Can food be too high in protein?

[tygrr_lily]

QUOTE (Desiree @ May 17 2009, 01:09 PM)

I did a lot of research before deciding what I wanted to feed Eros, and finally ended up going with Orijen 6 fresh fish as his main kibble. The vet thought it would be too high protein, but they also don't think twice to recommend Science Diet ick! He also had never heard of Orijen before. I think the high protein diet actually works well for Eros because he only really likes to eat his food once a day and even then it's only 1/2 a cup. He's been on Orijen for a little over a year and loves it. He's very healthy and has not gained weight from it (he's 5 lbs). He may not be a working dog, but he does tend to wear himself out running around the house and trying to get us to play "tag" with him. So I think in his case at least it's working out very well, and I see no need to change his food. Sometimes I give him Innova- Evo red meat small bites to change things up a bit, and Merrick's Before Grain canned food. He likes all three, but Orijen is his favorite. Every dog is different, so I think the best thing to do is try it and observe the changes in your dog.

<div align='center'>Desiree & Eros

[/B][/QUOTE]

i have paddy on the same food - the origin fresh fish. he's been on origin for about 8 months now and he loves it. i really like the ingredients in it and it's one of the most highly rated foods. i used to feed canidae, but paddy never seemed to be that enthusiastic about eating it. he's not a big eater either - he only eats about 1/4 cup of dry a day if even that (i mix in some wet with it). he also tends to graze on it all day instead of eating it all at once. i took him to the vet on friday and he's very healthy. the vet said he actually wouldn't mind if paddy gained some weight.. he's 5.5 lbs and has actually lost maybe .2 lbs since being on it haha.

definitely do your research and see what you feel comfortable with!

[roxybaby22]

QUOTE (tygrr_lily @ May 17 2009, 02:14 PM)

QUOTE (Desiree @ May 17 2009, 01:09 PM)

I did a lot of research before deciding what I wanted to feed Eros, and finally ended up going with Orijen 6 fresh fish as his main kibble. The vet thought it would be too high protein, but they also don't think twice to recommend Science Diet ick! He also had never heard of Orijen before. I think the high protein diet actually works well for Eros because he only really likes to eat his food once a day and even then it's only 1/2 a cup. He's been on Orijen for a little over a year and loves it. He's very healthy and has not gained weight from it (he's 5 lbs). He may not be a working dog, but he does tend to wear himself out running around the house and trying to get us to play "tag" with him. So I think in his case at least it's working out very well, and I see no need to change his food. Sometimes I give him Innova- Evo red meat small bites to change things up a bit, and Merrick's Before Grain canned food. He likes all three, but Orijen is his favorite. Every dog is different, so I think the best thing to do is try it and observe the changes in your dog.

<div align='center'>Desiree & Eros

[/B][/QUOTE]

i have paddy on the same food - the origin fresh fish. he's been on origin for about 8 months now and he loves it. i really like the ingredients in it and it's one of the most highly rated foods. i used to feed canidae, but paddy never seemed to be that enthusiastic about eating it. he's not a big eater either - he only eats about 1/4 cup of dry a day if even that (i mix in some wet with it). he also tends to graze on it all day instead of eating it all at once. i took him to the vet on friday and he's very healthy. the vet said he actually wouldn't mind if paddy gained some weight.. he's 5.5 lbs and has actually lost maybe .2 lbs since being on it haha.

definitely do your research and see what you feel comfortable with!
[/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks you two!!! I decided to try the Orijen and Roxy loves it and does much better on it than Innova. She has smaller, firmer stool and dances everytime I time I get ready to feed her. :P She is definitely not a working dog and seems to be doing really well (weight-wise) with it. She is on Orijen puppy, but I want to try the 6 fresh fish. Is it okay for puppies?

[Desiree]

QUOTE (roxybaby22 @ May 17 2009, 01:58 PM)

QUOTE (tygrr_lily @ May 17 2009, 02:14 PM)

QUOTE (Desiree @ May 17 2009, 01:09 PM)

I did a lot of research before deciding what I wanted to feed Eros, and finally ended up going with Orijen 6 fresh fish as his main kibble. The vet thought it would be too high protein, but they also don't think twice to recommend Science Diet ick! He also had never heard of Orijen before. I think the high protein diet actually works well for Eros because he only really likes to eat his food once a day and even then it's only 1/2 a cup. He's been on Orijen for a little over a year and loves it. He's very healthy and has not gained weight from it (he's 5 lbs). He may not be a working dog, but he does tend to wear himself out running around the house and trying to get us to play "tag" with him. So I think in his case at least it's working out very well, and I see no need to change his food. Sometimes I give him Innova- Evo red meat small bites to change things up a bit, and Merrick's Before Grain canned food. He likes all three, but Orijen is his favorite. Every dog is different, so I think the best thing to do is try it and observe the changes in your dog.

