Protein & amino acids
Why Animal-Sourced Protein is Superior for Carnivores
Complete Amino Acid Profile: Proteins are made up of amino acids, and there are 20 standard amino acids that make up the proteins your pet needs. Dogs and cats, like all animals, require 9 essential amino acids that they cannot produce on their own and must get from their diet. These include lysine, methionine, threonine, valine, and others.
Animal proteins (meat, fish, chicken, etc.) are considered complete proteins, meaning they contain all 9 essential amino acids in the correct proportions needed for a carnivorous diet. This makes animal-based protein sources ideal for dogs and cats, as their bodies can easily utilize them for muscle growth, tissue repair, and overall health.
Plant proteins, on the other hand, often lack one or more of these essential amino acids, which means they are incomplete proteins. While plants contain protein, they don't provide the full spectrum of amino acids in the right proportions needed for a carnivore's body to function optimally.
Bioavailability and Digestibility:
Animal proteins are highly bioavailable, meaning they are easier for carnivores to digest and absorb. This is because their digestive systems are designed for processing animal tissue. Cats, in particular, have shorter digestive tracts that are optimized for breaking down meat and absorbing nutrients directly from it.
Plant proteins are harder to digest for carnivores. They often come with fibers and other components that inhibit digestion, making it harder for dogs and cats to absorb the full nutritional value. For example, some plant-based proteins contain anti-nutrients like phytates, which can bind to essential minerals (like zinc and iron), making them unavailable to your pet.
Additionally, the amino acid profile of plant proteins is often less balanced, requiring your pet’s body to work harder to break down and synthesize the necessary amino acids from the incomplete set found in plants.
Protein Quality: Animal-based proteins are typically much higher quality than plant-based proteins, not just because they have a complete amino acid profile, but also because they contain important nutrients that are easily absorbed by carnivores. These nutrients include:
Taurine (particularly for cats), which is crucial for heart and eye health.
Vitamin B12, which is essential for nerve function and red blood cell production.
Arginine, which is involved in protein synthesis and detoxification processes.
Plant proteins, even though they can provide some amino acids, often do not contain these vital nutrients in the amounts carnivores need, and therefore, your pet would need to get these nutrients from additional sources (which complicates the diet further).
Supporting Natural Function and Health:
Carnivores have evolved to thrive on high-protein, animal-based diets, and their metabolism is specifically adapted to process animal tissue. Animal protein provides higher amounts of bioavailable amino acids that directly support the growth, repair, and maintenance of muscle mass, immune function, and overall energy production.
In contrast, feeding a carnivore vegetable-based protein forces the animal to work harder to synthesize the amino acids it needs, which can lead to incomplete protein intake, suboptimal health, and potential deficiencies over time. Cats, for instance, have a much higher need for protein than dogs and cannot thrive on a plant-based diet, as their bodies are not designed to process plant protein effectively.
Potential Health Risks of Plant-Based Protein:
For cats, especially, a diet rich in plant protein can lead to nutrient deficiencies, such as a lack of taurine (an essential amino acid found only in animal tissues) which can cause serious health issues like heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy), vision problems, and reproductive issues.
Similarly, dogs may struggle with protein quality when relying on plant-based sources. The lower digestibility of plant proteins means they might not get the essential nutrients they need for muscle mass, immune function, and overall health, leading to fatigue, poor coat condition, and general lethargy.
The Key Difference:
The main reason animal-based protein is far superior to plant-based protein for dogs and cats is that carnivorous animals need specific amino acids, and animal proteins are the most reliable source to meet these needs. Plant proteins are not only incomplete, but they also come with digestive barriers and missing nutrients that can negatively impact the health of your pet over time.
In Summary:
Animal protein provides a complete amino acid profile, is highly digestible, and contains critical nutrients like taurine, vitamin B12, and arginine that are necessary for the health of carnivores.
Plant protein, while it can offer some amino acids, often lacks the full spectrum of essential nutrients and amino acids required by dogs and cats, making it less effective and more difficult to digest.
For optimal health, dogs and cats need animal-based protein to thrive — their bodies are simply not built to extract the right balance of nutrients from plant-based sources.
By choosing animal-based proteins, you’re ensuring that your dog or cat gets the highest quality nutrition that aligns with their natural carnivorous diet.
