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Best Protein Foods for Boxer Dogs
Boxers are a muscular breed that requires additional protein in their diets to power and fuel their muscles during physical activity and playtime.
The quality of the protein in the diet is important because high-quality proteins provide your Boxer dog with the essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) that your Boxer dog requires.
This article identifies the 10 best protein foods for Boxer dogs and provides the Biological Value (BV) in their diet to help you choose the best foods to feed your Boxer.
10 Best Protein Foods For Boxer Dogs
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef
- Lamb
- Fish (Salmon, Tuna)
- Eggs
- Cottage Cheese
- Peanut Butter
- Lentils
- Quinoa
These proteins, with the exception of peanut butter, are considered complete proteins. This means that they provide the 10 essential amino acids that your dog needs to consume through food since they cannot be manufactured by the body.
In addition, these proteins are considered to be high-quality proteins because they contain many of the essential amino acids required by the body and have a high Biological Value (the amount of protein eaten that can be absorbed and used by the body)
***Note: it is recommended that you consult with your veterinarian to review your Boxer’s diet and get their approval regarding if including these proteins can or should be included in your Boxer dog’s diet.
Before we dive into more detail on the best proteins for Boxer dogs, it is important to provide some background on
- Proteins – what are they
- Functions of Proteins
- Protein Requirements
- Quality Proteins – what constitutes good quality proteins
Best Protein Foods for Boxer Dogs – What is a Protein?
If Boxer dogs require a higher protein diet, it is important to understand exactly what a protein is. A protein is
“A molecule made up of amino acids. Proteins are needed for the body to function properly. They are the basis of body structures, such as skin and hair, and of other substances such as enzymes, cytokines, and antibodies.” Source: Definition of a Protein – NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms, cancer.gov
Amino acids, therefore are the building blocks of proteins. There are 10 essential amino acids that dogs require to maintain good health.
For additional information on the 10 essential amino acids dogs require and their function, read our article, Boxer Dog Diet – 5 Essential Nutrients to Keep Your Boxer Dog Healthy and Active.
Try Wild Earth Complete Protein Dog Food with a 30-day happiness guarantee.
Best Protein Foods for Boxer Dogs – Functions of Proteins
Now that we know what proteins are, and that they are essential macronutrients for the proper functioning of body systems, let’s look at the functions of proteins.
Functions of Proteins in Your Boxer Dog
According to the article, Why Your Dog Needs Protein, IAMs Corporation
“Protein is best known for supplying amino acids to build hair, skin, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It also plays a main role in hormone production“.
The functions of Proteins in dogs include
- Hormone production – e.g., Growth Hormones, Sex Hormones (Testosterone and estrogen), Gherlin and leptin (Hunger and satiety hormones)
- Energy Source
- Production of Enzymes – the help to speed up bodily processes (for example speeding up the digestion of food)
- Helps build and repair muscle tissue
- Supports a healthy immune system
- Keeps the skin, coat, and joints healthy
Best Protein Foods For Boxer Dogs – Protein Requirements
We know what proteins are now and what their function is in the body, but what are the protein requirements for Boxer dogs?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has set guidelines for protein requirements for dry matter food for dogs. They state
” The minimum requirement for Adult maintenance is 18% and the minimum requirement for growth and reproduction is 22.5%“. These align with the National Research Council (NRC) Guidelines for Protein in dog food.
Boxers are a muscular breed with a high energy and activity level. Therefore, their diet should include a higher level of protein to support muscle function.
Based on available data, a Boxer dog’s diet should consist of between 26% and 30% protein. The proteins should come from high-quality sources.
Proteins can be a source of food and skin allergies in your Boxer dog. For additional information on potential protein allergens, read our article,
6 Top Foods that Lead to Allergies in Your Boxer Dog
7 Most Common Boxer Allergies – Helping Your Boxer Dog With Symptoms
Just for Dogs – Joint & Skin Support dog food is a high-protein dog food with a highly digestible protein source.
