EFFECT OF DIETARY-PROTEIN CONTENT ON BEHAVIOR IN DOGS

Objective-To determine the effect that feeding diets containing a low (17%), medium 25%), or high (32%) protein content would have on behavi or in dogs. Design-Prospective, controlled study. Animals-12 dogs with dominance aggression, 12 dogs with hyperactivity, 12 dogs with territ orial aggression, and 14 control dogs without behavioral problems.Proc edure-Dogs were fed each of the diets for a 2-week period, and owners were instructed to score their dogs' behavior on a daily basis. Result s-Behavior of the dogs with dominance aggression, dogs with hyperactiv ity, and control dogs was unchanged by the dietary manipulations. Terr itorial aggression was significantly reduced when dogs were fed the lo w- or medium-protein diet, compared with territorial aggression when f ed the high-protein diet. Post hoc analysis indicated that this effect was attributable to a marked reduction in aggression in a subset of t he group (n = 7) in which territorial aggression was a result of fear. Clinical Implications-Results of this study suggest that a reduction in dietary protein content is not generally useful in the treatment of behavior problems in dogs, but may be appropriate in dogs with territ orial aggression that is a result of fear.