THE RISKS OF A HIGH-PROTEIN DIET

A high-protein diet for cats and dogs presents risks, primarily for animals suffering from kidney or liver disease, but can also lead to excessive strain on the kidneys in some healthy animals.

Risks to kidney and liver health

Excess protein in animals with kidney or liver failure can worsen disease progression and symptoms, as protein elimination places a heavy burden on the kidneys.

In older animals, whose kidney function is sometimes diminished, a diet too high in protein can put additional strain on the kidneys, increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease.

Effects on healthy animals

For healthy dogs and cats, excess protein is rarely harmful: the surplus is usually eliminated in the urine without any noticeable negative effect.

However, a diet too high in protein (especially of lower quality) contributes to increased kidney strain, especially if the proteins are of poor quality or incomplete (such as collagen or carcass), which provides no nutritional benefit.

Excessive protein intake, without medical necessity, provides no benefits and may even prove useless, or even dangerous in the case of an underlying pathology.

Other considerations

High-protein diets are sometimes recommended in certain medical situations (obesity, malabsorption), but must be supervised.

There are also concerns related to the environmental impact of a diet too rich in animal protein, which requires more resources for its production.

It is always essential to choose high-quality proteins that are appropriate for the animal's age, health, and activity level.

In summary, a high-protein diet generally does not pose a risk to healthy animals but can aggravate certain health problems, especially kidney or liver problems, and put unnecessary strain on the kidneys, particularly in older animals.

What makes a good protein?

Unfortunately, commercial dog food isn't always as good for your pet's health as the packaging might lead you to believe. As a carnivore, a dog needs a diet rich in meat. That's where it gets the protein its body needs. While previously only older dogs were likely to suffer from kidney failure, we're seeing more and more young dogs affected by this condition. However, it's not so much the quantity of food that's the problem, but rather its quality. Three sources of macronutrients are responsible for kidney problems in our pets: plant-based proteins, proteins derived from meat industry by-products, and animal meal.

Poor quality proteins that harm your pet's health

Plant-based proteins are under scrutiny. While necessary, they are considered "incomplete" and cannot meet all the essential amino acid requirements of dogs. Their proportion in the diet should be lower than that of animal proteins. They are also more difficult for our canine companions to digest, as their intestines are shorter, and an excess of plant-based proteins can lead to other health problems such as chronic diarrhea.

Animal by-products or food industry waste used to make lower-priced kibble or wet food consist of feathers, feet, beaks, carcasses, heads, and even hides: foods we don't eat. These low-protein foods are much harder for a dog's body to digest. Their consumption requires more work from the pancreas and kidneys, leading, over time, just like animal meal, to liver, pancreatic, and then kidney damage.

What makes a good protein?

To meet protein requirements, high-quality meat such as poultry, veal, or lamb is recommended. Cooking these meats should also preserve their nutrients.

Cooking at a low temperature is preferable to preserve all the benefits. To support growth and athletic activity, protein must be complete, easily digestible, and readily utilized. While present in meat and vegetables, the complete proteins that our small and large carnivores need are found only in meat.

They are called "complete" because they contain the essential and non-essential amino acids vital for their bodies. Our dogs' bodies digest them easily and extract all the nutrients. Animal by-products such as tendons, udders, or lungs are "incomplete" because they are difficult to assimilate and digest.

What is the role of proteins in the body?

The biological value of proteins is therefore fundamental to providing our dogs with quality food that will meet all their functional and energy needs. Your dog will use the 10 essential amino acids found in meat to synthesize the proteins it needs. With a functional and structural role, proteins contribute to the growth of puppies and the health of adult and senior dogs. They perform numerous vital functions, enabling the body to transmit messages through hormones, enzymes, and antibodies.

It is thanks to proteins that the animal builds and strengthens its skeleton, bones, tendons, muscles, skin, and fur.

They also contribute to the development of its immune system and protect your pet from many infections.

Protein requirements change at every stage of life. A low protein intake stunts growth and makes the animal more susceptible to disease. Nonspecific signs appear when your four-legged friend is deficient: dull or rough fur, skin infections, and muscle wasting.

Deficiency or excess, what are the risks of an incorrect protein dosage?

Complete proteins are crucial for your pet's functions. While excess is rare in animals whose physiology is perfectly suited to a very meat-rich diet, certain signs can alert you.

The problem stems mainly from a diet low in complete proteins, but high in incomplete proteins, which is more often found in low-cost food or in poorly adapted homemade food.

The animal may also suffer from a deficiency in other nutrients. Certain amino acids, such as methionine, if present in excess, will cause urinary problems because they acidify the urine.

In the event of a deficiency in complete proteins, the animal may suffer from skin disorders, loss of energy or muscle, or weakening of its immune system, and of course, growth problems.

To provide your companion with food adapted to its age and activity, daily protein intake should represent 2 to 6 grams per kilo when we ourselves only need 0.8 g/kg per day.

Prey hunted in the wild provides 40 to 65% protein by dry matter.

