petfoodinstituteuae.com
Dog nutrition from nose to tail
Sound nutrition is critical to promoting your pet’s wellbeing and, from nose to tail, key nutrients help support a dog’s or cat’s growth and structure, body systems and metabolism. A “complete and balanced” pet food recipe will contain the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and proteins and amino acids considered essential to these processes. However, what are the nutrients required for complete and balanced nutrition and how do they support your pet’s health?
Want to learn more about cats? Click here to learn more about feline nutrition from nose to tail.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Veterinary nutritionists have identified a diverse range of essential vitamins that may be provided through food ingredients and supplemental form in a pet food recipe. Fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the body’s fatty tissue and liver. Some of the main functions of these vitamins include Vitamin A, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), Vitamin E, Vitamin K.
Water-soluble vitamins are readily transported and soluble in water and/or blood. Many of these vitamins are critical to the process of converting fats, proteins and carbohydrates into energy, known as energy metabolism, while also supporting other specific cellular functions.
Essential minerals for dogs can be divided into two separate categories based on their concentrations in the body. The largest amounts are of the macrominerals, while the trace minerals can sometimes be in very small amounts. Minerals are present in all food ingredients, but are sometimes added via specialized ingredients to be sure your pet is provided with the proper balance.
Proteins & Amino Acids
Proteins are made up of amino acids, which build and maintain structures in the body. Protein sources will deliver the amino acids that help a pet build and maintain its muscles, bones, blood, organs, and skin and coat. Without the proper levels of the essential amino acids, the synthesis of proteins is impaired. For growing puppies, this can result in reduced growth. Adult dogs need essential amino acids to help support all normal healthy systems, including the immune system.
Fats are a class of macronutrients, made up of fatty acids, including essential fatty acids (EFAs) which cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from food. Fatty acids are the most concentrated sources of energy for the body. Because fatty acids are part of every cell in the body, they are important to every structure. EFAs have key functions in the immune and visual systems, and their most visible role is in supporting a healthy skin and coat.
While carbohydrates are not categorized as essential nutrients in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profiles, they have important roles in nutrition and the function of the body. This macronutrient class can support pet health by providing a readily available energy source for your dog and sparing protein to support other bodily functions. Carbohydrates also contain the class of nutrients known as dietary fibers. Dietary fibers are vital for the support of a healthy gut microbiome and thus healthy digestion of nutrients, and they encourage the movement of waste materials out of the body.