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Why Protein is Important for Your Pet

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Powered by Mom talks about why protein is so important in your pets diet

Is your pet getting enough protein?

We all know protein is important for us but are you aware of how important it is for your pet too? Whether you have your pet on an omnivorous or vegan diet, it’s important to ensure that they’re getting enough protein. One of those important reasons is that it gives them the energy they need, especially during these long, hot dog days of summer.

Our busy cat Ollie exploring the pond and stopping for a drink too. He has lots of energy and his diet is part of the reason why he does.

Getting protein

Your pets need to be able to sustain themselves throughout the day and protein will help them do that. Protein consists of long chains of amino acids that can be found in both meat and plant sources. It works to ensure proper growth, development, body tissue repair, and a healthy immune system. While there are 10 amino acids that cats and dogs must get from their food, a cat’s diet must also include taurine as their body is unable to naturally produce it. To help you decide what protein source is best for your pet, here’s a quick guide from Petcurean.

Our cat Ollie is an active and healthy cat and his Petcurean diet is part of the reason why. We make sure he gets the protein he needs, he has regular vet check ups and he gets lots of love. Below are examples of proteins that are good for your dog or cat. Keep in mind that as obligate carnivores, cats must get their protein from animal tissue. For a protein-packed meal and a meaty flavor they’ll love, try out Now Fresh Grain Free. This is the food we give our Ollie.

Here's our Ollie being his cuddly self.

Ollie

Fish:

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  • Cod: A good source of high quality protein, phosphorous, niacin, and Vitamin B-12.
  • Krill: As the “superfood of the sea,” krill is growing in popularity as a protein source. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin, krill is also virtually free of pollutants and heavy metals.

Plant-based Proteins:

  • Peas: A good source of beta-carotene, niacin, Vitamin B6, folate, phosphorus, and copper. It’s also packed with dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, thiamin and manganese.
  • Organic flaxseed and sunflower oil: Both contain omega-6 fatty acids that promote healthy skin and a radiant coat. Flaxseed also boasts omega-3 fatty acids which are important for normal metabolism and optimal health.

Poultry:

  • Chicken Meal: A concentrated source of protein containing meat, bones, and cartilage that is dried and preserved naturally. It should never include feathers, heads, feet, or entrails.
  • Chicken Fat: Although human diets try to avoid fats, animal fat is good for your pet. Chicken fat is a great source of omega-6 which is considered the most important essential fatty acid for dogs and cats.

Whole Meats:

  • Deboned Venison, Pork, and Lamb: All are great sources of protein that come from the animal’s clean and de-boned flesh.
  • Novelty Proteins: This classification consists of proteins your pet may not have eaten before such as venison, salmon, or duck. Novelty proteins can sometimes help alleviate the symptoms of dietary sensitivities.

As you can see, there are different varieties of sources for your pet’s daily dose of protein. If you would like help in navigating your pet’s diet, Petcurean offers a useful Petfood finder that will tailor the perfect diet to your fluffy companion, no matter their needs.

Make sure to check out some of our other pet articles for more great tips on how to keep your cat or dog happy and healthy.

Like this one: Keep your pet safe this summer

Little Zeus

By on July 25th, 2017

About Powered by Mom

I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Nyx and Cleo and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

More posts by this author.

18 thoughts on “Why Protein is Important for Your Pet”

  1. No wonder your critters look so healthy - this Petcurean pet food does sound amazing!! This is the one I want to use for my pet when I finally have one.

    Reply
  2. We feed what we are able. Truth be told, some of the higher priced stuff isnt much better and there have been many many recalls. With the cats I am vigilant about getting in the amount of taurine they need. I have found making their foods is just an inexpensive most times as buying it.
    We have always had cats until 'the end' and many have lived until their 20s .

    Reply
  3. What a great post! I knew animals needed proteins but I didn't know that there are specific kinds of proteins from certain foods that our pets need. Proteins aren't just proteins. Good to know! Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
  4. First, we have a kitty named Ollie too 🙂 He's a marbled dude. That said, in reading your post, I went to the site to see what the guaranteed analysis is for the food. It saddens me that it's so hard to find foods that are low in carbs and fat for kitties. We have a diabetic cat and the only chance of getting Snickers into remission is to keep his carbs below 10% - found in pate wet foods and insulin until his numbers hit the normal range. For diabetic animals (I say animals - our dog was diagnosed with diabetes 2 months prior to the cat) - it's highly recommended to keep the fat content of their foods below 12%. as being diabetic - they are prone to pancreatitis. We are weaning off all dry food for our cats as dry food is loaded with carbs and not much moisture (water) which is not only a recipe for diabetes (their bodies aren't designed to process the carbs) but also UTI's which diabetics are prone to. Can I just say, there should be no such thing as diabetes in animals?!?! Ironically - my mom's cat was dx'd diabetic the fall of 2016.

    Reply
  5. Thanks so much for this post... we all need to be reminded that our furbabies need nutrient to help them stay healthy. I learned some things I didnt know in this article; thanks so much for reminding us that furbabies need nutrients and vitamins just like we do.

    Reply
  6. I was a bad pet momma and didn't even know it years ago! I trusted the pet food companies, because I thought that they were the experts in making the animals' foods. Well I guess they change and grow like we do. One thing I have done over the years for my furry friends, just like I did for my kids, was give them daily vitamins. I felt better doing this so I knew they would be getting some of what they need. This company also sounds like they truly care about what our furry babies need. I like that a lot! Ollie is adorable!! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  7. I love that pond and your cat is very lucky to have it! I wish I could have that for me and my cat too! I make sure my cat gets his protein, but it is hard some time because of his kidney problems. We could be totally relaxed out by that pond of yours. I really love it and am happy for you.

    Reply
  8. My cats won't eat anything that doesn't come out of a cat food can and they're picky about that! I lost our old timers at 18, 22, & 24 so I guess I'm doing something right.

    Reply
  9. My cat is getting better from a liver problem my doctor send her food with high protein country I prefer the natural sources, like the ones you say in here

    Reply
  10. i have a variety of dog food in my house. they also get people food, they get meat, first, veggies, etc. i like to use a combo of raw and kibble. they also get steamed veggies. i use venison and fish mainly. i try to stay away from chicken, it sometimes causing them to itch.

    Reply
  11. I've become very aware of what's in the food I feed my dogs and cats. I have switched from major name-brand food that I have discovered really isn't healthy for my furbabies, to healthier, grain-free and natural products. As I've had several furbabies over time who developed kidney issues as they got old (very common in older pets), I do have to be very aware of the protein content in their food. My oldest cat, Moko, currently isn't showing signs of kidney issues, but we're on the cusp, so I'm starting to watch the protein content in her food. With my dogs, I'm loving the new protein options for their food, including different animal products and even plant-based proteins.

    Reply
  12. Thank you for sharing this information for our furry pets. Our pets are so much a part of our family. We want them to stay strong and healthy. Thank you so much for sharing

    Reply

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