A - INTERPRETING PET FOOD LABELS

We will help you appreciate the specific terms used in the ingredients panel of most pet foods, so that the picture you create has more significance. Because the entire industry uses generic terms such as "by-product" and "balanced", many pet owners are confused and don't really understand these terms.

To add to the confusion, most manufacturers use combinations of raw materials that actually provide similar nutrition. This is another element of fully comprehending your pet's diet that you will need to keep in mind.

THE "PERCENTAGES PANEL"

This is the section on the bag that tells us how much of each "category" of nutrient is provided. Each basic nutritional component is listed here as a percentage of the total diet. If we use the TV dinner analogy, this panel allows us to visualize the size of each section of the tray.

As an example, a typical product may have a percentage panel that reads as follows:

Crude protein min	25.0%
Crude fat min	14.0%
Crude fibre	3.0%
Moisture max.	10.0%
Ash max.	8.0%
Calcium	1.6%
Phosphorus	1.1%

What information do we get from this list? The only useful data here is purely quantitative in nature - as we said earlier - "the size of each section of the tray". Let's examine it in a different way – let's consider 100 kilos of food.

In one hundred kilos of this particular formula or "recipe", there would be:

25 kilos of protein

14 kilos of fat

3 kilos of fibre

10 kilos of water and

8 kilos of minerals or ash

The percentages of the listed minerals, in this case Calcium and Phosphorous, are already included in the "Ash" or "total mineral" percentages. Due to their nutritional significance, the actual amount of certain individual minerals are often "broken out" of the mineral total. In our case, the other minerals (magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, etc.) would represent the remaining 5.3 kilos needed to add up to the 8% total.

There is one obvious problem inherent to the information provided by this "percentages panel" - it doesn't add up to 100. Part of the "recipe" is missing: 25 + 14 + 3 + 10 + 8 = 60%. Forty percent of the food is unaccounted for.

So what's missing?
Carbohydrate levels are not specifically indicated on pet food labels, at least not in North America. Other countries require manufacturers to calculate and list the percentage of carbohydrates in each formula, but the U.S. and Canada do not. As you can readily now ascertain, there is almost always more carbohydrate than protein in any given pet product. This already sheds some doubt on the idea of marketing "chicken as a first ingredient" doesn't it?

So, we've accounted for the numbers and established the sizes of each portion of our aluminium tray, so now let's fill the plate.

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THE INGREDIENTS PANEL

The "ingredients panel" lists the actual raw materials used in a particular diet.

More sophisticated pet owners have learned to pay close attention to this section of a pet food bag. Using this section exclusively, however, leaves a great deal of potentially significant information wanting. Combining the data from both panels is essential.

The "ingredients panel" properly combined with the "percentages panel" allows you to properly visualize the exact meal each company is providing for your pet.

Again, we will use a reasonable bag representation to help "make things real".

Here is our "ingredients panel": chicken, animal fat, corn, rice, wheat, chicken by-product meal, barley, corn gluten meal, beet pulp and multiple vitamins and minerals.

Many pet owners are concerned about the scientific and "artificial sounding" names that follow the "real food" components of a diet. These are mostly the scientific names for various vitamins and minerals. Thiamine mononitrate for instance is Vitamin B1 and Pyridoxine hydrochloride is Vitamin B6. These terms might seem intimidating, but they are an essential and important part of your pet's nutritional requirements.

The ingredients panel is formatted by listing all the raw materials in descending order.

Most ingredients used in pet foods are actually pre-cooked and pre-dried. This feature is indicated by the term "meal". Chicken meal, for instance, is pre-cooked, pre-dried and pre-ground chicken meat and skin and is an excellent source of protein.

Some raw materials are added in their natural state. This is the case when the label reads "Chicken". For these ingredients, the weight of the inherent water, which is naturally lost during the cooking process, is still available at the time the labels are being formatted. As a result, they are artificially listed higher in the ingredients panel and without putting this aspect into proper perspective, can be credited with more significance than their actual nutritional impact. In fact, five kilos of fresh chicken reduces to one kilo of dried chicken after processing. This should not detract from the overall value of fresh ingredients; they provide an excellent source of nutrition, however as "fresh" ingredients are never used exclusively, a proper evaluation involves analyzing all the raw materials and how they interact. Stopping at the first ingredient just isn't enough, as we've already demonstrated.

Back to our example:
If we use our previous percentages panel, we calculated the formula to be 25% protein and 40% carbohydrate.

From our ingredients panel we also note that "chicken" is the first ingredient. How is this possible?

Chicken becomes the first ingredient by simply using multiple and differing types of carbohydrates. Each individual carbohydrate type is added in a lesser amount than the intended amount of chicken. Chicken isn't added, and there is no less total carbohydrate, there is simply less of one particular carbohydrate.

This concept is known as ingredients splitting and, in fact, our example above contains four carbohydrate types: corn, rice, wheat and barley. Their combined weight is obviously equal to 40% of the total, but each individually will be closer to 10%.

Let's use the 100 kilos recipe as an example:
Using the same percentages as before - 25% protein, 14% fat, 3% fibre, 10% moisture and 8% mineral - we still need to add 40 kilos of carbohydrates.

If in this formula, we were to use only one type of carbohydrate, for instance corn, and one type of protein (say chicken meal), we would be obliged to use 40 kilos of corn and 25 kilos of protein coming from chicken meal.

The resulting ingredients panel would read: corn, chicken meal, animal fat, etc.

If we modified the recipe only slightly and used 21 kilos of corn and 19 kilos of rice, the 25 kilos of chicken meal would become our first ingredient. The resulting ingredients panel would read: chicken meal, corn, rice, animal fat etc.

Nutritionally there is little difference between the two diets, but very few pet owners would even consider buying the first product over the second, due essentially to marketing vs. common sense and actual nutritional evaluation.

Some formulations that are very high in protein and fat could be exempt from this generalization, but consider the math: A 30% protein, 20% fat, 3% fibre, 10% moisture, 6% Ash diet still contains 31% carbohydrate.