Best Protein Foods For Boxer Dogs – What Constitutes A Quality Protein
Let’s start with some common definitions that you may see on the ingredient label of your commercially purchased dog food.
PetMD.com’s article Dog Nutrition: Guide to Dog Food Nutrients, Tiffany Tupler, DVM, 2021, provides the following definitions for protein types.
Crude protein – “includes all the ways that proteins are calculated and determined in the diet. It does not provide information about the quality or nutritional value of the protein source.“
Protein Quality – “is how much of the protein source is converted into essential amino acids that can be used by the body’s tissue. It is dependent on :
- Protein source
- Number of amino acids in the food
- Availability“
According to Dr. Tupler, proteins that include large amounts of all the essential amino acids required by your dog are considered to be high-quality proteins.
Now that we have a solid background on what proteins are, their functions, a Boxer dog’s protein requirements, and what constitutes a quality protein, let’s look at the 10 Best Proteins for your Boxer Dog.
10 Best Protein Foods for Boxer Dogs
We compiled data for the table below. A few definitions to help you understand the table
Essential Amino Acids – There are 10 essential amino acids that need to be consumed in the foods that dogs eat because they cannot be manufactured in the body like other amino acids. These include
- Arginine
- Histidine
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lycine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
Source: Cleveland Clinic – Amino acids
Source: Purina – Dog Nutrition Basics – Essential Nutrients
Biological Value – “The biological value provides a measurement of how efficiently the body utilizes protein consumed in the diet. A food with a high value correlates to a high supply of the essential amino acids”. Source: Journal of Sport Science & Medicine – Which Protein is Best? Hoffman, and Falvo, 2004
| Protein Source | Protein Content (grams) | 9 Essential Amino Acids | Biological Value |
| Chicken | 38g (8 oz – 1 cup) | Yes | 79 |
| Turkey | 64g (8 g/oz) | Yes | 84 |
| Beef | 58g (8 oz) | Yes | 80 |
| Lamb | 47g (8 oz) | Yes | 82 |
| Fish Salmon Tuna | 54g (8 oz) 56g (80z) | Yes | 80 |
| Eggs | 6g (per 1 egg) | Yes | 100 |
| Cottage Cheese | 25g (8 oz) | Yes | 90 |
| Peanut Butter | 8g (2 Tablespoons) | No (Contains Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, and Lysine) | _____ |
| Lentils | 18g (8 oz) | Yes (low in Methionine and Tryptophan) | 29 |
| Quinoa | 14.6g (8 oz) | Yes | 83 |
High Protein Dog Foods for Your Boxer Dog
Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine Dog Food
Just For Dogs – Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni
For Raw Dog Food Diet – Signature Blend Pet Food For Dogs – Beef and Vegetable Recipe from Raw Paws.com
High Protein Treats
Only Natural Pet Jerky Strips Venison Recipe
Best Protein Foods for Boxer Dogs Summary
The best protein foods for Boxer Dogs are complete proteins, meaning they have all 10 essential amino acids that dogs need to take in from food because they cannot be manufactured by the body.
These foods should also contain a high amount of protein per serving and have a high biological value.
The Top 10 best protein foods for your dog based on these criteria are
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef
- Lamb
- Fish (Salmon, Tuna)
- Eggs
- Cottage Cheese
- Peanut Butter
- Lentils
- Quinoa
Use these different proteins to add variety and different flavors to your Boxer dog’s diet.
These foods will help ensure your Boxer is getting the necessary protein they need to keep them healthy and active.
Remember to consult with your Veterinarian prior to introducing these proteins into your Boxer dog’s diet.
Discoverboxerdogs.com are Mary and Chris Kustanbauter. We reside in Red Lion, PA with our two Boxers, Duke, and Katie, who are both rescue dogs. We have been working with Adopt A Boxer Rescue for the past 17 years and have adopted 5 Boxers from this fine organization. To learn more visit our Home, Boxer Dog Family, and Blogs Pages Visit us on social media on Facebook – Discoverboxerdogs.com, Instagram, and Pinterest.