hydrolyzed protein dog food side effects
What Is Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food? Pros, Cons, & FAQ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreIf your dog is allergic to proteins or struggles with inflammatory bowel disease, youve probably heard abouthydrolyzed protein dog food. Meat is one of the most commonallergens1found in dog food which often leads to itchiness and upset stomachs. The bodies of allergic dogs mistake the proteins as a threat and attack them, resulting in an allergic reaction.
However, these ingredients also provide your dog with complete proteins that contain amino acids that help their bodies function, provide them with energy, and keep them healthyand are therefore a crucial part of their diet.
Hydrolyzed protein dog food is a great alternative food for dogs with certain health problems because its made with proteins that have undergone a process in which theyve been broken down into tiny molecules that are too small to be identified by the immune system and, therefore, no allergic reaction occurs.
How Does It Work?
As we mentioned above, hydrolyzed protein dog food doesnt contain the full-form protein that is found in most dog food but rather tiny molecules of protein that are too small to be identified by the body. Thanks to science, the necessary protein your dog needs in their food can be hydrolyzed, which typically involves water and hydrochloric acid or proteolytic enzymes to break the protein peptide bonds apart to form single amino acids.
These two processes affect the breakdown of protein in a similar way that a dogs digestive system would break protein down. The protein strands can be broken down into smaller strand sizes or completely isolated to individual amino acids. Its a complex process, but it is approved by the FDA.
This type of dog food is necessary for dogs that cant digest protein well, as the protein has already been broken down and their digestive system doesnt have to do much work.
Novel Protein, Limited Ingredient, or Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?
Dogs with protein allergies are often allergic to chicken, lamb, beef, and fish because these are most commonly found in dog food. Its unlikely for a dog to be triggered by these animal proteins at first, but after eating the same diet over time, they may develop symptoms such as itchiness, hair loss, infections, vomiting, and diarrhea. This reaction can sometimes be eliminated by changing their dog food to one that contains novel protein instead of the protein theyve always consumed.
Often, before starting on hydrolyzed protein dog food, dog owners will buy dog food with a novel protein, such as kangaroo, venison, alligator, ostrich, etc., but if their body still reacts poorly to these animal proteins, theyll need something more radical.
A limited ingredient recipe may be all your dog needs to overcome their symptoms as these recipes cut out common allergens found in dog foodbut it may not be enough for your dog, and they may need to be transitioned onto hydrolyzed protein dog food to eliminate the threat altogether.
Both limited-ingredient and novel protein dog food can be bought at pet stores or specialty retailer stores without a prescription, while hydrolyzed protein dog food can only be purchased with a prescription from your vet. You should discuss any illness and food changes with your vet beforehand.
What Types of Dogs Do Best on Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?
Dogs with health issues that make digesting protein difficult will do best on hydrolyzed protein dog food. These conditions may be inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, or pancreatic disease. Dogs with food allergies should have mild to no reactions, and dogs with bowel problems should experience less bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Types of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Foods
There are many hydrolyzed protein dog food options across a variety of brands that work with nutritionists and food scientists to achieve their formulas. It is not necessary to feed your dog hydrolyzed protein if they havent been diagnosed with food allergies or digestive problems, as standard high-quality dog food is nutritionally balanced and complete and will give your dog everything they need.
You also dont need to feed your dog this type of food if their symptoms are mild or if they do well on novel proteins, limited ingredient diets, or any other diet that meets their nutritional needs. However, hydrolyzed protein diets are excellent for dogs who require italbeit more expensive and harder to get.
Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Purina, and several other brands cater to dogs with digestive issues. These recipes reduce reactions, such as skin itchiness, dull coat, and stomach upset due to the broken-down proteins. Most of them also include fibers and prebiotics to restore and maintain the gut with healthy bacteria.
Hydrolyzed protein dog food comes in two types: dry dog food and canned dog food.
A few excellent options of hydrolyzed protein dog foods are:
Advantages of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
There are many advantages to hydrolyzed protein dog food. It can reduce the symptoms and discomfort your dog faces on a daily basis caused by food allergens, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and inflammatory bowel disease. Because hydrolyzed protein is already broken down, their bodies dont have to work as hard to digest it, and its so small that the immune system doesnt recognize it as a threat.
