The Highest-Protein Dog Foods

After doing a bit of research, you'll notice probably that many animal nutritionists and vets recommend a high protein food for most dogs who are not overweight, which makes sense given that while dogs have evolved beyond wolves to need other foods in their diet than just meats, animal proteins should still be the cornerstone of their diet. Of course, there are other things to look for when considering foods, so it's important to look at more than just the protein content.

While dogs can eat most cooked carbohydrates easily since they have evolved into omnivores, their wolf ancestry means that most dogs tend to benefit from a high-protein diet. K9 of Mine points out that this is especially true when it comes to working dogs, canine athletes, reproductively active female dogs, and puppies.

The Association of American Feed Control Operators (AAFCO) states that all adult dog foods should contain at least 18 percent animal protein, while foods for reproductively active females and puppies should have a minimum of at least 22.5 percent animal protein. While there are no official guidelines defining what makes something a "high protein" dog food, it should be much higher than these minimums, with most experts agreeing it should have ​at least 30 percent protein​.

Unfortunately, not all proteins are created equal. Many people switched to grain free foods, and as Pets Lady explains, manufacturers usually do this by replacing the grains with high-protein plant ingredients such as peas, legumes, and beans. But dogs cannot digest these proteins as well and these proteins do not provide enough of certain amino acids, such as taurine, for dogs to get all of their required nutrients. As a result, vets were seeing a drastic increase of deaths related to canine dilated cardiomyopathy, a kind of heart attack.

At press time, the FDA has notified pet food manufacturers about the issue, but no changes have yet been made. Meanwhile, you can protect your pet by purchasing foods that are free of these plant proteins or still have an animal protein content of at least 18 percent for adult foods, ensure that your senior food has at least 20 percent animal protein, and that and any high-protein puppy food brands you choose have at least 22.5 percent animal protein. If the label doesn't distinguish between animal and plant proteins, you can contact the manufacturer to check it has enough animal protein.

When searching for a good high protein food for your pup, Dog Food Advisor suggests not just looking at the protein content, but also ensuring there is a good fat-to-protein ratio, moderate carbohydrate levels, and an above-average meat content. To that end, here are some of the best high protein dog foods:

$38.99 at Chewy

Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete contains 32 percent protein and no corn, soy, wheat, or peas. It also contains probiotics and beet pulp to aid digestion as well as kale, blueberries, and other antioxidant-rich foods and flax seed to help reduce a dog's cancer risk. It's available in chicken and rice, lamb and rice, and salmon and potato formulas.

$75.95 at Chewy

Sport Dog Food Active Series Tracking Dog Buffalo Oatmeal Formula has 30 percent protein and lean, iron-rich buffalo meat as the first ingredient. The recipe is designed to be easy for dogs with digestive sensitivities, leaving out pea, flax, corn, gluten, soy, and eggs. Ingredients like organic oatmeal and pumpkin can also result in eased digestion.

$15.48 at Amazon

Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula in 30/20 Chicken or Salmon flavor is one of the most affordable foods that is free from peas, legumes, and other high-protein plant foods that still has more than 30 percent protein. It is worth pointing out that it does contain some low-quality ingredients, such as corn gluten meal and brewer's rice that many shoppers find problematic.

While none of the high protein foods on this list are designed specifically for puppies, as K9 of Mine points out, the main difference between a puppy food and an adult food is that puppies need more calories and protein than adult dogs, so many high protein foods already meet these requirements. Large breed puppies have very particular dietary needs to ensure their bones develop properly, so you may want to discuss food options with your veterinarian before choosing a high protein puppy food for large breeds. With that in mind, these are some of the best high-protein foods for the majority of puppies:

$18.29 at Chewy

Dr. Tim's Active Dog Pursuit Formula is an excellent option as it is pea, legume, soy, and corn free, contains 30 percent crude protein, and 86 percent of the ingredients are derived from animal products. It also contains probiotics to support digestion. This formula is suitable for adults and small/medium breed puppies.

$53.99 at Amazon

VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus has 30 percent protein with no corn, gluten, wheat, soy, or peas. While many shoppers may be concerned that the second ingredient is grain sorghum, the food itself is still composed of 88 percent meat products. Its formula is considered appropriate for reproductively active females and meets most requirements for vet-recommended puppy food as well. Plus, this food also contains probiotics for digestion.

$49.99 at Amazon

Nature's Logic Canine Chicken Meal Feast has an impressive 36 percent protein and is made without potatoes, peas, lentils, wheat, corn, rice, soy, or chemically synthesized vitamins. It contains pumpkin for healthy stools, probiotics for better digestion, as well as blueberries and other antioxidant-rich foods. This food is suitable for adults and most puppies.

$34.99 at Amazon

Annamaet Ultra 32% as the name suggests, contains 32 percent protein and contains no corn, wheat, soy, or peas. It is also GMO-free. Plus, it contains beet pulp fiber to contribute to healthy stools, as well as cranberries and spinach for antioxidants. This food is acceptable for adults and most puppies.