The Protein Controversy
By Dr. Bruce DeBaun

Can Protein Cause Accelerated Bone Growth ?
A great deal of misinformation has been published about the adverse affects of protein on our animals. Large breed dogs, in particular, are believed to be adversely affected by consuming too much protein during their puppy and adolescent stages. This misconception is predicated on the hypothesis that protein accelerates bone development. Nothing could be further from the truth, if indeed, we are talking about good bio-available meat protein!

The protein molecule is the fundamental building block of all cellular structure in the body, whether we are talking about bone, muscle, organ, skin tissue or hair. The carnivore,, in particular, requires a large amount of protein. The body takes this protein and appropriately converts it into one of five categories so that it may be used wherever the body requires it.

In a citation The Influence of the Dietary Protein Content on Growth in Giant Breed Dogs - - "Influence of Protein, Minerals, and Vitamin D on Skeletal Development in Dogs", H.A.W Hazewinkel and I. Schoenmaker, Department of Clinical Science of Companion Animals, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, concluded;
" 'Protein deficiency leads to reduced skeletal growth, whereas Protein excess does not cause disturbances in skeletal development in growing dogs.' It is concluded in this study that the differences in protein intake per se did not effect the occurrence of disturbed skeletal development in young Great Danes, and that any aetiological role of dietary protein in the development of osteochondrosis in dogs is unlikely."

The research validates the point that pet care providers who elect to feed lower protein foods as a precautionary measure are actually apt to do more harm than good.

Growth rate cannot be accelerated by feeding too much of a particular food element, but rather it is determined by the animal's own gene pool. If the animal is not able to use a specific food element then it will be either stored or eliminated. Note: (There are certain minerals that can be accrued and may cause toxic consequences or imbalances - protein when fed in the appropriate ratio of calcium and magnesium along with other necessary minerals will not cause bone disturbances).

What about different protein levels for the various life stages? If we think of the wild dogs, we realize that they are eating the same protein prey (rabbit, woodchuck, & squirrel) from puppy hood to geriatric; their diet remains virtually the same. Data from archetypal studies supports the need for high levels of protein throughout all life stages. Younger animals require protein because they are going through the stages of rapid development that protein supports. Older animals, going through the accelerated degeneration of tissue we call aging, require protein for regenerative support. In a comprehensive study by Wannemacher and McCoy in 1966, it was found that older dogs actually required up to 50% more protein than younger adult dogs. Though this is an old study, it has not been overturned.

Crude protein Verses usable protein.
It should be pointed out that the crude protein values listed on the pet food label do not indicate the amount of usable protein in a food, but rather the overall protein usable or non-usable that is in the package. The actual usable protein called bio-available protein is often quite less, therefore; most animals using commercial food are more apt to be protein deficient than to have too much protein. Non-available protein, which comes from grains and other difficult to digest food elements, can be problematic causing a variety of health issues from protein deficiency to digestive problems to allergies, etc, therefore; the source and quality of the protein is of primary importance. In conclusion, no one can determine the actual usable protein from a pet food label.

Calories versus proteins.
Excess calories should not be confused with excess protein as many people do. They are two distinctly different things and have little to do with one another. The majority of researchers whose studies were related to bone growth malformations found that excess calories and rapid weight gain due to excessive feeding coupled with poor mineral intake is more likely to cause problems than protein itself. Young dogs raised on a natural diet such as raw meat actually tend to grow more slowly and have fewer musculoskeletal problems than dogs raised on commercial diets because the body knows how and where to put the protein it receives; it does not need human intervention. The body uses good protein in numerous ways.

One should not rush to cut back on the amount of calories fed, either. In an effort to reduce calories in "Lite," Puppy, or Senior formulas, pet food manufacturers generally reduce the already low protein and nutrient content. A careful look at the label will illustrate that the higher-value ingredients have simply been removed leaving a lot of fiber and inert material. The provider who wishes to insure that his animal does not put on excess weight is better off feeding less of a high quality, maintenance diet with a high protein level then resorting to feeding a typical Lite formula. Protein does not add weight, but calories associated with fat and carbohydrates do. If the animal is markedly overweight and a Lite formula is truly necessary, then substantial supplementation is, in many cases, warranted to insure nutritional adequacy. Excess weight is usually a result of the aging process and the slowing of the metabolism along with a lack of daily exercise which burns calories and fat. Quite often we do not wish to acknowledge our own delinquency in not running, but merely walking our pets. We'd sooner blame the food or seek a "LITE" diet.
Dr. Bruce DeBaun