Complete and Balanced pet foods in the US are required to meet the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles. While nutrient profiles are a good thing, our pets definitely need all the necessary nutrients at the right levels – the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles fall short because they don’t take into account the many pets that consume fewer calories than the existing complete and balanced nutrition system allows for.
AAFCO Nutrient Profiles are based on a nutrient per calorie basis. For example, the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles require at least 45 grams of protein in adult dog foods per 1,000 kcal, and 65 grams of protein in adult cat foods per 1,000 kcal. The levels of each nutrient your pet receives from their pet is based on how much food (kcals) they consume.
Unfortunately, the AAFCO system is one-size-fits-all, considering only the caloric needs of active cats and dogs. But what about sitting pets (couch potatoes)? Sedentary pets need fewer calories, but the AAFCO Complete and Balanced system is only for active pets that consume more calories – and this can be a problem.
Pets that are fed fewer calories a day than required by a Complete and Balanced pet food, may be deficient in nutrients. Importantly, pets that eat fewer calories a day may be deficient in protein. This potential concern is NOT limited to any one style of pet food, protein deficiency can occur with dry foods, cooked foods, canned foods and raw foods – depending on how much the pet eats. your pet each day (how my pet food kcals they consume each. day).
Thanks to pet food formulator Steve Brown, below are the minimum protein requirements for cats and dogs in grams.
For Adult Cats, the minimum protein requirements are:
For Adult Dogs, the minimum protein requirements are:
How do you know if your pet’s food is providing the minimum amount of protein?
Steve Brown to the rescue again. Steve made a calculation to determine the amount of pet food that needs to be fed to meet the minimum protein requirements.
All you need are two very basic pieces of information provided by your pet food:
- The protein percentage of your pet’s food.
Where to find it: listed in the Review Guarantee. - The kcal per kilogram (kcal/kg) or kcal per pound (kcal/lb) information.
Where to find it: usually provided with the Guaranteed Analysis information or it may also be provided separately from the calorie information.
Using the information above, TruthaboutPetFood.com used Steve Brown’s calculations and developed an easy-to-use form that pet owners can enter the necessary information and the math will be done for you.
Press here to calculate the protein of cat food.
Press here to calculate dog food protein.
A HUGE thanks to Steve Brown for his help in providing pet owners with this valuable information!
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Buyer Beware of Author, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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