Therefore, commercially prepared dry foods should contain at least 25% complete proteins to meet their functional and energy needs. While plant-based macronutrients can cover some of these needs, they are often lacking in vital amino acids such as methionine, tryptophan, L-carnitine, arginine, and taurine.

Plant-based proteins, while also necessary, cannot ultimately replace the need for quality meat for our pets.

Misconceptions about the negative effects of complete proteins in dogs

As you've probably gathered, an excess of complete proteins is quite rare in our pets, provided they come from a rich source of meat and their preparation doesn't alter their amino acid profile. However, many misconceptions still circulate regarding excessive protein intake in dogs.

1. Restricting protein intake in older dogs or dogs with kidney disease is a bad idea. First, their bodies need high-quality protein. Replacing it with plant-based proteins forces their bodies to work twice as hard to extract the amino acids, and some, like L-carnitine, are missing. It's phosphorus, on the other hand, that damages your dog's kidneys when present in excessive amounts. Protein intake also allows older dogs or those with kidney disease to maintain muscle mass and therefore continue the physical exercise necessary for their physical and mental well-being. The same applies to cats.

2.   Reducing complete protein intake in overweight dogs can be dangerous. The daily protein requirement is fixed for all canines. By decreasing their intake, the dog will suffer from a deficiency and will eat more to compensate. If these proteins are replaced with less digestible plant-based proteins, a larger quantity will be required, which will not meet the dog's need for the vital amino acids lacking in incomplete proteins. The same applies to cats.

3.     Excess protein does not cause hyperactivity in dogs. Protein supplements are generally given to sporting dogs not to increase their energy levels, but to allow them to properly repair their muscle tissue after exercise. Fats provide the majority of their energy, with protein contributing to a lesser extent. If your dog receives too much energy, it is more likely to gain weight than to run a marathon in your living room. This excess energy is stored in adipose tissue.

As you may have guessed, proteins do not damage your pet's kidneys.  provided they are complete. They also contribute to urine production and lower creatinine levels, allowing your dog's kidneys to function properly. When choosing your dog's food, whether you prefer kibble, wet food, a homemade diet, or BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), make sure to provide a sufficient level of complete proteins while also paying attention to other essential elements for their health.

 AT THE CAT'S

Your cat's health and vitality are closely linked to its diet. But to properly feed your pet, you need to understand nutrition. Among all the essential nutrients your feline friend needs, protein plays a particularly important role in a cat's diet.

But between preconceived ideas and scientific realities, it is not always easy to find one's way.

In your cat's body, proteins play multiple and vital roles:

• Structural: building and repair of muscle tissue, skin and coat
• Energy: a source of metabolizable energy for daily activities
• Functional: synthesis of enzymes, hormones and antibodies for the immune system

There are 20 different amino acids that make up proteins. Some of these are considered essential for cats because they cannot be synthesized by the body. Therefore, your cat must obtain them from its food to stay healthy.

It is considered that there are 11 essential amino acids for felines, unlike dogs for whom this list is reduced to 10! This peculiarity makes the cat a strict carnivore requiring a specific food intake.

The cat, a strict carnivore that needs protein in its diet

The domestic cat has retained the metabolic characteristics of its wild ancestors. Being a strict carnivore means that its body has adapted to a diet based primarily on meat and animal products. Indeed, certain substances it needs are found only in raw materials of animal origin.

This specificity is reflected in several physiological adaptations:

Jaw conformation: protruding canines and poorly developed molars for chewing

• Short digestive system: optimized for quickly digesting animal proteins.
• Increased need for taurine: a vital amino acid found only in animal tissues.
•  Limited carbohydrate metabolism: reduced ability to use starch as an energy source.

Note: But your cat needs other sources of nutrients daily such as fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

WHAT FOODS ARE NATURALLY RICH IN PROTEIN?

The best sources of protein come from the animal kingdom:

Fresh meats :

• Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck): complete protein, easily digestible (23-25% protein)
• Beef: rich in iron and zinc (20-22% protein)
• Pork: a source of B vitamins (20-21% protein)

Fish (to be used from time to time):

•   Salmon: rich in omega-3 fatty acids (25% protein). Be aware that salmon are often heavily medicated.
•  Tuna: high in protein (28% protein). Caution: Tuna is full of mercury.
• Mackerel: excellent protein/fat ratio (24% protein) and here too, its population is endangered.

Other animal sources:

• Eggs: a reference protein with a perfect amino acid profile
• Dairy products: cottage cheese, yogurt (beware of lactose intolerance)
•   Offal: liver, heart, kidneys (very rich in nutrients).

.  IN CONCLUSION

⚠️ We invite you to decode the composition of commercial food, to also learn about raw diets (BARF, raw food), about homemade rations in order to find what suits your animal.

Each diet has its advantages and disadvantages. The right diet will be the one that keeps your pet healthy and fits your own constraints.

It should be noted that a BARF diet costs the same as kibble with attractive marketing.