Protein %

[SpooOwner]

What does "measure as fed" mean. I cant fathom how raw is low protein, especially if its a mostly meat based diet. For the most part meat=protein. If i ate only meat, that would be considered an incredibly high protein diet. A gram of protein is a gram of protein, doesn't matter if there is another substance like water to add weight to the total thus lowering the percentage of protein.

Measure as fed = measured by weight. By weight, raw is low protein = under 30% (because 70% is water, and depending on the type of meat, about half will be protein).

RFD is wrong when he says that by either measure raw is low protein. Raw meat is a high protein, high fat diet. (Atkins anyone?) However, he's correct in saying that for dogs, raw meat (muscle, bone and organ) is the appropriate amount of protein.

Bottom line, jtb, is if these little nuances are messing you up, then you are too focused on the trees and are missing the forest. Potatoes, potahtoes. Feed raw; it's better for your dogs.

[RawFedDogs]

What does "measure as fed" mean. I cant fathom how raw is low protein, especially if its a mostly meat based diet. For the most part meat=protein.

Measure "as fed' means that when you feed a chicken quarter that is 60-70% water, there is 60-70% of the volume that can not possibly be protein. There is also bone and fat which contain very little protein. Sooo that is not all that much potein in a chicken quarter. Ground meat won't have bone but will have fat and water.

When you feed kibble, there is less than 10% water that cannot be protein. What I am saying is you can't compare protein in one against protein in the other. Apples & oranges.

[Caty M]

Raw is only 20% protein by weight. You can't compare raw and kibble as is because raw is hydrated. If you dehydrate raw, it's more than 50% protein. Raw is NOT a low protein diet. That's like saying Orijen is a high protein kibble, but if you add water, it's a low protein food. It's not. There is still the same number of grams of protein in the overall meal. If you compare the protein percentage of dehydrated raw to Orijen kibble, raw is going to be higher in protein and fat... so I never understood the reasoning behind feeding a low protein kibble.

[jtb12886]

Raw is only 20% protein by weight. You can't compare raw and kibble as is because raw is hydrated. If you dehydrate raw, it's more than 50% protein. Raw is NOT a low protein diet. That's like saying Orijen is a high protein kibble, but if you add water, it's a low protein food. It's not. There is still the same number of grams of protein in the overall meal. If you compare the protein percentage of dehydrated raw to Orijen kibble, raw is going to be higher in protein and fat... so I never understood the reasoning behind feeding a low protein kibble.

I tend to agree. I believe u have to compare the two on the same level and when done raw meat will come out higher in protein no matter how u slice it. Adding water doesnt decrease the amount of protein, only the percentage of protein. Thanks everyone