By using multiple types of raw materials in each nutritional category, the actual percentages of each, is by obligation, reduced. Smaller portions of each type of raw material now occupy the total space allotted in the tray for that category of ingredient, but the overall totals indicated in the percentage panel, stay the same.

To conceptualize the importance of this, consider a food using ten principle ingredients. Theoretically, the first ingredient might only be 11% of the total. Alternatively, a product using only five primary ingredients requires that the first listed raw material is at least 20% of the total. Further, there's a good chance there is more of the fifth ingredient in the second recipe, than there is of the first ingredient in the initial example.

These numbers are not going to be exact, but they provide a more visual representation of the concept and help provide a more meaningful interpretation of a pet food. If you think only in terms of the "first ingredient", it is now mathematically easy to see how much of the nutritional reality is actually missed.

It is now necessary to provide you with the foundational nutritional science, often alluded to above. Hopefully you can analyze the information on a pet food bag a little more accurately now, but it is important to know what you should be looking for in terms of nutritional specifics. We will cover the basics of the various nutritional categories and discuss what raw materials are used to source these compounds in most pet foods.

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B - THE NUTRIENTS

There are five major categories: protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and water.

PROTEIN - What is a protein?

Each different "food group" has specific structural components. These elemental components are the "nutrients" that the body really needs.

Proteins are formed by linking amino acids, while carbohydrates are linked sugars and fats are formed by combining fatty acids and glycerol.

There are twenty three different types of amino acids. These twenty three nutrient components can be linked together in literally an infinite number of patterns, to form literally thousands of different protein based substances. Perhaps we think of meat when we think of protein, but there are dozens of compounds made of protein or more specifically amino acids, including tendon, hormones, neurotransmitters, fat transporters, plant proteins or glutens and more.

In each form of protein, the building blocks are amino acids, but the amino acids are of differing types, arranged in a variety of manners and held together with different bonds.

For dietary considerations, there are basically two choices: meat based proteins and plant based proteins. Plant based proteins are termed glutens. For accuracy, their description is generally prefaced by the plant or grain of origin, for instance wheat gluten, rice gluten and corn gluten, etc. Only Soya protein seems to escape this nomenclature. Soy protein or soybean meal are generally the terms used.

Specifically, the amino acids or protein nutrients required by dogs and cats are found in higher levels in meat based proteins.

The easier a meat based protein is to digest, the more readily available are the nutrient amino acids.

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BIOLOGICAL VALUE

The higher the level of nutrient amino acids in a particular protein source, combined with its overall digestibility, the higher biological value that protein is attributed. Of course, as different animal species have differing nutrient requirements, the concept of biological value is in turn species specific.

Accordingly, for dogs and cats, the most digestible forms of meat based proteins will provide the highest biological value.

A biological value chart of the proteins most commonly found in pet diets follows.

Price plays a significant role in pet foods, so it is quite logical that based on its superb nutritional merit or biological value, and its price, chicken is one of the best sources of protein for your pet. Moving down the biological value chart a pet owner must take into account that various parts of the chicken are used by pet food manufacturers. The various specific definitions will follow in this section, but chicken by-products are attributed a lower biological value than chicken meal, fresh chicken and egg, due to declining levels of digestibility.

In a similar vein, chicken-by-products have a higher biological value than meat meals, while corn gluten meal is attributed a lower biological value for a different reason. While corn gluten meal is relatively digestible, it or other plant proteins do not contain the correct amino acids level for dogs and cats.

So, when evaluating a diet for your pet, first consider the biological value of the protein and then do our comparative calculation of the combined nutritional impact, especially when multiple types of protein are employed.

DEFINITIONS

The Definitions for the terms used in the Biological Value Chart and for a few other commonly used proteins are as follows:

Fresh Chicken:: Clean, fresh chicken flesh, free of skin, bones, feathers, heads, feet and entrails that is less than 24 hours old.
Comments: Superior source of protein, but concern over Salmonella contamination.
Hydrolyzed Chicken:: Clean, fresh chicken flesh, free of skin, bones, feathers, heads, feet and entrails formatted into liquid slurry digested with enzymes and stabilised with acids.
Comments: Optimal source of protein, no risk of Salmonella contamination.

HYDROLYSED CHICKEN

A product derived from the enzymatic/acid hydrolysis of chicken flesh, exclusive of skin, feathers, heads, feet, bones and entrails.

Hydrolysis is the breakdown of proteins (long chains of amino acids constituents of proteins) into peptides (smaller chains of amino acids).

Peptides form the constituents parts of proteins and are easier to be absorbed and digested by the animal improving the digestibility and lowering stool volume. Smaller chains of proteins, like peptides, are also easier to be detected by the taste buds and improve the palatability of the food.

Dehydrated Chicken:: Clean, fresh chicken flesh, air dried to flakes and free of skin, bones, feathers, heads, feet and entrails.
Comments: optimal source of protein. Provides slightly reduced palatability vs. either fresh or hydrolysed form.
Chicken Meal:: Dried and ground clean combination of chicken flesh and skin, with or without bone and exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails.
Comments: extremely good source of protein and a quality source of calcium and phosphorous when low levels of bone are included. No Salmonella risk and optimal nutritional value.
Poultry Meal:: Same as Chicken meal, but may include other forms of fowl, most commonly Turkey.
Comments: same as Chicken meal.
Chicken by-product Meal:: Consists of the dried, ground and clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chickens. May include necks, feet undeveloped eggs and intestines, but should not include feathers.
Comments: source of protein, calcium and phosphorus.
Poultry by-product Meal:: As per Chicken by-product meal, but may include other forms of fowl, most commonly Turkey.
Meat Meal:: Rendered mammalian tissues and organ meats, usually bovine. Should not include hair, hoof, horn, hide, stomach or rumen contents.
Comments: lower quality protein source and variable in nature, thereby increasing allergic potential.
Duck Meal:: Dried, ground and clean combination of duck flesh and skin, with or without bone and exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails, which are excellent sources of protein, calcium and phosphorus (if bones are included).
Lamb Meal:: The dry rendered product from lamb meat, exclusive of hair, hoof, horn and hide trimmings, manure and stomach content.
Meat and Bone Meal:: As per meat meal with significant bone content.
Comments: lower quality protein source.
Soybean Meal:: Grindings of the soybeans after chemical or mechanical extraction of the oil.
Comments: lower Biological Value protein for pets, but the best nutritional value of the glutens.
Soy protein concentrate:: 70% protein with most of the soluble sugars and anti-nutritional factors being removed during processing. Low allergenic protein, high protein solubility.
Corn, Rice, or Wheat Gluten:: The extracted protein portion of the associated grain, with minimal fat or carbohydrate content.
Comments: lower Biological Value protein source for pets. Wheat Gluten allergies are relatively common.

