High Protein Diet helps lose weight?????

[_Chrissy_]

I read on the Dogster Board that feeding a higher (high) protein diet can help your over weight dog lose weight?
Is this true?
They said it is to many carbs that make dogs over weight and not the protein.

[Wylie's Mom]

A dog can eat too much protein and gain weight.
A dog can eat too much carb and gain weight.
A dog can eat too much fat and gain weight.

Just like humans.

A dog needs a certain amount of calories for his/her body and every dog is different. Feeding instructions on dogfoods are *guidelines* - one should always feed to condition.

Unless there is a metabolic issue at hand - it's basic calories in/out that causes weight issues, just like in people.

I do feed a higher protein diet bc I think it's more species appropriate, but everyone is comfortable w/ different things.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

A dog can eat too much protein and gain weight.
A dog can eat too much carb and gain weight.
A dog can eat too much fat and gain weight.

Just like humans.

A dog needs a certain amount of calories for his/her body and every dog is different. Feeding instructions on dogfoods are *guidelines* - one should always feed to condition.

Unless there is a metabolic issue at hand - it's basic calories in/out that causes weight issues, just like in people.

I do feed a higher protein diet bc I think it's more species appropriate, but everyone is comfortable w/ different things.

Well said.

[_Chrissy_]

So when looking for a food to help our pups lose some weight...Should we look at calories (in the good quality foods) as opposed to protein level?
Less protein would always have less calories...?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by _Chrissy_

So when looking for a food to help our pups lose some weight...Should we look at calories (in the good quality foods) as opposed to protein level?
Less protein would always have less calories...?

HIgher fat foods may be higher in calories because fat is well, more fattening (higher in calories).
If you don't care about the protein content, you could go with something like Innova Senior. Otherwise just pick the food of your choice and don't feed as much as the bag says too. Replace some of it with veggies (like green beans).

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by _Chrissy_

So when looking for a food to help our pups lose some weight...Should we look at calories (in the good quality foods) as opposed to protein level?
Less protein would always have less calories...?

Energy (kcal) = (4 kcal/g x g protein) + (4 kcal/g x g carbohydrate) + (9 kcal/g x g fat)

This is the basic formula for deciphering what kcal's are in our, or their food. For example, if their food contains 18g of fat, then the equation would be 9kcal/g x 18g = 9kcal/g x 18g/1; the grams cancel out and you are left with 9kcal x 18 =162 kcal. As you can see fat is almost double the amount of kcal then protein or carbohydrates. Although fat carries the most calorie content per gram, all may contibute to weight gain. It is the amount of kcal that are taken in. So your pups diet should be adjusted in consideration of their age, activity level, and disease issues.

Hope this helps.....