[CorkyMax]

This is also an article from Drs. Foster and Smith.
Are high protein diets harmful to my dog's kidneys?

A. A rumor has been going around that high protein diets cause kidney disease. This rumor is false. High protein pet foods are NOT harmful to a normal animal's kidneys. As an animal's body digests and metabolizes protein, nitrogen is released as a by-product. The excess nitrogen is excreted by the kidneys. A high protein diet produces more nitrogen by-products and the kidneys simply excrete the nitrogen in the urine. While you may think this would 'overwork' the kidneys and lead to possible kidney damage, this is not true. The kidney's filtering capabilities are so great that even one kidney is sufficient to sustain a normal life. There are many pets - and humans - living perfectly healthy lives with just one kidney.
The myth that high protein diets are harmful to kidneys probably started because, in the past, patients with kidney disease were commonly placed on low protein (and thus low nitrogen) diets. Now, we often put them on a diet that is not necessarily very low in protein, but contains protein that is more digestible so there are fewer nitrogen by-products. These diet changes are made merely because damaged kidneys may not be able to handle the excess nitrogen efficiently. In pets with existing kidney problems, nitrogen can become too high in the bloodstream, which can harm other tissues.

Unless your veterinarian has told you your pet has a kidney problem and it is severe enough to adjust the protein intake, you can feed your pet a high protein diet without worrying about 'damaging' or 'stressing' your pet's kidneys. Also, you are not 'saving' your pet's kidneys by feeding a low protein diet.

Here is the link to the vets site--A lot of good info there: Dog, Cat, and Pet Care Tips, Health and Behavior Information by Veterinarians

[Todd]

You are correct. I have also read that high levels of low quality protein like corn protein could contribute to kidney problems. Quality, meat protein is great!

Also, you need to make sure the dog get plenty of calcium along with plenty of high quality meat protein. Your dog should maintain a calcium/phospherous ratio of about from between 1.2:1 and 1.3:1.

On a side note, the only issue with high quality kibble with high levels of protein is that kibble is dehydrated. I feed raw, which is really mostly comprised of moisture if you think about it. Moisture/liquid is neccessary along with protein to help the kidneys function property. When feeding a high quality/high protein kibble, just be sure to keep your dog hydrated and add a little water to the kibble as well for moisture. Canned food is actually your better bet.