Nutrients are substances obtained
from food and used by an animal as a source of energy and as part of the metabolic
machinery necessary for maintenance and growth. Barring any special needs,
illness-related deficiencies or instructions from your vet, your pets should
be able to get all the nutrients they need from high-quality commercial pet
foods, which are formulated with these special standards in mind. If you
would like to learn about what your pet’s body needs, and why, here are the
six essential classes of nutrients fundamental for healthy living:
1. Water is the most important nutrient. Essential to life, water
accounts for between 60 to 70 percent of an adult pet’s body weight. While
food may help meet some of your pet's water needs (dry food has up to 10 percent
moisture, while canned food has up to 78 percent moisture), pets need to
have fresh clean water available to them at all times. A deficiency of water
may have serious repercussions for pets: a 10-percent decrease in body water
can cause serious illness, while a 15-percent loss can result in death.
2. Proteins are the basic building blocks for cells, tissues, organs,
enzymes, hormones and antibodies, and are essential for growth, maintenance,
reproduction and repair. Proteins can be obtained from a number of sources.
Animal-based proteins such as chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish and egg have
complete amino acid profiles. (Please note: Do not give your pet raw eggs.
Raw egg white contains avidin, an anti-vitamin that interferes with the metabolism
of fats, glucose, amino acids and energy.) Protein is also found in vegetables,
cereals and soy, but these are considered incomplete proteins.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and are divided into essential
and non-essential amino acids.
Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the animal in sufficient
quantities and MUST be supplied in the diet. Essential amino acids include
arginine, methionine, histidine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, threonine, leucine,
tryptophan, lysine, valine and taurine (for cats*).
Non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by your pet and are not needed
in the diet.
*For cats only! The essential amino acid taurine is required for
companion cats. Unlike dogs, cats cannot synthesize enough taurine to meet
their needs. Taurine is required for the prevention of eye and heart disease,
as well as reproduction, fetal growth and survival. This essential amino
acid is only found in foods of animal origin, such as meat, eggs and fish.
3. Fats are the most concentrated form of food energy, providing
your pet with more than twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates. Fats
are essential in the structure of cells and are needed for the production
of some hormones. They are required for absorption and utilization of fat-soluble
vitamins. Fats provide the body insulation and protection for internal organs.
Essential fatty acids must be provided in a pet’s diet because they cannot
be synthesized by a dog or cat in sufficient amounts. A deficiency of essential
fatty acids may result in reduced growth or increased skin problems. Linoleic
acid is an essential fatty acid for both cats and dogs, while arachidonic
acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is essential for cats only (for the maintenance
of the skin and coat, for kidney function and for reproduction).
Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in healing inflammation.
Replacing some omega-6 with omega-3 fatty acids can lessen an inflammatory
reaction—whether it is in the skin (due to allergies), the joints (from arthritis),
the intestines (from inflammatory bowel disease) or even in the kidneys (from
progressive renal failure).The optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids
for dogs is between 5 and 10 to 1.
Please note: It is impossible to accurately determine the fatty acid
ratio of a diet if the owner prepares home-cooked foods. If a dog is to benefit
from the effects of these fatty acid ratios, he must be fed a fixed-formula
food that guarantees these ratios.
4. Carbohydrates provide energy for the body’s tissues, play a vital
role in the health of the intestine, and are likely to be important for reproduction.
While there is no minimum carbohydrate requirement, there is a minimum glucose
requirement necessary to supply energy to critical organs (i.e. the brain).
Fibers are kinds of carbohydrates that modify the mix of the bacterial population
in the small intestine, which can help manage chronic diarrhea. For dogs and
cats to obtain the most benefit from fiber, the fiber source must be moderately
fermentable. Fiber sources that have low fermentability (e.g. cellulose)
result in poor development and less surface area of the intestinal mucosa.
Highly fermentable fibers can produce gases and by-products that can lead
to flatulence and excess mucus. Moderately fermentable fibers—including beet
pulp, which is commonly used in both dog and cat foods—are best, as they
promote a healthy gut while avoiding the undesirable side effects. Other examples
of moderately fermentable fibers include brans (corn, rice and wheat) and
wheat middlings. Foods that are high in fiber are not good for dogs and cats
with high energy requirements, such as those who are young and growing.
5. Vitamins are catalysts for enzyme reactions. Tiny amounts of vitamins
are essential to dogs and cats for normal metabolic functioning. Most vitamins
cannot be synthesized in the body, and therefore are essential in the diet.
When feeding a complete and balanced diet, it is unnecessary to give a vitamin
supplement unless a specific vitamin deficiency is diagnosed by a veterinarian.
Due to the practice of over supplementation, hypervitaminosis—poisoning due
to excess vitamins—is more common these days than hypovitaminosis, or vitamin
deficiency! Excess vitamin A may result in bone and joint pain, brittle bones
and dry skin. Excess vitamin D may result in very dense bones, soft tissue
calcification and joint calcification.
6. Minerals are inorganic compounds that are not metabolized and
yield no energy. These nutrients cannot be synthesized by animals and must
be provided in the diet. In general, minerals are most important as structural
constituents of bones and teeth, for maintaining fluid balance and for their
involvement in many metabolic reactions.
The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not
to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis
of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of
any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
