Guide to Feeding your dogs and cats with Healthy Nutrition
-
- 134
Cats and dogs are two different animals, so their diet is unique to their species. Cats are strict carnivores, and therefore meat is absolutely essential to their diet as a Healthy Nutrition. Dogs, however, are omnivores and can therefore obtain the necessary nutrition from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian sources. For the past 40 years or more, the study of pet nutrition has been committed to determining the amount of energy and nutrients needed to meet nutritional needs, while allowing animals to live long and healthy lives. A properly balanced diet that is formulated for growth does not require any kind of supplementation.
National Research Council
The National Research Council (NRC) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) have established minimum nutritional requirements for dog and cat foods labeled as “complete and balanced.” Knowing the main benefits of each essential nutrient will help you choose the right food for your pet. It can be challenging to understand which nutrients are important to your pet and why. To help you choose the best food for your pet, here is a list of the five most essential nutrients, where they can be found, and their roles in cat and dog nutrition.
Protein
The dietary protein and amino acid requirements in your pet’s body vary according to different life stages and lifestyles, as well as factors such as disease, environmental temperature, and stress. The ability of a food to meet all these requirements depends on how digestible the protein is.
In addition, its amino acid profile is related to how well it meets the amino acid needs of body tissues.
Your dogs and cats should be supplied with ten essential amino acids in their diet. Cats require an eleventh amino acid, namely taurine, which they cannot synthesize in sufficient quantities for their body’s needs. The absence of essential amino acids from the diet inhibits the synthesis of essential proteins. This, in turn, prompts the animal to break down its own body tissues to provide essential amino acids, severely compromising its health.
Fats
Dietary fat has three nutritional purposes. They start by offering a concentrated type of energy consumption. Additionally, they serve as a source of important fatty acids and as a carrier for the digestion and absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Fatty acids help maintain healthy skin and coat.
Carbohydrates
A dog’s main supply of glucose comes from carbohydrates, which also serve as the primary energy source. Dogs are not required to consume carbs, and no professional body has guidelines in this area. However, both cats and dogs still rely heavily on carbs as a source of usable energy. Examples of carbohydrates include wheat, corn, buckwheat, and barley. Dietary fiber, although not considered essential, may help support gastrointestinal function and health.
Vitamins
Vitamins support several important roles in your cat and dog’s diet. They are essential for growth and health maintenance. Each vitamin is involved in many different functions. If your choice of cat and dog food is a complete and balanced diet, under AAFCO’s guidelines, your pet should be receiving many of the vitamins needed to keep them healthy and happy.
Minerals
Like vitamins, minerals also play several important roles in your cat and dog’s diet. Minerals are inorganic nutrients within the diet. Each mineral is involved in many different functions, such as bone and cartilage production, nerve and muscle function, etc.
This nutrient guide provides a basic idea of what is important to your pet’s diet. Now you know that it can be difficult to incorporate all of these ingredients into your pet’s food when cooked at home.
Summary
Some people believe feeding pets homemade meals rather than prepared pet food is preferable is Healthy Nutrition. This results from the misconception that food made at home is more wholesome and less processed. Contrary to popular belief, feeding prepared pet food is preferable for animals. This is because prepared food is nutritionally complete and balanced for cats and dogs!
Cats and dogs are two different animals, so their diet is unique to their species. Cats are strict carnivores, and therefore meat is absolutely essential to their diet as a Healthy Nutrition. Dogs, however, are omnivores and can therefore obtain the necessary nutrition from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian sources. For the past 40 years or…
Cats and dogs are two different animals, so their diet is unique to their species. Cats are strict carnivores, and therefore meat is absolutely essential to their diet as a Healthy Nutrition. Dogs, however, are omnivores and can therefore obtain the necessary nutrition from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian sources. For the past 40 years or…