Its a safe option for allergic dogs, and it not only reduces signs but can restore once itchy, dry, and dull skin and coats back to a healthy and shiny condition.
Another advantage to this food is that its made under strict conditions to prevent unwanted ingredients from contaminating the specialized food. By avoiding cross-contamination, you can easily pinpoint what causes your dogs allergic reactions and get answers faster.
Disadvantages of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
Of course, nothing is perfect, and hydrolyzed protein dog food comes with a few disadvantages. The first is the price. Because of the extensive process and strict quality control this type of food undergoes, it is very expensive and costs more than many premium dog foods on the market. How long your dog may need to stay on the food is unknown and may ultimately become a bigger expense than you anticipated.
Unfortunately, some dogs still experience flare-ups on this specialized food. What works for someone elses dog may not work as well for yours. Your dog may also refuse to eat it, and youll lose a lot of money and still have your dogs condition to worry about. Some manufacturers offer a money-back guarantee if your dog will not eat their food.
Hydrolyzed protein is bitter in taste, and dog foods often contain artificial flavors to make them more appealingbut artificial flavors can cause allergies in some dogs.
And lastly, you need a prescription to be able to purchase the most hydrolyzed protein dog food, which requires a trip to your vet, which is an extra financial and time investment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Can My Dog Be on Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?
Your dog will be on the food for a minimum of 612 weeks until their symptoms subside. After this period, you can start to introduce one protein source to their food. If they have a reaction to it, you know theyre allergic to that type of protein. This process can take time, but its important to work with your vet and follow their treatment advice when your dog is on this specialized food. It is an elimination diet that identifies which types of ingredients your dog is allergic to and can rule out environmental factors as the symptoms often mimic each other.
Can I Make It At Home?
Hydrolyzed protein dog food is expensive and wondering whether you can make it yourself at home is a reasonable question. But the food is so expensive for a reason, and thats because it undergoes a special process and must be made in the lab by professionals, using the correct chemicals and equipment. Its also made under strict conditions to avoid cross-contamination. Therefore, it cannot be made at home.
What Can I Feed My Dog Instead of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?
As weve mentioned above, alternatives to hydrolyzed protein dog food would be diets consisting of limited ingredients or using novel proteins instead of the common ones. However, these alternatives are not a direct replacement and arent always effective.
Some companies have started using insects as their protein source as its unlikely that dogs will be allergic to them. The black soldier fly and mealworms are most commonly used. Others believe that plant protein is the way to combat allergies in dogs, using tree nuts, edible seeds, and peanuts instead of meat. However, its important to chat with your vet before switching your dog onto uncommon formulas.
Wrapping Up
If your dog has digestive problems or food allergies, your vet may consider hydrolyzed protein dog food. This food contains proteins that have been broken down through the process of hydrolysis and are no longer seen as a threat to your dogs immune system. Youll need a prescription from your vet to purchase the food and will need to follow their feeding guidelines and treatment advice. Thankfully, there are various types of this food to choose from, and youre likely to see great improvements in your dog from it.
Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
What Is Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food? Types, Pros & Cons (Vet Reviewed)
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreSifting through the jungle of diet options available for dogs in this day and age can be as equally confusing as it is overwhelming. While you sort through the diverse foods on the market and try and understand the differences, you will likely come across hydrolyzed protein dog foods. While some of the others are a bit easy to understand, you may be left wondering what hydrolyzed protein is exactly.
In some special dog foods, usually prescription diets available from veterinary surgeons, hydrolyzed protein is used. Hydrolyzed protein goes through a process called hydrolysis, which breaks down the proteins into smaller building blocks. Keep reading to find out more about hydrolyzed protein.
How Does It Work?
Hydrolyzed protein dog foods are formulated using hydrolyzed protein rather than regular protein. They are used for dogs that suffer from ailments such as severe food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, sensitive stomach, and even pancreatic insufficiency.
Hydrolyzed proteins are created through the process of hydrolysis, which is a chemical process where enzymes are used to break down the protein molecules into smaller peptide chains.
