Low protein foods contain lower protein level than normal dog foods and sometimes they become indispensable for dogs as it is for humans. Usually, veterinarians recommend best low protein dog foods to protect dogs from certain health problems like kidney disease, allergy issues, liver cirrhosis or controlling overweight.
It is also noticeable that too low protein diets may be very dangerous for the dog’s health. So you should always consult with your vet before switching into lower protein foods.
Our specialized team has analyzed a wide number of food brands based on their specific protein sources and picked out 10 of the best well-known brands to improve your dog’s health. These are available in both canned and dry usage; scroll down below to check out full details.
Best Low Protein Dog Foods in 2023 – Reviews
1. Our Top Pick – Canidae Low Protein Dog Food
The CANIDAE premium dry food is made for dog breeds of all ages from puppies to adults and seniors. It would be the perfect choice if you have more dogs of different ages, breed or sizes.
The optimum source of this food is turkey meat with no corn, wheat or soy. This is one of the best-selling dog foods over years from low protein food brands and you can extremely trust it through the positive reviews of more than 1000 people.
This All Life Stages Dog Food contains enough probiotics to help support healthy digestion, antioxidants to support a healthy immune system. Here available omega 3 & omega 6 fatty acids help to grow shiny coat and healthy skin on the dog’s body. Picking the whole package of this food makes easier your dog’s mealtime and supplies all the nutrition needs in the dog’s body.
Key Features:
- Formulated for dog breeds of all ages
- An outstanding dog food made with all-natural ingredients
- Omega 6 & 3 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.
- Satisfy the large dogs with extreme flavor, taste, and quantity
- No harmful substances like color, flavor or preservative
2. Runner Up – Blue Buffalo Natural Low Protein Dog Food
Blue Buffalo healthy weight dog food with life protection formula is the best source of low protein. It is formulated with delicious, protein-rich deboned chicken to offer a fully satisfying diet.
This natural food also enhanced with grain, veggies, vitamins, and minerals. Due to containing low calorie and low fat, it is especially recognized as lower protein food for dogs.
Blue Buffalo dry dog food features real meat as the first ingredients to build and maintain healthy muscles of your dog. It also contains a precise blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to support immune system health. This weight management dog food supplies a limited amount of calories so that your dog can achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Key Features:
- The real meat is the first ingredient
- Other ingredients are barley, brown rice, chicken meal, and oatmeal
- No artificial color, flavor or preservatives
- It helps dogs to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Completely USA based product
3. Best Budget – Natural Balance Low-Protein Dry Dog Food
The Natural balance dog food formulated with limited ingredients of protein and carbohydrate and makes an excellent diet formula for your pet. The main source of this food is premium bison meat & sweet potato produce high-quality protein but lower calorie. Sweet potatoes also rich in potassium and highly digestible energy source.
This Limited Ingredients Diets (L.I.D) formula is excellent when you are looking for some alternative ingredients. In this food formula, all grain-free ingredients are dedicated to preserving your dog’s digestive health with their healthy skin and shiny coat.
The Natural Balance Dog Food Bison is the premium source of low protein for dogs. It also contains a sufficient amount of lean meat, amino acids with less fat, and calories weighed to other meats.
There is no artificial color, flavor or preservatives used to make this food. Only high-quality premium ingredients turn this food into complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs.
This natural blend dog food also includes another protein source like fish, chicken or venison. Dogs love the flavor of this food very much and get the extra benefit from chicken. Pet owners who quest dog food with limited protein level finally select this food to ensure their dog’s good health. This food is available in packets of 26 pounds, 13 pounds, and 4.5 pounds.
Pros:
- All used ingredients are natural
- High quality but low protein and low calorie
- Support your dog’s digestive health
- Helps to grow healthy skin and shiny coat
- No artificial ingredients and preservatives
Cons:
- None
4. Best Low Protein Senior Dog Food – Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+
Hill’s science diet senior dog food is particularly made for dogs are at least seven years old. It provides proper balanced nutrition to support youthful energy and a healthy weight in adult dogs.
The Science Diet dry food is formulated with all natural ingredients like vitamins, minerals, amino acid and it has high-quality protein sources like chicken, lambs, and similar others. These ingredients provide essential antioxidants to regrow lusty health of ageing dogs.