These are the primary protein ingredients found in conventional pet foods. As a general rule, the lesser quality ingredients are found in grocery style products while Premium and Super Premium products provide the highest biological value of raw materials. This provides better overall nutrition and allows for reduced feeding volumes.

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YOU, YOUR PET AND PROTEIN

While nutritional basics are essentially universally similar, all species have distinct physiologic and anatomic differences that demand specific application. This makes what is best for your pet different from what is best for your horse, or for you, for that matter.

Felines are considered to be obligate carnivores, while canines are often referred to as scavengers. Some think this might not be the right nomenclature and suggest the term preferential carnivore for canines. In fact, individual variations aside, the only significant distinction between the two species, is the degree of nutritional dependency on specific dietary amino acids. Felines may actually die without certain specific amino acids in their diet, while canines simply do not thrive. As neither is acceptable, both species should be considered a carnivore.

By definition, a carnivore requires the amino acids most readily available from meat based proteins. Omnivores, under which classification we find ourselves, can readily obtain adequate protein nutrition from either plant or meat based proteins, while herbivores thrive on plant sourced proteins.

To bring life to this concept, consider Taurine. Taurine is an example of an amino acid that is principally found in meat. When deficient in a feline diet, taurine has been linked to serious heart problems. To create a dietary taurine deficiency, a diet would by extension have to be lacking in meat based proteins. This investigative feature now takes on greater significance when considering exactly how your cat's diet is formulated.

Life-stage changes, environmental differences and specific genetic predispositions all affect the fine tuning of how much or how little protein is optimal for a particular individual. However, the base nutritional fundamentals regarding the type of amino acids required, will remain consistent.

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CARBOHYDRATES AND FIBRE - What are Carbohydrates and fibre?

Vegetables and whole grain cereals are the sources of carbohydrate in your pet's diet. The actual nutrient component is starch. Starch is a polysaccharide. Fibre is very similar to starch in basic structure but the bonds between structural units are more tenacious, making fibre less digestible. Fibre has a few more organic components, which are somewhat inconsequential. However, you will see these isolated compounds used in pet foods, so we will list them here merely as reference: cellulose, hemi-cellulose, pectin, plant gums such as guar gum and mucilage. Fibre also contains a non organic compound: lignin.

The important part here is that fibre in pet foods is normally represented by a type of vegetable pulp or the bran of a specific grain. Beet pulp and rice bran are common examples. Occasionally you may even encounter lesser digestible or more specifically less soluble types of fibre in pet foods, such as certain grain husks or peanut shells.

Much as proteins are made of fundamental linked amino acid units, the structural unit of a carbohydrate is sugar. While carbohydrates are far less complex than proteins, there are still an infinite number of possible combinations of various sugars, allowing for an extensive list of carbohydrates.

The most fundamental carbohydrate is termed a simple sugar. These monosaccharides are single organic sugars: glucose, fructose and galactose.

Disaccharides are two monosaccharides linked together. The most familiar disaccharide is lactose or milk sugar. Lactose is the only significant dietary carbohydrate of mammalian origin; all the rest are plant based.

Multiple units of linked monosaccharides are known as polysaccharides. The most common of these are starch, glycogen, dextrin and fibre.

Starch is the principle carbohydrate found in pet foods and is sourced from cereal grains such as corn, rice, wheat, sorghum, barley, oats and perhaps a few others. Starch can be broken down by digestive enzymes and absorbed into the bloodstream in the form of its constituent sugars. These are then converted into glucose to be used as cellular energy.

Normally, carbohydrate is stored in the body as glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles and is converted into glucose whenever it is required. Excess sugar causes an insulin response and insulin initiates the process of storing sugar as fat.

The nutritional value of a particular carbohydrate source in a pet food is basically governed by the starch content, which loosely relates to the concept of digestibility.

While the basic nutritional fundamental provided by vegetables and grains are their sugars, all provide or contain a percentage of protein, fibre and fat as well, along with certain micronutrients.

While starch constitutes the largest percentage of whole grains or vegetables, the next most abundant material is fibre. The fibre portion is for all intents and purposes considered indigestible, but we will cover this shortly. The purpose here is only to allow proper comparative evaluations and, in general, the higher the starch content, the more digestible a particular raw material is considered. Conversely, the more inherent fibre, the less digestible a particular carbohydrate is deemed to be. The following chart compares the percentage of starch from typically used pet food carbohydrates. The starch percentage is calculated by deducting the protein, fat, fibre, water and mineral percentages or content from the whole grain totals.

It is a simple fact that the more finely ground and the more heated a starch becomes, the more digestible it is. Corn provides one of the more digestible sources of starch when cooked properly.

When processed, most grains provide adequate nutrition. Often, however, the outer hulls of grain cereals are included in the processing for pet foods. These can be quite irritating to the bowel of especially sensitive individuals. The fibrous portion of corn on the other hand is very smooth and non-keratinous, and therefore non-irritating to the bowel. This feature makes it more suitable for sensitive intestinal tracts.

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CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates provide a source of fast energy for metabolic functions. There are two categories of carbohydrates:

Starch:: Converted into glucose (sugar) for fast energy. Major sources include extruded corn & rice.
Fiber:: Complex carbohydrates, which help digestion and regularity. Major sources include dried beet pulp and rice bran.

SOURCES:

Ground corn - Entire ground, clean corn kernel. Nutrience uses pre-extruded ground, clean corn kernels, which increase starch digestibility. Good source of carbohydrates.

Ground rice - Small fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. Excellent quality source of carbohydrates.

