Plant-Based Proteins for Dogs

Dogs, much like humans, require proteins to live a healthy life. These proteins are made up of amino acids, the building blocks essential for various bodily functions. While dogs have traditionally relied on animal proteins, they are omnivores by nature, which means they're perfectly capable of digesting and utilizing plant-based proteins as well. Studies, such as one by Dodd, S. A. S., Adolphe, J. L., & Verbrugghe, A. (2018). Plant-based diets for dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, have shown that dogs can flourish on a diet rich in plant-based proteins, provided it is carefully balanced to meet their nutritional needs.

Planet Dog Proteins: The Powerhouses

Mung beans, potato protein, quinoa, and lentils are like a team of superheroes, each offering distinct advantages when combined to create Planet Dog. Every ingredient provides specific health benefits, ensuring a well-rounded and nutritious diet for dogs. Let us explain further:

Sprouted  Beans: The Protein Pioneers

Sprouted Mung beans bring a robust protein profile, functioning like the powerhouse of the dog’s diet. Rich in vital amino acids, they fuel muscle growth and overall health, much like a seasoned warrior equipping for a lengthy campaign. Their low-allergenic potential ensures they are a safe choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs, serving as a steadfast ally in the nutritional battlefield. See Can Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts? Vet-Reviewed Benefits & Precautions – Dogster

Why Sprout?

Sprouting mung beans unlocks their full potential, transforming them into a nutritional powerhouse that enhances your dog’s diet. The process of sprouting significantly boosts the levels of beneficial compounds like phenolic acids and flavonoids, with vitexin and isovitexin increasing by up to 4.5 and 6.8 times respectively. These antioxidants are crucial in combating oxidative stress, similar to our heroes donning stronger armor against the forces of aging and disease. Moreover, sprouting reduces anti-nutritional factors such as phytic acid by 76%, ensuring that vital minerals like zinc and iron are more readily absorbed. This means that sprouted mung beans not only provide superior nutritional benefits but also support robust immune function and metabolic health, much like a seasoned warrior enhancing their resilience and strength. See Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.): Bioactive Polyphenols, Polysaccharides, Peptides, and Health Benefits

Potato Protein: The Versatile Ally

Potatoes are more than just a carbohydrate source; they also provide high-quality protein that can enhance the nutritional value of plant-based dog food. Although potato protein content is relatively low, it boasts a high-quality amino acid profile, making it a valuable ingredient when combined with other proteins like mung beans, quinoa, and lentils. Potatoes are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. Vitamin C, although not essential for dogs, acts as an antioxidant, supporting immune health and aiding nutrient absorption. Potassium in potatoes plays a vital role in cellular functions, protein synthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism. The inclusion of potato protein in our recipe ensures a well-rounded, nutritionally robust diet for your dog. See The Potato as an Ingredient in Pet Foods

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Quinoa: The Complete Crusader

Quinoa, with its complete protein profile, is like the all-rounder superhero, equipped with every tool needed to face a myriad of challenges. It brings a wealth of nutrients to the table, from fibre to vitamins and minerals, like a multifaceted gadget belt that prepares our canine heroes for any situation, with the added benefit of being gentle on the most sensitive of stomachs. See Traughber, Zachary T., et al. "Ancient grains as novel dietary carbohydrate sources in canine diets." Journal of Animal Science, vol. 99, no. 6, 2021

Lentils: The Heart Guardian

Lentils, rich in protein and fibre, are the steadfast protectors of our heroes' heart health. Their nutrient-dense profile supports energy levels and overall well-being, like the steadfast sidekick ensuring our hero is always at their best. The fibre in lentils also plays a crucial role in managing cholesterol, similar to a shield deflecting the threats to cardiovascular health. See Quilliam, C., Ren, Y., Morris, T., Ai, Y., & Weber, L. P. (2021). The Effects of 7 Days of Feeding Pulse-Based Diets on Digestibility, Glycemic Response and Taurine Levels in Domestic Dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science

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The Power Beyond Meat

As we look deeper, it becomes evident that these plant-based proteins are not just keeping pace with their meat-based counterparts; they are surpassing them. This revelation is like discovering that our heroes possess abilities far beyond what we had imagined. The traditional dog food narrative, with its reliance on meat and added synthetic amino acids, starts to look like the old guard, unable to keep up with the new wave of nutritional innovation.