No artificial ingredients, colors, flavors or preservatives are used in this food. It is clinically proved that the antioxidant mixture supports a vigorous immune system. Pet proprietors try this food on their aged dogs those are facing trouble with kidney problems.
Day by day, this food became more popular to dog owners as the prime source of low protein diet and they trust it for the proper growth of their pooches. It is more effective to lose your dog’s extra weight without losing energy. Regular using this healthy food, senior dogs gain much more vitality and enthusiasm.
This food is available in 33-lb bags for large size and 17.5 – lbs for smaller size. The manufacturing company offers 100% money-back guarantee and total replacement for any sorts of dissatisfaction. It is the no. 1 choice for veterinarians as the low protein food for senior dogs.
Pros:
- Specially made for senior dogs
- Easy to digest and supports for higher energy level
- All the ingredients are natural and support immune system
- Helps to lose extra weight
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Excessive having may cause of increasing body weight
5. Best Low Protein Dry Dog Food – Nutro Food
The Nutro ultra weight management dry food is specially formulated for overweight and inactive dogs to conserve the body weight and well fit. This protein-free dog food is made with all premium ingredients to deliver comprehensive and balanced nutrition to develop a slim and healthy body.
It contains low amount of phosphorus which acts as a natural source of Chondroitin and Glucosamine to build healthy joints. The special recipe of this food also acts as an antidote to resist allergy and similar skin problems. Other ingredients are few quality fruits, various vegetables and indispensable oil to tackle proper weight management.
This Nutro food has been able to solve so many medical issues and rescue the dog from painful suffering. Its test is like homemade foods and dogs choose it too much.
Dog owners are fully confident about this food product because of its effective weight management and proper nourishment. There is no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives are used in this food items. Here all used ingredients are mainly sourced from the US, Canada, and New Zealand. It is available in a30 pounds packet for adult dogs.
Pros:
- Specially formulated for overweight adult dogs
- Made with high quality ingredients
- Helpful for skin allergy
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Bit costly than other low protein foods
6. Best Low Protein Grain Free Dog Food – Wellness Natural Pet Food
Wellness natural food is specially formulated low protein grain-free for non-producing adult dogs, that are more than one year old. It is 100 percent grain-free dry dog food contains all-natural ingredients with no wheat, soy, or corn.
It provides complete and balanced nutrition in everyday life to support your dog for good health and healthy weight. It is also ideal to promote healthy eyes, teeth, and gums for your dogs.
This food recipe contains non-GMO sourced ingredients, high-quality animal proteins from turkey and chicken, salmon oil, fruits, and vegetables to help support your pet’s overall health. Wellness Core ensures less than 25% fat and lower protein level to maintain your dog’s healthy weight, shiny coat, and optimal energy
Key Features:
- Contains only premium and natural food ingredients
- Active probiotics promote a healthy digestive health
- Everyday nutrition supports your dog’s healthy weight
- No artificial color, flavor or preservatives
- Made only in the USA
7. Best High-Quality Low Protein Dog Food – Natural Balance Diets
This Natural Balance dry dog food is a mixture of high-quality protein from sweet potato and venison recipe. It provides complete and balanced nutrition for senior dogs with limited ingredients and helps to specify the proper sources of protein and carbohydrates. There is no artificial color, flavor or preservatives in this food to ensure the total safety of your dog’s health.
This quality low protein dog food provides necessary amino acids to maintain strong muscle tone with healthy skin and a shiny luxurious coat. It is also designed to maintain your dog’s digestive health with high-quality nutrition for all breeds of adult dogs. Actually, Limited Ingredient Diets use a simple formula to reduce the chance of food sensitivity and support to a healthy stomach.
Key features:
- Lower protein level ensures balanced nutrition for adult dogs
- Used bison is rich with valuable amino acids containing less fat
- Minimized the number of food ingredients
- Maintains healthy skin and shiny coat with digestive health
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
8. Best Low Protein Puppy Food – Blue Buffalo
This large breed puppy food contains high-quality protein from deboned chicken. Though real meat is the first ingredient but it also enhanced with vitamins and minerals from grains, garden veggies, and fruits. This life protection formula recommended by vets to support the immune health system and makes a healthy oxidative balance at the life stage of your dog.