Once the protein has been broken down into amino acids and peptides, they become more easily absorbed in the digestive tract and reduce the risk of an immune reaction. Allergic reactions to food develop when the immune system misidentifies a certain food protein as a potential threat, resulting in a variety of allergy signs. Since these foods are made to contain protein chains too small to trigger the immune system, they are commonly prescribed to dogs that suffer from severe food allergies.
What Are the Different Types of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?
Several different brands produce hydrolyzed protein dog food. There are both dry kibble and canned food varieties. We have listed the different brands and formulas below and included their main ingredients, caloric content, and the protein and fat content in each recipe.
Hydrolyzed Protein Dry Dog Food
1. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate, Partially Hydrogenated Canola Oil Preserved with Tbhq, Coconut Oil, Powdered Cellulose |
| Protein content: | 18% min |
| Fat content: | 8% min |
| Calories: | 3,695 kcal/kg, 314 kcal/cup |
2. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Vegetarian Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate, Coconut Oil, Partially Hydrogenated Canola Oil Preserved With TBHQ, Powdered Cellulose |
| Protein content: | 18% min |
| Fat content: | 9.5% min |
| Calories: | 3,695 kcal/kg, 314 kcal/cup |
Hydrolyzed Protein Canned Dog Food
1. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf Canned Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Water Sufficient for Processing, Pea Starch, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Vegetable Oil |
| Protein content: | 5% min |
| Fat content: | 2.5% min |
| Calories: | 1,016 kcal/kg, 396 kcal/can |
2. Hills Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Original Flavor Wet Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Water, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Corn Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Oil |
| Protein content: | 3.0% min |
| Fat content: | 2.3% min |
| Calories: | 352 kcal / 13 oz (370 g) can |
When Is Hydrolyzed Protein Used?
Hydrolyzed protein is prescribed when a veterinarian feels it is necessary for a dogs health to make the switch to this type of protein. It is used for a variety of different health conditions.
Food Allergies
Most often, hydrolyzed protein diets are utilized in the elimination phase of food trials when a veterinarian is trying to determine the root cause of an allergy. These foods are used to remove potential food allergens from the diet and return the immune system to its normal state.
The brand of food in the elimination diet will be dependent on the patients preference and veterinarians professional opinion. The elimination trials typically last 8 to 12 weeks before foods with potential allergens are introduced back in. This is a strict process but the most effective way to diagnose a food allergy. No alternative foods or treats are allowed during the elimination trial.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Hydrolyzed dog foods have proven effective in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs.Studies show that feeding hydrolyzed proteins reduces the severity of the chronic signs associated with the condition, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Studies also suggest that the long-term use of hydrolyzed protein improves the overall health of the intestinal membrane.
Sensitive Stomach
The sensitive stomach can be more of a blanket term to cover any digestive issues including conditions like food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease listed above. Some dogs have trouble digesting food and when trouble with digestion is persistent, hydrolyzed proteins can be very beneficial. Since the proteins are already broken down into smaller components, meaning it is in a pre-digested form, it becomes much more easy to digest and even has higher nutrient profiles due to the hydrolysis process.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Another health condition that can benefit from a hydrolyzed protein diet is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or EPI. With this condition, a dog does not produce adequate amounts of pancreatic enzymes that are needed to properly break down food during digestion. As mentioned above for dogs with other issues digesting, the hydrolysis process the food goes through improves the digestibility of the protein and helps manage the signs of this condition.
Advantages of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
Easy to Digest
As weve discussed previously, the process that hydrolyzed protein dog food goes through breaks the proteins down into smaller components known as amino acids and peptides. This takes the protein to a pre-digested state and allows the gastrointestinal system to easily digest the food and absorb the nutrients. This makes the nutrient profile of these foods superior to regular proteins.
Eliminates Allergens
Hydrolyzed proteins are built to fly under the radar of the immune system, preventing them from causing the immune reaction of the specific allergen that afflicts the dog. They are too small to bind to the receptors that can trigger allergic response. When used in elimination diets, it allows the immune system to become free of the irritating allergen and resets it to its normal state. This eliminates the inflammatory response and allows the veterinarian to reintroduce different proteins and other potential allergens in the diet so that the specific issue can be identified, and the food allergy can be diagnosed.
