High protein diet fad spreading to dog food???

[momPaws]

I heard on the radio yesterday that the trendy high protein type of diet people are embracing is influencing the dog food manufacturers and that we can expect to see the same type of thing in new dog foods...what do people think??
Myself-- I think a regular old well balanced diet is the best thing for people and dogs. (altho Honey and I are not giving up our treats for any diet )

(Sorry about all the edits...my first poll...hope it is ok now)

[Mary Plummer]

Good job on the poll, momPaws! I voted for the special diets for special needs category. I tend to be pretty suspicious of the great claims made for diets that focus on only one thing.

[Amandasmom]

I believe if legitimate research shows that dogs need more protein then fine, don't cats need more protein? I feed my dogs a top of the line dog food that has been recommended by breeders as well as other dog owners. I have great results and I trust the manufacturer. If they tell me they have a new food out, I'll check it out, not that I will change. A top BMD breeder told me "if it aint broke, don't fix it."

As for people, it's all about calories in and calories out. The trendy diets are IMHO stupid. If you have to lose weight, you find a healthy diet that you are likely to stick to and do it. But it still comes down to calories in and calories out. I don't believe in denying yourself things because later you will binge on them. Did I mention calories in and calories out? OK, does anyone else want to borrow my soap box. Human diets are my favorite subject.

Also high protein hurts the kidneys and I think it screws up the absorption of calcium.
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/62/ ... 1713CA348}

[Marty]

Well, Winnie is on a low protein prescription diet to control bladder stones, so that fad would definitely not contribute to her health. Do I see a rash of kidney problems on the horizon???

[JMM]

My dogs have liver disease and high meat protein is not a good idea for them. Soy protein and milk protein aren't all that bad for liver dogs. Something new I've learned.

[momPaws]

AM- what does 135 grams of protein equate to..as in how many hamburgers? Good article.

[Amandasmom]

If I'm reading this right, a 3 oz hamburger would be 22 grams of protein. So you can have about 6 hamburgers, or 22 eggs. That seems like a lot but I've seen people on the Atkins diet consume hamburgers for breakfast lunch and dinner. Then throw some hard boiled eggs in for snacks.

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/D ... _rank.html

[LM]

I voted "special diets for a reason". Every dog should be on a diet tailored to their indivdual needs, but unfortunately the general public often doesn't do their research.

I describe Leilah's cancer diet as "Doggy Atkins". LOL. High protien, high fat, low carbs, low sugar. Copper is almost the opposite. Low protien, low fat, because of his kidneys and his weight.

I do have regular blood work done on them to check as best I can that I'm not causing them additonal problems, and so far so good!

[lmd]

Wondering how you vote for these things?

[Traci]

Wondering how you vote for these things?

Mompaws only set the poll for 5 days...it is now closed.