Usually, Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy Dog Food formula helps healthy muscle growth and cognitive function and renal health. A precise blend of antioxidants carefully supports proper digestion to a sensitive stomach. This food is specially formulated for large breed puppy, but according to your vet’s recommendation, you can use it for adult dogs.
Key Features:
- Formulated for the health and well-being of your puppy
- Featuring real meat, fruit, and vegetables
- Free from poultry product meal
- No corn, wheat or soy with artificial ingredients
- Helps to keep your puppy healthy and happy
9. Best Low Protein Canned Dog Food – Hill’s Prescription Diet
The Hill’s Prescription dog food is formulated with highly digestible fat and protein integrate nutrients. It is quite tough to feed some dogs that are suffering from renal problems, but it is vital to provide the proper nourishment through their daily meal.
This canned dog food is low in phosphorus and sodium but it has high vitamin B complex and omega 3 fatty acid. This alliance of food nutrition assists the kidney to get free from extra load. It is especially formulated to support your dog’s digestive health.
Fiber source of this diet food contributes to sustain gastrointestinal health. The Proper mixture of nutrients helps to repair the body strength and encourage for recovery. Used antioxidants of this dog food helps to maintain cell oxidation.
Skin allergy, nutritional imprudence, deficiency of digestive enzymes can affect your dog’s peptic system. Proper digestion is vital to generate adequate energy level inside their body. To manage various digestive problem recently veterinarians and nutritionists developed a clinical nutrition process for easy digestion.
Pet owners who have been trying to overcome their dog’s kidney disease can get relief to use this Hill’s Prescription Diet Renal Health Food which is really supported to recover their dog’s digestive health.
Pros:
- Helps to maintain gastrointestinal health
- Contain Low protein, phosphorus, and sodium
- Antioxidants help to maintain cell oxidation
- Ideal food get relief from kidney disease
Cons:
- None
10. Best Low Protein Natural Dog Food – Holistic Select
This natural dry dog food is made in accordance with the weight management formula to support overweight dogs. The recipe of this diet is conveyed by digestive health support system for all stages of dogs with prebiotics, probiotics, natural fibres and peptic enzymes.
The holistic select formula ensures the suitable amount of nutrients and specific level of proteins for your dog’s proper health management. The combination of high quality and low protein ingredients supports to utilize all vital nutrients in your dog’s body.
It also provides a complete and balanced diet with the best quality natural ingredients like wheat-gluten, chicken, and peas with low calories to reach weight loss target.
Many dog proprietors are concerned about their dog’s overweight and choose this Holistic Select Grain-Free Dry Dog Food as the ideal food supplement to control obesity. It will be easy for you to manage dog’s weight, developing muscles and energy level by feeding this food in regular basis.
It is more noticeable that dog owners who bought this food at once convinced to make the order again. Observing the overall improvement of the dog’s health, their owners feel happy and interested to offer this low protein food regularly.
Pros:
- Best cure for dogs suffering from digestive problems
- Quality protein sources and different formula ensure balanced nutrition at all stages
- Helps to control overweight
- Low calories reach at weight loss target
- A product of USA
Cons:
- Bit risky for dogs having allergies
Why Does Low Protein Diet Essential for Dogs?
Basically, protein is very much essential for a healthy and balanced canine diet. It contains necessary amino acids that dogs need for proper growth and function of muscles. There are 22 amino acids make the necessary proteins in the dog’s body required to ensure overall healthy functions. So, it is indispensable the right amount of protein for building blocks of the dog’s body with regular activities.
Poor amount of protein exhibits low energy and loyal to your dog’s lower growth. It also causes deformation or bone weakness, chronic skin, and ear problems. On the other hand, excess protein consumption cannot absorb in the body at a time and the additional protein excretes through the urine.
It may cause of permanent kidney or liver problem. So, low protein dog treats may save your dog from kidney problems, liver problems, urinary stones, Lyme disease, cirrhosis, natural ageing and so on.
