With a high-quality protein diet, there is not as much waste produced that the kidneys need to eliminate, so your pet will actually retain the protein.
Protein has been the center of confusion when it comes to feeding older dogs. While low-protein diets used to be recommended for seniors—with the thought being that high amounts of protein can overtax the kidneys—now the opposite is known to be true. According to a review of evidence published in Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, “Protein restriction for healthy older dogs is not only unnecessary, it can be detrimental.”
Reviewers discovered that sufficient amounts of protein help prevent loss of lean body mass and even increases mortality rates, and the protein needs of older dogs’ actually increase by about 50 percent. High-quality, easily digestible protein is key.
Before you just scan the labels and think “the more the merrier” in terms of protein, remember that there is a method to the high-protein dog food madness.