Rice flour - Consists mainly of the flour (starch) with some fine particles of rice bran, germs and screenings from rice flour milling. Good source of carbohydrates.

Ground brown rice – The entire product obtained in grinding the rice kernels after the hulls have been removed.

Pearled Barley - Dehulled grains of barley reduced by machine brushing into smaller smooth particles. Excellent source of carbohydrates.

Ground Wheat - Entire ground, clean wheat kernels, including bran, germ and starch. Good source of carbohydrates.

Wheat Flour - Consists mainly of the flour (starch) with some fine particles of wheat bran, wheat germ and some screenings from flour milling. Good source of carbohydrates.

Sorghum - Entire ground, clean sorghum kernel. Good source of carbohydrates.

Barley - Entire ground, clean barley.

Oat - Entire ground, clean oat.

When selecting your pet's carbohydrates, you should consider all three nutritional fundamentals. How much energy does the carbohydrate provide? How digestible is it? How much fibre is involved? and How irritating might that fibre be?

Another consideration inherent to the selection of carbohydrate source, relates to the effect certain forms of starch and sugar can have on stool formation. Different types of starch have varying affects on stool characteristics due primarily to their ability to hold water. Rice starch for instance, tends to be binding. Rice content is very often increased in diets intended for animals with that requirement. The entire market is familiar with the concept of Lamb and Rice formulas. Important to note, however, is that individuals without the requirement might well experience constipation on the same formula. As a compromise, rice is generally combined with an alternate carbohydrate source, hopefully providing optimal overall stool performance for the greater percentage of animals.

Another example of carbohydrates affecting stool performance is evidenced by individuals that are milk, or specifically Lactose or milk sugar intolerant. Lactose intolerance is, in fact, caused by insufficient production of lactase; the enzyme that breaks apart the two units of sugar we discussed previously. Most young animals have adequate levels of these enzymes, but production can occasionally be deficient. The result is loose stools or diarrhea. This concern very often develops again in older animals, as enzyme production often diminishes with age.

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FIBRE - What is fibre?

We have learned that fibre is a polysaccharide, along with other organic compounds and lignin. The type of bonds between sugar units is what makes plant fibre differ from starch. While this difference makes fibre indigestible by dogs and cats and less useful as an energy source, it still provides other benefits that are essential to your pet's health and dietary well-being. Fibre is important to every species diet, however, anatomical differences demand specific and appropriate use.

Fibre is most often categorized as soluble or insoluble, however plant pulps provide both types of fibre and can be thought of as partially soluble.

Soluble fibre (pectin, gums, mucilage) has great water holding capacity and are almost completely digested by intestinal bacteria.

Insoluble fibre (cellulose, lignin most of the hemicelluloses, bran) holds less water and is less digestible by intestinal bacteria. This fibre type is also responsible for increasing the speed of passage of materials through the intestinal tract, a phenomenon known as "decreasing intestinal transit time". This same phenomenon increases fecal weight, water volume, frequency of defecation and gas production.

For anyone who has experienced constipation, the reality of the benefits of optimal and appropriate fibre types and amounts becomes much easier to accept. Fibre has the single most important influence on your pet's intestinal health and performance.

In fact, while the solubility of fibres is an accepted way of categorization, another extremely vital aspect of fibre is its fermentability. The fermentation of dietary fibre results in the release of certain short chain fatty acids. These nutrients affect the health and function of the intestinal tract by supplying nutrition directly to the local metabolically active cells.

The fermentation of fibre is, of course, facilitated in species such as bovines. Omnivores and carnivores also have bacteria capable of fermenting fibre. However, they have comparatively shorter intestinal tracts and fewer bacteria and a shorter time to have food in the system, so they simply don't do the job as well. The process is, nonetheless, still vital to overall health.

So, fibre is an essential component to a diet: the only points of contention with fibre involve the type, the amount and the individual's specific requirements.

In general, any and all vegetable pulps are excellent. Too much of either form of fibre is inadvisable and vegetable pulps provide an ideal compromise, providing the beneficial intestinal regulation of a low amount of insoluble fibre and the fermentability that provides the required short chain fatty acids utilized by intestinal cells.

The exact type of pulp employed generally involves availability. Consequently, the most common sources for dry foods are beet pulp, rice bran and soy hulls. (A common misconception in the marketplace has beet pulp causing red coats. This is simply not the case and, in fact, beet pulp is grey in colour when used in pet foods). The bran's of various grains are also an excellent choice as a fibre source. Rice, oat and perhaps wheat bran are most commonly seen. The levels of fibre will, of course, vary with age and specific bowel characteristics.

Levels in the 3-4% range are ideal for younger animals, while slightly higher levels are appropriate for sedentary and senior individuals. Even higher levels are occasionally employed for diabetic animal diets, but this is a topic for individual veterinary application and as yet not fully researched.

Finally, under normal circumstances, the use of very high levels of fibre for long periods of time are to be discouraged. Large amounts of dietary fibre can interfere with the abruption of other nutrients, specifically lipids, zinc, calcium and iron. Similarly insoluble fibre types that might present a source of direct irritation, such as husk type fibre or peanut shell fibre should be used in a limited fashion. They may occasionally be helpful in alleviating constipation or perhaps moving hairballs through the intestinal tract, but their tendency to initiate mucous production over the longer term also interferes with proper nutrient uptake. The irritation will also increase stool urgency.

Fiber: Complex carbohydrates, which help digestion and regularity.

Major sources are:

Dried beet pulp - Dried residue from sugar beets, which has been cleaned and freed from crowns, leaves and sand, of which, have been extracted in the process of manufacturing sugar.

Rice bran - The pericorp or bran layer and germ of rice.

Wheat shorts/middling - Consists of fine particles of wheat bran, wheat germ, wheat flour and some screenings from flour milling.

Cellulose - Purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose, prepared by processing alpha cellulose, obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant materials.

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C - DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS

For pets, the most difficult to digest portion of the diet is the carbohydrate component. This is directly attributable to their differing digestive anatomy. These differences are important to keep in mind, especially when every instinct is to provide what you might consider to be the best diet possible. More often than not, the net result is one that has more to do with what is best for us.

