Is 32% protein too high for my indoor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 5 years and 2 months old | 17 lbs
Is 32% protein too much for my indoor cavalier King Charles spaniel? I've fed natural balance before and that had 20% protein. Which is better and why?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 20th, 2017
Hello, neither of them are wrong or better than one another. The difference being is that the food with the higher protein is likely leaner (more energy is derived from protein) and has less carbohydrates or fat associated with it. Now, unless your dog is working dog, she may not need that much extra protein. Vice versa, the lower protein food may have a higher carbohydrate or fat percentage. Both foods however, if formulated for "maintenance" should meet the AAFCO requirements for energy of an adult dog. Meaning, you're going to be feeding the same amount of energy to Chloe, except one is going to be coming mainly from protein and the other one from fat and/or carbs. AAFCO recommends a minimum protein content of 18% in canine dog food formulations for maintenance. Therefore both of the foods you were feeding meet this minimum requirement. One of the contraindications for a high protein food is if your dog has kidney disease. With kidney disease, excess protein may worsen this disease and therefore, kidney diets actually contain less protein. Hope this helps.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 1st, 2017
Hello, Chloe's diet has the average protein content for a maintenance food. She does not need any more protein and will not become protein deficient on that percentage of protein. Majority of the protein in food is either used for energy, stored in the amino acid pool, or converted to fat. Since Chloe is not a working dog, she does not need excessive protein to replenish her amino acid pool. Any excess amino acids will again, be converted to energy or stored as fat. Hope this helps
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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