Can Resolve GI Issues
Dogs that struggle with digestive issues such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatic insufficiency, or any digestive impairment can benefit from this food. Studies have proven that hydrolyzed protein food can either improve or resolve gastrointestinal issues and eliminate troublesome signs.
Available in Dry Kibble and Canned Options
Thankfully, there are both dry kibble and canned varieties available. This helps for picky eaters that turn their noses up to dry kibbles, or for those that do not find the hydrolyzed kibble appetizing. Some owners prefer to offer one type of food or the other, and its nice to have that choice with a prescription-only diet.
Can Help Heal Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis and adverse food reactions can be present in the same patient. While atopic dermatitis can range from mild to severe, it causes a great deal of itch and discomfort and can be difficult to treat. This is especially true if there is a concurrent food allergy. Swapping to a hydrolyzed diet can help relieve the dermatological problems.
Disadvantages of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food
As many benefits as hydrolyzed protein diets can have, there are some disadvantages of this type of food that we discuss in detail below.
Expense
Theres no way around it: a hydrolyzed protein diet comes at a hefty expense. These foods can cost upwards of $5 per pound. It is costly because of the process it must go through. While this is expensive for small and medium-sized dogs, it can get very costly for owners of extra-large dogs that require more quantity per feeding.
While this can be very deterring, it is important to remember that if this food is necessary for your dogs health, it is well worth the cost. When used in an elimination diet, it can be temporary until the allergen is identified and you can go back to a non-prescription food that works. Talk to your veterinarian if you are concerned about price so they can help you weigh the benefits versus the downfalls.
Prescription-Only
Another disadvantage of hydrolyzed protein food is the fact that it is prescription-only and cannot be obtained without a veterinarian. This means that owners cannot perform their own elimination diet or decide on their own that this type of diet is necessary. While this is inconvenient that you cant easily grab it from the store, this type of diet is set apart from traditional dog diets and it is best done under the supervision of a veterinary professional.
Palatability
A big complaint among dog owners is that dogs are not always big fans of hydrolyzed protein foods. The palatability isnt the greatest, likely due to the absence of meat sources and other additives that are included in commercial dog foods. When you run into trouble getting your dog to eat hydrolyzed protein formulas, your veterinarian may switch to canned varieties to entice them to eat. Hesitancy to eat the prescribed food should immediately be discussed with the prescribing veterinarian.
Odor
Hydrolyzed protein has a different odor than your normal dog food, which is not unusual. This is a different type of food that goes through an entirely different process than commercial kibbles and canned foods. While the smell may not be appealing, if there was a prescription written for the food, its because the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
My Dog Has Allergies, Should I Have Them on a Hydrolyzed Protein Diet?
If your dog has allergies or is experiencing signs that could be indicative of food or environmental allergies, you should set an appointment with your veterinarian. They may have you try out other commercial food options before prescribing a hydrolyzed protein diet.
There are some limited ingredients, single protein, and other formulas on the market that are geared toward allergy sufferers. If you try these foods out under your veterinarians supervision and you find success, you may not need to go as far as a prescription diet. If your vet feels the hydrolyzed protein diet is the way to go, they will provide the prescription and further instructions.
Are There Side Effects of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Foods?
There may be some side effects to hydrolyzed protein diets such as a change in stool consistency. Since this is a prescription diet, it will be fed under your veterinarians supervision, so you will direct these kinds of questions to them and will follow their instructions carefully while making the transition.
Conclusion
Hydrolyzed protein dog food is a prescription-only diet that comes in both dry and canned food varieties. The protein included in these foods goes through a process called hydrolysis where they are broken into smaller components known as amino acids and peptides. They are prescribed for dogs suffering from food allergies and other severe digestive issues because the proteins are much more easily digestible and the immune system does not detect them as allergens.
Several brands offer the food, but you must obtain a veterinary prescription and feed under the supervision of the veterinarian. As with any food, it has its advantages and disadvantages, but this diet can truly help manage or even eliminate certain health concerns and help your dog live a happy, healthy life.
Featured Image Credit: Christian Mueller, Shutterstock