The digestive system is a complex and vital portal that processes food, selects basic key elements, and allows distribution of these vital nutrients to the rest of the body via the bloodstream. Raw food elements never leave this sophisticated tube. Only the digested components are absorbed, and these base nutrients, all those we've identified and those we will still address are what directly affect optimal nutritional health. Every animal, and to some extent, every individual, accomplishes this goal a little differently, which renders different dietary presentations more or less effective.

Dogs and cats have comparatively short digestive tracts. In fact, they have a total length of intestine that is approximately 4 times the length of their body. By contrast a cow has an intestinal tract approximately 20 times the length of its body. Major design difference! This difference, whether evolved to accommodate a different diet, or provided to suit one, amounts to the same conclusion: these two species have different nutritional needs. As fibre and complex carbohydrates are the most difficult dietary components to digest, it stands to reason that the species with the lower time frame for digestion (shorter tract), would have the least requirement for that style of nutrient. In fact, in the wild, the mouse would do most of the carbohydrate pre-digestion on behalf of whoever had the good fortune to partake. Cats actually lack one of the necessary liver enzymes for converting glucose into its metabolizable form.

The undigested materials, once they enter the large bowel are involved in bacterial fermentation and the resultant gas production. Even people suffer this concern to some extent. Similarly, the increased fibre speeds the passage of raw materials through the digestive system, thereby reducing overall digestibility and nutrient uptake from other dietary components.

For our pets, the proper processing of pet foods must be kept in perspective. The addition of properly handled raw meat may be a distinct benefit, while raw vegetables could actually decrease the nutritional value to the diet.

In fact, extrusion, which is the typical cooking process for pet foods, utilizes heat and pressure to help break down the starch components. Some of the nutritional values of the dietary components are certainly lost, but digestibility is enhanced. Further, balanced diets can take these loses into account and they can be supplemented for.

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FATS - What is fat?

Dietary fats fall under the general heading or category of lipids. Lipids are insoluble in water and they come in three different formats: simple, compound and derived.

Triglyceride, the most common dietary fat is a simple lipid.

As a review, proteins are structured amino acids, while carbohydrates are differently arranged sugars, and now triglycerides are formed from three fatty acids and a glycerol molecule. This might seem complex, but this organic chemistry is by way of letting you know that there is more to fat than just calories. In fact, the inherent nutrition in fat is associated with the benefits of the constituent fatty acids.

Lecithin is a compound lipid. All compound fats have a non lipid molecule added in. Lecithin has an added protein molecule and is known as a lipoprotein. This feature allows it to help transport fat from the bloodstream and through cell walls, ultimately improving health and enhancing skin and coat performance.

Cholesterol is a derived lipid, as are fat soluble vitamins.

All organic substances are formed from linked units of carbon molecules.

The three molecules of fatty acids associated with a triglyceride can vary appreciably. They vary in the length of their carbon chain and whether they are saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. We have all heard these terms before, but perhaps not fully appreciated the science involved.

Once again, how the various constituent parts are held together plays a significant role in the nutritional nature of the finished product. In the case of fatty acids, the bonding differences are more fundamental in nature and involve how the actual carbon atoms are bound to one another. The bonds between carbon atoms in a fatty acid may be what are described as single or double.

A saturated fatty acid has no double bonds, in a sense there is no more room. A monounsaturated fatty acid has one double bond and a polyunsaturated fatty acid has two or more double bonds.

For some reason, fats with more double bonds tend to be healthier and not clog the system as readily. We are always looking for foods with higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids and tend to avoid saturated and trans fats. (Trans fats are man altered fats where hydrogen units are added to the chemical composition to solidify liquid fat).

Further to general health concerns, certain of the fatty acids are nutritionally very important. We have learned there are certain essential amino acids that must be provided in a pet's diet; so too there are certain fatty acids that must also be included. For dogs, these are linoleic and linolenic acids and for cats, these two along with arachidonic acid. These specific fatty acids are now accordingly termed essential fatty acid. With a deficiency of these nutrients, animals experience dry skin, poor coats and other health concerns. In fact, the fat content of your pet's diet is probably the single most important issue to providing that much appreciated luxurious and shiny coat.

It is becoming clearer now that when selecting a food for your pet the fat source is actually quite important. Looking for a fat that provides a high level of essential fatty acids and is lower in saturated fatty acids is ideal. Canines and felines have a greater dependence on fat nutrition than do people and we are certainly taking note for ourselves! Have a look at the following nutrient chart covering most conventional fat types commonly used in pet foods.

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DEFINITIONS:

Fat: Ensures optimum energy performance, promotes general well-being and well conditioned skin and coat, if supplied the right amount of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

Chicken Fat - Fat obtained from tissues of chicken. It is an excellent energy source and a high quality fat providing 20% to 30% of the essential fatty acids needed for healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Poultry Fat - Fat obtained from tissues of poultry (mainly chicken, sometimes turkey). It is an excellent source and a high quality fat providing 20% to 30% of the essential fatty acids necessary for healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Pork fat - Fat obtained from tissues of pork. It is an excellent energy source and a high quality fat providing 18% to 25% of the essential fatty acids needed for healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Animal Fat - Mixture of fat obtained from tissues of mammals - mainly beef, sometimes pork and/or rarely from poultry.

Beef Tallow - Fat obtained from tissues of beef only. It provides good energy, but only 3% to 5% of the essential fatty acids necessary for skin and coat quality.

Sunflower Oil - Mechanically extracted oil from sunflower seeds, which contains an excellent amount of the essential fatty acids necessary for a shiny coat.

Soybean Oil - Mechanically or chemically extracted oil from soybeans, which contains an excellent amount of the essential fatty acids needed for a shiny coat.

Lecithin - Phospholipid extracted from soybean. It is a fat that contains over 50% linoleic acid and ready to be used by the metabolism.

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THE BENEFITS OF FATTY ACIDS

The health benefits of fatty acids are easier to accept than the caloric role that fat plays in your pet's diet. Fats provide the major stored source of energy for dogs and cats. While neither species has a dramatic ability to store glucose as glycogen, they have a tremendous ability to store excess energy as fat. This may reflect the reality that in the wild, there will be days when food just isn't available and they are forced to go without eating.

