Single protein / mono protein (1 animal protein source)

Single-protein dog food: one source of animal protein per recipe

Your dog is scratching itself incessantly, has an upset tummy or is leaving half its bowl uneaten. You suspect it’s down to the food, but with a label listing chicken, beef, fish and pork all jumbled together, you’ll never pinpoint the culprit. With single-protein dog food, you can restore what you need most in that situation: clarity.

What exactly is single-protein dog food?

Mono-protein dog food, also known as single-protein or monoprotein food, contains just one source of animal protein. So, only lamb. Or only chicken. Or only beef. No mixture of different meats in the same recipe.

That sounds simple, and that’s exactly the point. The shorter the list of animal proteins, the easier it is to work backwards to identify what your dog is reacting to. You don’t have to try and guess between five ingredients at once.

Why choose dog food with a single protein source for a sensitive dog?

A food hypersensitivity usually manifests itself in two areas: the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms may include itching, inflammation or patches on the skin, or diarrhoea and vomiting. The cause is often a protein that your dog has been consuming for some time.

A diet containing just one source of protein eliminates that uncertainty. You know exactly which animal protein your dog is consuming and can specifically try out a type he hasn’t eaten before. If you notice the symptoms easing, that’s a clue. If they return as soon as you introduce a different protein, you’ll know even more.

You can read more about food sensitivities in our article on hypoallergenic dog food: https://puro.nl/leesvoer/hypoallergeen-hondenvoer/

Single-protein diets and the elimination diet

An elimination diet is the only way to really find out what your dog is reacting to. You feed your dog only ingredients that it has not had before. Such a diet lasts for a minimum of six and a maximum of eight weeks. If the symptoms improve, you gradually reintroduce foods from the previous diet after six weeks. As soon as the symptoms return, you will know which ingredient is causing the reaction.

One condition that many people underestimate: no snacks, no leftovers, nothing from the table and nothing from the neighbours during those weeks. Even a small bite can trigger a reaction, and then you’ll have to start all over again. If in doubt, always consult your vet, who is best placed to guide you through this process.

What single-protein products does Puro offer?

In this overview, you’ll find our steamed dog sausages. The chicken, lamb and beef sausages each contain just one source of animal protein, supplemented with rice, carrot and apple. The lamb sausage, for example, consists of 78.5% lamb. All sausages are grain- and gluten-free and contain no preservatives or artificial flavourings, colourings or aromas.

Steaming helps to preserve the flavour and nutritional value as much as possible. It also makes the sausage softer and juicier, and therefore easier to digest. This is ideal for a fussy eater or a dog with a sensitive stomach.

You can serve the sausage as a complete meal or combine it with dry food. We recommend the combination, so that your dog gets enough of all the nutrients. Would you like to try out several protein sources one after the other? Then the sausage mix with chicken, beef and lamb is handy: three separate 400-gram sausages in one order.

What should you look out for when choosing a single-protein dog food?

Look beyond the front of the packaging. The ingredients list shows you exactly which animal proteins are contained in the product and in what proportions. A high percentage of a single type of meat says more than any claim on the label.

Also, take a look at the rest of the recipe. A grain or an ingredient could also cause problems. And once opened, keep the sausage refrigerated for a maximum of four days, at no more than 7 degrees.

Our food is prepared using fresh European ingredients that meet FEDIAF requirements, and we manufacture in accordance with the GMP+ standards for food safety and quality assurance.

Not sure which source of protein you want to try first? Have a go at the Feed Finder or get in touch with our customer service team. We’re happy to help you find a solution.