Oven-Baking: The Superpower Amplifier

The act of oven-baking these plant-based ingredients transforms them into superfoods, significantly enhancing their digestibility. This process can be likened to the transformative moment when a hero discovers the full extent of their powers, elevating these plant-based proteins to an elite status among canine nutrition sources. According to research, the digestibility of these oven-baked proteins shoots up to an impressive 91.57% (see Kaur, Mohneet, et al. "Nutritional Assessment of Dal Churi in Dog Food." Haryana Vet, vol. 60, no. 1, 2021) -way higher than the 75%-85% seen in regular meat dog food (see Daumas, Caroline, et al. "Evaluation of Eight Commercial Dog Diets." Journal of Nutritional Science, vol. 3, 2014). It’s like these plants gain a superpower, making them even better for our furry friends.

Amino Acids Supplementation: Seeking the Nutritional Shield

In the pet food world, both meat- and plant-based products often require a nutritional shield: amino acid supplementation. To balance what the base ingredients provide and meet the stringent standards of regulatory bodies, many products require additional amino acids to fill the gaps left by nutrient losses during processing, ensuring our furry heroes are protected by a complete and balanced diet.

Our chosen protein sources—sprouted mung beans, potato protein, quinoa, and lentils—complement each other perfectly to provide a complete amino acid profile. Mung beans and lentils are rich in essential amino acids like lysine and leucine, which are crucial for muscle repair and growth. Quinoa offers a complete protein profile, providing all nine essential amino acids, including methionine and histidine. Potato protein enhances the overall amino acid balance with its high-quality profile, contributing significant amounts of isoleucine and valine. Together, these ingredients ensure your dog receives all the essential amino acids necessary for optimal health, reducing the over-reliance on synthetic supplementation and highlighting the power of a well-rounded, natural diet.

Unmasking the Myth: Not All Meat Is Mighty

The common perception that meat-based foods have all the nutritional superpowers is called into question by data from 1,134 meat-based dog foods. A remarkable 83% of them were found to include at least one synthetic amino acid like dl-methionine, l-arginine, l-cysteine, l-lysine, l-threonine, l-tryptophan, l-tyrosine, lysine, or threonine. This need for supplementation reveals that meat isn't always the invincible hero it seems and often requires some synthetic sidekicks to meet the standards.

Why Meat-Based Foods Need More Sidekicks

Losing Good Stuff: The Battle Loss

The journey from raw ingredients to the finished product involves processes that can diminish the natural amino acid content (like hero's strength) in meat-based foods.

Choosing Cheaper Stuff: The Budget Sidekick

Utilising lower-quality meat sources or fillers (lacks full powers of a true hero)  is economically beneficial for manufacturers, albeit at the nutritional cost that they then try to offset with synthetic amino acids.

Just to Be Safe: The Artificial Barrier

Supplementing amino acids ensures that dietary formulas meet the stringent nutritional standards set by regulatory bodies, acting as a safeguard against any natural variances in the base ingredients, hinting at the underlying vulnerabilities within meat-based dog foods.

Planet Dog's Protein Powerhouse: Key Benefits

• High-Quality Amino Acid Profiles: Sprouted Mung beans, potato protein, quinoa and lentils are chosen for their excellent amino acid profiles, essential for muscle repair and growth, supporting your dog’s physical development.
• Exceptional Digestibility: These plant-based proteins are highly digestible, ensuring dogs can efficiently absorb and utilise the nutrients they need from every meal.
• Hypoallergenic: Ideal for dogs with food sensitivities, these ingredients have a potential to reduce the risk of allergic reactions thanks to their hypoallergenic nature. See Andrew Knight et al., "Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health", PLoS ONE, 2022 for more details.
• Nutritional Superiority: Demonstrates the potential of plant-based diets to not only meet but surpass the nutritional quality of traditional meat-based diets, promoting optimal health and well-being for dogs.
• Oven-Baking Enhancement: The process of oven-baking further amplifies the digestibility and bioavailability of these proteins, ensuring even greater nutrient absorption and utilisation, while also providing a taste that dogs love.‍
• Science and Innovation: Our approach is backed by research, highlighting our commitment to advancing pet nutrition through scientific insights and innovative product development.