Now the question is how much amount of protein level considered as low protein food? According to veterinarian Dr. Sherry Sanderson, any dog food which has at least 18% of raw protein considered as low-protein food.
Sometimes in the special case, less than or equal 16% is measured as low protein diet. So, if the dog affected by urine, kidney or liver problem, then a low protein diet is the must.
Things to Consider Before Choosing Low Protein Dog Foods
Behind choosing the low protein food you may have some query to compare and check the percentage of protein level which is essential for your dog. You can consider the following features.
Protein Ingredients
It is necessary to check the protein content at an adequate level because the lower level in the diet is risky for dogs. So before purchasing puppy food, you must ensure the protein level. You should also check other ingredients like sweet potatoes, bison, potato protein, pea protein, canola oil, light rye flour, tapioca flour, fish oil, pure pumpkin, cinnamon, brewer,s rice, chicken by-product meal, corn, and natural flavors which covers the dietary plan for your dog and sorting out if there is any harmful ingredient.
Raw Protein
A decent lower protein food should have at least 18% of raw protein. The ratio is different between wet dog food and dry dog food UK. Say for example if a canine food contains 10% protein within 75% moisture then you have to deduct this 75% to get back 25% is the matter of dry food. From this 25%, you have to sort out the actual protein percentage by dividing 10% by 25% to get 40% minimum protein content.
Select Renowned Brands
Usually, most pet owners are loyal to all well-known brands that are renowned in the market for a long time. Popular food brands like Hill’s Science Diet, Nutro, Canidae, Royal Canin, Purina Pro Plan, Blue Buffalo, Natural Balance, Holistic Select Natural Pet Food, and Mattie’s Treats are manufactured by the instructions of food scientist and veterinarians. So, a well-established brand could protect your dog from any unwanted digestive harassments.
Balanced Diet
Besides reducing protein level you should make sure the well-balanced meal with all other fundamental food ingredients. It is also bad if you try to fill the protein shortage with fat. Actually balanced meals should make with protein, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains.
Protein supplies 3 micronutrients are very much essential for the dog’s body in the proper growth. Due to liver, kidney, and bladder problem sometimes you may need to reduce the protein amount in dog diet. But always consult with your vet to make sure the protein level according to your dog’s health.
Liver Cirrhosis
The liver is the most vital organ when it comes to process toxins. It is not safe to developing problems and no longer be able to refine toxins inside the body. The nitrogenous waste material is one of the harmful substances accumulate in the blood and reach the brain when the liver becomes failure to process it effectively.
In this case, a low protein diet can decrease the nitrogenous wastes and assist the liver to process limited noxious substances. It also helps to eliminate the gathering of nitrogenous wastes.
Kidney Stones
It has been examined that, near about 6 per cent urinary bladder stones found in the dog’s body. Low protein diets help to respond quickly to urinary stones. But, it is important to realize the using of low protein diet with urate bladder stones in the dog’s body. Though diet is a temporary solution the dog may return the urate crystals melt as high-protein diet.
Renal Colic
Clinical studies have shown the role of restricting protein intake in slowing down the disease involved in renal failure issue. Actually, renal failure is the position of the kidney when it becomes fail to perform its basic level of functions like producing urine by filtering blood and eliminating wastes by emitting the urine.
When nitrogenous wastes are not removing properly may cause to lead blood urea nitrogen. In this case, if anybody adds more high protein with a regular dog diet may increase the possibility of generating more nitrogenous wastes in the blood. It may cause diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, Lyme disease, skin infection and so on.
Protein-losing Issue
Protein-losing may cause serious renal disease. In this case, kidneys loss its workability and enhance rapid renal failure. The weak filtering mechanism may allow large substances like protein with other molecules. It’s like a big hole created in the filtering mechanism lead to loss of proteins in urine.
So normally, pet owners try to fill the deficit of lost protein by increasing protein intake. As a result, the size of the hole increases more and passes the high amount of necessary substances through urine. The lower amount of protein reduces the number of protein substances lost in the kidneys.
Benefits of Using Low-Protein Dog Food
- When your dog starts to get lower protein level then lower toxins also enter into their body which resolves any digestion problem and reduces extra pressure from the kidney.