There are many other important contributions fat makes to a complete diet. While less a concern for domestic pets, fat provides excellent insulation and heat regulation. Fats also play an integral role in nerve fibre formation and nerve transmission. Phospholipids, as mentioned, transport fats in the bloodstream as well as forming an integral part of cell membranes, even cholesterol is necessary for bile salt formation. This is a very partial list, but to an extent it indicates the overall importance of fat to your pet's diet.

Finally, fat is a very important contributor to the palatability of your pet's food. This last role is often overlooked, but even the best formulated diets are of little value if your dog or cat won't eat them. This leads us to the concept of fat's involvement in diet formulations, as lowered fat levels often explains your pet's reluctance to eat these products. Obviously, if fat provides concentrated calories, weight management foods will have reduced fat levels and potentially reduced palatability. This is a necessary evil to some extent, as fat does provide two and one half times the calories to an equal weight of protein or carbohydrate. We will deal further with weight management in the next segment on general issues, as this is the most important consideration related to fat in general.

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OMEGA 3-6 FATTY ACIDS

There are two organically distinct families of unsaturated fatty acids: Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. The nomenclature simply refers to where in the overall structure of the fatty acid, the first double bond occurs. Either between the 3rd or the 6th carbon unit! This apparently minor distinction does make for significant nutritional differences.

Omega 6 fatty acids, which are sourced from more conventional fats and oils, are involved primarily in the roles described above: skin and coat, nerve function and many more.

Omega 3 fatty acids, sourced from marine fish, soya oil, or flaxseed, tend to be more involved with skin inflammation than skin formation. They can be useful for reducing pre-existing skin irritation, while omega 6 fatty acids are better at preventing the problem. Both forms of fatty acid work synergistically and an optimal ratio of each is required: preferably 5-10: 1 Omega 6 to Omega 3.

The selection of a product with quality fat is a given. A product with added Omega 3 fatty acids should be considered when your pet has a pre-existing "skin itch" or irritation.

FLAXSEED, OMEGA 3 & OMEGA 6 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are essential for dogs and cats. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in high concentrations in the oil of cold-water fish as well as some terrestrial plants such as flaxseed and soybean.

Enriched sources of Omega 6 fatty acids include terrestrial plant oils such as corn, sunflower, soybean and fats from animals such as poultry fat.

Recent clinical studies have shown that a ratio of Omega 3 and 6 between 1:5 and 1:10 reduces the production of plasma and neutrophils, the latter being inflammatory mediators in canine skin and feline skin. It also reduces possible skin irritation. Amounts of Omega 3 and 6 in this ideal range have produced a marked improvement in the luster of dog and cat coats.

It has also been shown that Omega 3 fatty acids prevent coronary heart disease, hypertension and mellitus, non-insulin-dependant diabetes, as well as renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis in some patients. Anticarcinogenic effects of flaxseed have been associated with reduced cancer mortality. Flaxseed is a rich source of the lignans anti-cancer agents and may be effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer in animals.

Flaxseed is added to NUTRIENCE Diet Adult Dog and Cat Weight Management Foods. Vegetable oil and flaxseed are also added to the Derma Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Food; a diet primarily designed for dogs who suffer from allergies and skin and coat problems.

Flaxseed, omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids

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GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT:

Selecting a formula with the correct amount of fat for your pet is somewhat important. The higher the percentage, the greater the dietary caloric content. This concept should be married to your pet's individual weight concerns and activity levels.

Once again, marketing can create confusion in the mind of even the most conscientious pet owner.

The kilo-caloric content of a pet food is a term often forwarded as a necessarily favourable feature of a particular diet, i.e. "this food has 400 Kcal per cup and this one only 300" for instance. Because of the caloric content of fat, this term relates almost directly to the diet's fat percentage. It has no bearing on the type or quality of fat and should, therefore, be put in perspective.

There is, however, another benefit to dealing with diet in terms of numbers. We get so caught up in selecting the correct new formula, we often overlook that calories can be as easily reduced by feeding less volume as by reducing fat percentage. Feeding 3/4 of a cup of our imaginary 400 Kcal per cup formula vs. 1 cup of our 300 Kcal diet would provide the same calories to our pet. The choice comes down to the feeding volumes your personal pet will tolerate, or perhaps better stated, your ability to tolerate their response to hunger.

Should a diet lower in fat content be necessary, it is even more important to optimize essential fatty acid input to avoid dry skin. Chicken fat provides high levels of essential fatty acids and will help avoid poor coat condition.

Of less scientific significance and more practical concern is the common sense issue of treats, table scraps and exercise. It is important to recognize that many single treats add almost as many calories to your pet's diet as a third of a cup of food, and that table scraps can often be on top of your pet's regular diet.

There are newer dietary concepts to help with weight management as well. Nutrience now offers a unique fat metabolization diet that offers an excellent alternative to conventional high fibre diets.

Along with lowering fat content, conventional diet products add higher levels of fibre. Fibre decreases intestinal transit time: i.e. speeds food through the intestinal tract. This feature reduces the overall digestibility of the diet and inhibits caloric uptake. It goes without saying that nutrient assimilation is also reduced. In effect, the result is similar to simply feeding less, and most pet's exhibit the same hunger symptoms and higher stool volumes. By contrast, while a fat metabolization diet does lower fat content, the idea is to also promote fat mobilization from storage areas and improve cellular conversion of fat energy. Various micro nutrients, such as choline and L-carnitine are involved in this dietary alternative. Most pets do at least as well and do not experience the same degree of hunger and stool volume increase. There is also less chance for dry skin development, considering the improved fat utilization of chicken fat, lecithin, flaxseed and the addition of omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to the diet.

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VITAMINS - What are vitamins?

Vitamins are the final organic nutrient found in your pet's diet. They have no structural or energy based role and, in fact, are basically tied up in helping everything else work. They are involved in a multitude of the body's metabolic processes and are essential to your pet's nutritional health.

There are two basic types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble.

Fat soluble vitamins include Vitamins A, D, E and K. These vitamins are absorbed much as dietary fat is and are excreted in the feces in bile. Fat soluble vitamins are stored primarily in the liver and can accumulate and have a higher potential for toxicity than do the water soluble vitamins.

