the food cannot carry the claim that it is adequate and must be labelled supplemental only (which means you need to be feeding something else to make up for the inadequate diet).

If there is nothing wrong with your dog physically, you might instead try feeding a more nutritious food. It isn't protein that causes excess weight, after all. Protein builds muscle. The major culprit for building FAT, in dog foods, is actually carbohydrates - for which dogs not only have no evolved need, but also little ability to deal with. Carbs thus get broken down to complex sugars and stored as fat (one of the major reasons many dogs on so-called diet or senior foods are overweight). What you're feeding currently is extremely high in carb content. What you're proposing is worse.

Incidentally, the minimum allowable carbohydrate content in dog foods is zero ;) (i.e. there is no minimum). Makes it even sadder that many of them are 60-95% carbs.

IMO, you'd probably have a great deal more success if you dump the low protein/high carb diets and swap to one that is high protein/moderate fat/low carb - such as Innova EVO, NV Instinct or Orijen.
 
simmons

simmons

Boxer Insane
Thank you for the advice, Is there a preference of Innova EVO, NV Instinct or Orijen? I will buy whats right for my boys.

ALso, I am going back to the vet on Tuesday and will ask them to check his thyroid. Is it just a simple blood test?
 
RolenKisses

RolenKisses

Boxer Insane
Rolen is currently eating the Innova EVO and absolutely loves it! :)
I just bought a small bag of the Orijen Fresh Fish formula to switch him over to, it's time for a new protein source! Hopefully he likes it as much as he does the EVO!
 
kayboxer

kayboxer

Boxer Insane
We use Wellness Core. It has a slightly less lower protein content than Solid Gold Barking at the Moon or Evo (having 34% as the other have around 42%). They are doing very well on it and love it. I think it is a good compromise to the vet saying you need a lower protein diet. Mine told me I had to get my oldest on a lower protein diet as she has excess protein in her urine. I'm not sure it was due to the food, but when I switched from Solid Gold BATM to Wellness Core her level went back down to normal. He wanted her on something under 20% protein and of course recommended Science Diet, and I of course said NO WAY!!! I told him I'd find one. I did, and I didn't tell him it was 34% protein either. :LOL:
 
argosrocks

argosrocks

Super Boxer
my guy has been getting orijen for the past 8 months,id love to switch to the 6 fish but its about impossible to find here in the states,i have to order the reg formula now from chicago and have it shipped to nebraska.apparently theres a shortage on the fish in canada or something,,,
 
P

perrymcg

Boxer Booster
Zeus is on orijen now about 3 months and is doing awesome on it and absolutely loves it. I would really recommend it to anybody.
 
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