- It also helps to manage the inflammatory ailments in the kidneys by reducing the toxin production inside the body.
- When the liver does not work properly and it has malfunction problem then low protein food can help to reduce the indication and make it easier the digestion process of the liver.
- When your dog is suffering from Lyme disease, low protein foods can assist to diminish the anxiety and similar symptoms.
- After all, these lower amount of protein foods are suggested for Hepatic encephalopathy, Glomerulonephritis, and deterrence of urinary stones.
Final Verdict:
From the above discussion, it is clear the importance of low protein food for dogs and its usefulness when the dog suffering from any protein-related issue. It is also important to sort out the appropriate protein level regarding the dog’s health and sincere about any wrong consideration which may bring disaster into your dog’s life. You may also consult with your vet about your dog’s current health condition before finalizing your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of offering low protein foods to your pooch?
It may plenty of benefits you can gain through low protein foods for your dogs. But you have to ensure that, the food has been formulated with low protein ingredients not too low protein ingredients. Lower amount of protein level is too much harmful for dog health.
What is the best low protein dry dog food?
Dogs that are sick with certain reasons can be benefited from low protein dog foods than usual high protein diets. The “Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food” contains a lower protein level including active probiotics, healthy fiber, and digestive enzymes. It is specially formulated for overweight dogs with a unique Digestive Health Support System.
What percentage is low protein dog food?
According to veterinarian commercial dog foods for adult dogs can contain 25% protein content. On the other hand, a prescription diet should fall between 15% – 20% protein element. In some cases, it can be reduced to 5 % -10% for your dog’s proper health care.
What dog food has the least amount of protein?
The “Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Gastro Intestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food” contains only 6.0% protein and specifically formulated to cure acute intestinal absorption disorders and promote nutritional restoration and convalescence of your dog. it is low in fiber and easy to digest provides Complete and balanced nutrition to your dog.
Should older dogs eat less protein?
Without any special reason, older dogs always should get a minimum of 25% calories from protein with their regular meals. Dogs, in their older age, may lose muscle mass, which means losses in protein reserves. So, you should increase the protein ratio of senior diets to make the complete nutritional balance.
Are eggs a good source of protein for dogs?
Obviously, eggs are a good source of digestible high-quality protein. There are some dogs are suffered for digestive problems, eggs can provide them a little protein boost without any intestinal sufferings. So, you can add eggs to your dog’s regular meal as a healthy treat.
What is the best protein for dogs?
Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Duck, Venison, Eggs, and Fishes are the best protein source are easiest to digest for dogs. There are also plant-based proteins like wheat or corn gluten recommended as the best protein for dogs.
Is there any protein for dogs in a banana?
Bananas are one of the most widely consumed fruits that provide a variety of vitamins and minerals. Fresh bananas in each meal contain 110 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrate and 1 gram of protein. This fruit is naturally free of fat, sodium, and cholesterol but associated with numerous health benefits.
What is low protein dog food?
Dog food with low protein recommended for assisting impaired kidneys, liver functions, and overall health conditions. It is confusing to identify the actual ratio but for low protein dry dog food 13-18% protein amount is considered as an ideal lower protein diet for the dog.
How much protein amount considered as low protein food?
A food contains less than 23% protein considered low protein food. Sometimes the ratio could be 18% for adult dogs to meet the nutritional level. According to the veterinarian, the food with less than 18% protein helps in the formation of the various health problems of the dog.
What is the importance of low protein diet dog food?
Low protein diet food is very much important for dogs generally loss protein with urine. It helps to increase the survival time by reducing protein loss from the dog’s body. Some vegetables like, bread, cereals, pasta, rice are considered as the low-quality protein source.
Is too much protein harmful for dogs?
Obviously, excessive protein foods contain high calorie and cause of rapid weight gain. When dogs suffer from liver or kidney problems and regularly take too much protein can raise the workload of these limbs and interrupt the normal activity leading to the possibility of diseases.
What are the sources of low protein food for dogs?
There are plenty of food contains low proteins, those are incredibly needed for healthy nutrition for the dog. Some of them are listed below:
- Fish
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Avocados
- Nuts
- Rice
- Cereal