Water soluble vitamins are passively absorbed through the intestinal tract and mostly used or excreted in the urine. These include the B-complex vitamins as well as Vitamin C. Only the B12 vitamin Cobalamin is stored to any extent.

Once again for those interested, we have provided a list of vitamins and their key functions in the following chart.

VITAMINS

A special vitamin premix has been prepared for each Nutrience formula. Vitamins provide a better resistance to disease and help maintain optimal metabolic functions. Vitamins are also added to the diet to stabilize the food for a longer shelf life.

LIPOSOLUBLE VITAMINS: Absorbed and excreted with fat.

Vitamin A: Useful for reproduction functions and for well conditioned skin and a shiny coat. Helps keep the visual system in good condition and helps produce antibodies.

Vitamin D: Helps the absorption of calcium and phosphorus necessary for bones and teeth. It also prevents rachitis.

Vitamin E: Useful for the reproductive functions. Also a natural fat preservative.

Vitamin K: Useful for proper blood coagulation.

HYDROSOLUBLE VITAMINS: Absorbed and excreted with water.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): Helps prevent common diseases, such as anemia and hemorrhaging.

Choline: Increases rate of growth and decreases fat content in the liver.

B Complex: Ensures proper growth and reproduction.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): Helps maintain normal concentration of hemoglobin in blood. Helps growth, especially during and after weaning period. Helps the formation of choline and methionine.

Niacin (B3): Helps maintain proper growth - important for coenzymes, transformation of fat, carbohydrates and proteins.

Thiamine (B1:) May prevent certain neurological disorders and maintains weight. Can predispose formation of vitamin C in the intestine.

Pyridoxine (B6): Important for the transformation of proteins. Helps to transform linoleic acid into arachidonic acid.

Pantothenic Acid (B5): Increases the effectiveness of the transformation of carbohydrates into energy. Prevents certain neurological disorders. Important during growth period.

Biotin (complex B): Maintains well-conditioned skin.

Folic acid (complex B): Important for cellular reproduction and the formation of choline.

Riboflavin (B2): Prevents certain neurological disorders, opacity of the cornea and maintains well-conditioned skin and coat.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

There are several key issues, as relates to vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin C supplementation: Dogs and cats produce their own vitamin C (hence not really a vitamin for these two species), but many breeders and manufacturers advocate additional dietary amounts. Vitamin C is intimately involved in the formation of collagen, a substance that plays a significant part in bone and tendon development. As especially large breed dogs go through rather dramatic growth periods, it has been advocated that additional Vitamin C might benefit optimal development, or even help prevent certain bone development concerns. Minimal supplementation during rapid growth would therefore seem reasonable.

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MINERALS - What are Minerals?

Minerals are the inorganic substances that classify as nutrients. Most minerals are present in the body as ions of salt. Many are quite insoluble in water and form solid deposits, thereby serving as supporting and protecting structures. Calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, magnesium and fluoride make up the majority of bone, for instance.

While it is easy to think of minerals as a bone, it is less comfortable to think of them as part of our blood, but minerals play a far more extensive role in the body's metabolic processes than we might imagine. In fact, minerals independent of their structural value are essential for life.

Again there are two principle classes of minerals: Macro and Micro.

Macrominerals are the ones that are predominant in the body. They include calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sulphur and the blood electrolytes sodium, potassium and chloride.

The rest of the minerals in the body are required in only trace amounts and are known as microminerals. They may be low in quantity, but not importance. For instance, iron helps form haemoglobin, as does copper, while zinc and manganese are integral components to enzymes that affect skin and reproduction. In fact, the list and function of the microminerals is extensive and we elected to include a separate section for those interested.

MINERALS

Minerals help with the proper development of bones, teeth, tissue and hair. Nutrience contains exclusive and carefully researched quantities of essential macro and micro minerals, such as chelated minerals (organic minerals) for improved assimilation.

Calcium/Phosphorus: Must be present in diet by a ratio of approximately 1.5:1. Also important for bones and teeth structure.

Potassium: Important for muscle tone, fluid control and metabolism.

Sodium/Chloride: Important for the ionic balance of fluids and muscular contractions.

Magnesium: Important for the efficiency of reproductive organs. Acts as a coenzyme in chemical reactions. Also important for bones and teeth structure.

Zinc: Maintains healthy skin and coat. Important for metabolism, coenzymes and calcification. Helps remove vitamin A contained in the liver.

Iodine: Essential for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland (metabolism regulation).

Selenium: Similar to vitamin E functions. Helps prevent diseases, such as muscular dystrophy and myocardosis.

Manganese: Important for fat metabolism and reproduction. Activates enzymes and helps produce ossein.

Iron: Important for cellular respiration, an oxygen carrier.

Copper: Important for hemoglobin system and reproduction. Promotes well conditioned skin.

Sulfur: Important for the formation of certain amino acids (sulfur based).

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

While often taken for granted, the mineral content of your pet's food is an important consideration. Achieving optimal ratios and balances of key ingredients greatly affects mineral absorption, metabolism and function. Deficiencies can occur even in the face of apparently high levels of an included ingredient. Zinc is a prime example, as it is bound by certain cereal components of a diet.

Many higher standard products now provide specialty types of minerals to assure optimal absorption. One example you can look for are chelated minerals. These high quality nutrients have a protein molecule attached to the inorganic substrate to provide enhanced recognition and uptake. They will be identified on the label as iron proteinate or zinc methionine complex. The former identifying a protein attachment and the latter an amino acid attachment.

CHELATED MINERALS (organic minerals)

Bioavailability of zinc-methionine compared to inorganic material
A highly stable complex formed between a mineral and a protein (amino acids) that is a highly bioavailable compared to inorganic minerals.

WATER - What is water?

In fact, because adequate water intake can actually inconvenience us, we actually can find ourselves tailoring intake. 66% of the body is water. Water provides the medium for almost every chemical reaction that takes place in a living being. It is intimately involved in sweating and thermoregulation, and in cleaning the body of waste materials.