<div align='center'>Desiree & Eros

[/B][/QUOTE]

i have paddy on the same food - the origin fresh fish. he's been on origin for about 8 months now and he loves it. i really like the ingredients in it and it's one of the most highly rated foods. i used to feed canidae, but paddy never seemed to be that enthusiastic about eating it. he's not a big eater either - he only eats about 1/4 cup of dry a day if even that (i mix in some wet with it). he also tends to graze on it all day instead of eating it all at once. i took him to the vet on friday and he's very healthy. the vet said he actually wouldn't mind if paddy gained some weight.. he's 5.5 lbs and has actually lost maybe .2 lbs since being on it haha.

definitely do your research and see what you feel comfortable with!
[/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks you two!!! I decided to try the Orijen and Roxy loves it and does much better on it than Innova. She has smaller, firmer stool and dances everytime I time I get ready to feed her. :P She is definitely not a working dog and seems to be doing really well (weight-wise) with it. She is on Orijen puppy, but I want to try the 6 fresh fish. Is it okay for puppies?
[/B][/QUOTE]

I did a quick little search on your question about the fish formula being ok for puppies, and I found a post about someone that had the exact same question for his lab pup. You can read about it Here to see what everyone told him when he asked. Good luck
<div align='center'>
Desiree & Eros

[dr.jaimie]

ive seen high protein diets do harm to many different dogs...i had a shepheard mix about a yr ago have high kidney values...changed her diet and they slowly went back down to normal. its not natural for a dog to eat high protein. like JMM said they are omnivores and need a balance of carbs and protein.

[Toby's Mom]

Isn't most canned food low in protein? So would that be a better alternative?

[jmm]

QUOTE (Tobys Mom @ May 18 2009, 07:40 PM)

Isn't most canned food low in protein? So would that be a better alternative?[/B]

The % is lower than dry, but that does not account for the water content so the % protein in wet vs. dry is not comparable unless you adjust for the water. .

[Toby's Mom]

QUOTE (JMM @ May 18 2009, 08:57 PM)

QUOTE (Tobys Mom @ May 18 2009, 07:40 PM)

Isn't most canned food low in protein? So would that be a better alternative?[/B]

The % is lower than dry, but that does not account for the water content so the % protein in wet vs. dry is not comparable unless you adjust for the water. .
[/B][/QUOTE]
Then how do you get an accurate estimate?

[jmm]

QUOTE (Tobys Mom @ May 18 2009, 10:23 PM)

QUOTE (JMM @ May 18 2009, 08:57 PM)

QUOTE (Tobys Mom @ May 18 2009, 07:40 PM)

Isn't most canned food low in protein? So would that be a better alternative?[/B]

The % is lower than dry, but that does not account for the water content so the % protein in wet vs. dry is not comparable unless you adjust for the water. .
[/B][/QUOTE]
Then how do you get an accurate estimate?
[/B][/QUOTE]

Dry matter protein content = (protein %/dry matter %)x100
The protein % is what you find on the can. the Dry matter % is 100-moisture content.

[Toby's Mom]

QUOTE (JMM @ May 19 2009, 08:47 AM)

QUOTE (Tobys Mom @ May 18 2009, 10:23 PM)

QUOTE (JMM @ May 18 2009, 08:57 PM)

QUOTE (Tobys Mom @ May 18 2009, 07:40 PM)

Isn't most canned food low in protein? So would that be a better alternative?[/B]

The % is lower than dry, but that does not account for the water content so the % protein in wet vs. dry is not comparable unless you adjust for the water. .
[/B][/QUOTE]
Then how do you get an accurate estimate?
[/B][/QUOTE]

Dry matter protein content = (protein %/dry matter %)x100
The protein % is what you find on the can. the Dry matter % is 100-moisture content.
[/B][/QUOTE]
Thank you so much! I am going to print that off!

[Toby's Mom]

Okay, it's late and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, am I understanding correctly that the formula provided is for canned food only?

So going with that, here is a photo off the Merrick site. I tried the formula JMM provided. Did I do it correctly?



(9/19) x 100=47.368% protein in that particular food

Thanks!