Over the last three decades, the trend in pet foods has been toward meat-first, high-protein foods stressing high-meat-containing formulation. The implication is that more protein is better for the health of the dog (which is an omnivore and not a carnivore). Basic principles of nutrition focus on nutritional balance, proper fortification and adequate bioavailability. Optimal formulas are where more is often not better, but it is just “more.” By stressing increased meat protein, many nutrients are over-formulated, leading to nutritional “imbalance” health issues (see Table 1). This is especially true with protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus. In general, the higher the inclusion rate of meat products in pet food, the higher the concentration of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other micro-minerals.
