Why Protein Source Matters As Much As Protein Percentage In Pet Food

When comparing pet foods, look beyond the crude protein percentage and check the ingredient list for quality protein sources like plasma.

Imagine this: You’re standing in the pet food aisle comparing two bags of dog food. One says 28% protein, and the other says 32%. Which one do you buy? It’s tempting to choose the bigger number because more protein is better, right? The thing is, how much protein a food has and what kind of protein it has are two different questions. Protein source matters just as much for your dog’s or cat’s health, and today we’ll talk about why and how to evaluate what’s in their bowl.

TL;DR

When shopping for pet food, protein percentage tells you how much protein is in pet food, but protein source matters just as much. High-quality, digestible proteins like plasma provide essential amino acids to support their overall health.

What Does Crude Protein Tell You About Their Food?

When you turn over a bag or can of pet food, you’ll find the Guaranteed Analysis, which will list a minimum percentage for crude protein. Despite how it sounds, “crude” doesn’t mean poor quality. Rather, it’s the term used for the analytical method used to estimate the amount of protein in the food.

That percentage is useful, but it doesn’t tell you everything. Different protein ingredients have unique characteristics, and you want to pay attention to things like:

• Amino acids
• Digestibility
• Protein ingredients
• Additional nutritional or functional characteristics

What Is a High-Quality Protein?

When evaluating a pet food, look for high-quality proteins. What does that mean? A high-quality protein provides the essential amino acids your pet needs to build and maintain muscles, support immune function, repair tissues, and keep their body working properly. Both the protein source and its digestibility matter: even a food with a high protein percentage may not deliver optimal nutrition if the protein is difficult for your dog or cat to digest or lacks certain essential amino acids. Animal-based proteins, such as chicken, beef, fish, and eggs, generally provide all the essential amino acids dogs and cats need.

Why You Should Look for Plasma in the Ingredients

A lesser-known high-quality protein to look for on pet food labels is plasma. Plasma is the liquid portion of blood and an excellent natural protein source for dogs and cats. The plasma that’s in pet food is collected when healthy animals are being processed for human consumption. It’s separated from the blood cells and spray dried into a stable powder. The resulting ingredient is approximately 70 to 80 percent protein.

However, plasma isn’t just one protein. It contains a diverse mixture, with albumin and globulins making up much of the protein composition. Beyond that, it’s also highly digestible and provides a wide range of essential amino acids.

The next time you’re buying dog or cat food, be sure to check the ingredient list as well as the crude protein number. Make sure the food is complete and balanced for their life stage, and remember that the protein source is just as important as the protein percentage, especially when the food contains functional protein sources like plasma.

Visit APC to learn more about the benefits of plasma for pet health!

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