Unexpected sudden increases in water intake, or uncontrolled frequent urination, can be a sign of a medical problem, but routine intake of larger amounts of water, while perhaps inconveniencing, is still healthy.

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D - FUNCTIONAL DIETS

In a world of constant evolution, science is getting more and more precise in the specific needs of pets. Pets live longer today than they did 10 to 15 years ago, because we are now more specific in formulating special functional diets that play major roles in their health benefits. Special ingredients are used to prolong a healthier way of living for your pet. Biotechnology is certainly responsible for a large part of all the improvements.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology can vastly improve digestion and your pets' well-being.

Enzymes are part of the new biotechnology development. In the last two decades, there have been an increasing number of reports indicating that judicious use of enzymes and enzyme bearing products can make a positive impact on animal nutrition. Enzymes are biological catalysts, which means they can increase the rate of a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction can be related to digestion of proteins, fat and carbohydrates.

WHERE DO ENZYMES COME FROM?

Enzymes have been isolated from different types of living organisms such as beneficial bacteria. These micro-organisms have been used for hundreds of years, in the fermentation of cheese, alcohol, corn syrup, yogurt and other foods.

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IMMUNE COMPLEX

Im3 AND Im2

NUTRIENCE immune complex Im3 and Im2 have been developed using the most recent studies in animal immunology.

The concept of Im3 incorporates three components that all play a role in increasing the immunology defense system and has a synergetic effect when combined together.

Im3 consists of lutein, specific immunoglobulin and microencapsulated organic acids. This mix creates a powerful stimulant for the puppy's and kitten's immune defence system.

Im2 includes lutein and microencapsulated organic acids, which also stimulates the adult immune system.

SPECIFIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN

A product obtained by spray drying pasteurized hyper immunized egg. Eggs are a rich source of antibodies, protein and other key nutritional components. This process retains the immunoglobulin and natural biological value.

This product contains natural antibodies considered to be more user friendly, because they:

Have a widespread effect on a variety of pathogens.
Are natural animal proteins.
Are relatively inexpensive when compared to medication.

Functional spray dried egg contains immunoglobulin, like IgG, which is an active component that helps maintain intestinal immunity. It supports enteric health, reduces effects of pathogenic challenge and reduces morbidity and mortality of young animals. The benefit of Ig is significant since the weanling puppy/kitten immune system is immature for several weeks post weaning.

IgG will provide extra immunological support improving health and growth.

ROLE OF Ig IN INTESTINAL IMMUNITY

Intestinal Ig is thought to be an important component in the pet immune response to enteric challenge.

Traditionally, IgA produced by intestinal immune cells has been considered to be primarily responsible for protection against enteropathogenic challenge. Recent research reported that IgA is not essential for protection against an enteric infection and IgG can contribute better to intestinal protection.

The IgG found in the hyper immunized spray dried eggs is partially resistant to digestion and can also move from the circulation into the intestine to support the intestinal immune system.

Hyperimmunized egg protein can be produced to provide high titers of Ig specific to mammalians. Improvements in animal performance have been reported in animals fed with hyperimmunized spray dried eggs and vice-versa. It supports enteric health and reduces the effects of pathogenic challenge.

OTHER ADVANTAGES

A study conducted with mammalians, the addition of spray dried egg increased the digestibility of the food by 3.2%

In a mammalian growth study, youths fed with food containing spray dried egg showed a better growth performance.

Less Diarrhea

By lowering the pathogenic effect of bacteria, it reduces diarrhea problems related to infectione.

MICROENCAPSULATED ORGANIC ACIDS

Microencapsulated organic acids may increase nutrient digestibility by improving digestive enzyme activity. More importantly, organic acids can lower the intestinal tract pH, which creates a less favourable environment for pathogens.

What does microencapsulation mean?

Microencapsulation means protected by a matrix of fatty acids. It does not affect the cells of the stomach wall and acidifies without reducing the normal production of hydrochloric acids. Microencapsulated organic acids work slowly and progressively in the stomach (where 30% of the acids are liberated) and predominantly in the intestine (where 70% of the acids are liberated) under the action of pancreatic lipase and biliary salts.

It allows an important decrease in pH. This reduction maintains an unfavourable medium for growth of pathogenic bacteria while favouring lactic bacteria. The acidification increases the hydrolysis of feed proteins.

It is a combination of selected organic and inorganic acids, microencapsulated and protected by a matrix of fatty acids.

STOMACH:
Lowering of the pH, has a positive effect on pepsin (which is a protease-enzyme). It will also reduce the growth of coliform bacteria.

The pH reduction would only be accessory for zootechnical results. Both organic and inorganic acids can lower the pH, however only organic acids can improve performances.

NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY:
Many research reports are contradictory on the subject relating to protein and energy. The improved protein hydrolysis would have an indirect effect by creating an environment less favourable to bacteria.

On the other hand, it is well demonstrated that the digestibility of many amino acids is significantly improved with acidification.

MICROFLORA MODIFICATION:
This mode of action is very well documented at the stomach and intestinal level. Acidification favours the proliferation of lactobacilli that inhibit the development of E. coli by blocking attachment sites producing lactic acid and liberating hydrogen peroxide.

Effect of microencapsulated organic acids on bacterial population in feces

CHELATING EFFECT ON MINERALS:
Organic acids form a complex with many cations, improving their intestinal absorption.

ENERGY SOURCES:
Organic acids have a good energy value (more than 10 Mj/kg on average), completely metabolizable. As an example, fumaric acid would be as energetic as glucose.

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CAT URINARY pH CONTROL:

NUTRIENCE AND THE FELINE LOWER URINARY TRACT DISORDER (F.L.U.T.D.)

The Feline Urologic Syndrome is one of the most common diseases of cats today. A cat can develop calculi (stones) in the urinary tract, which causes painful blockages. Through research, it has been determined that dietary intake is an important variable in the formation of these stones. Food, restricted in magnesium and favouring an acid urinary pH makes it almost impossible for crystals to form in the feline urinary system. NUTRIENCE chooses only premium ingredients, which contain low levels of magnesium (0.1%), and provide the optimal acidic urinary pH.

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SKIN & COAT OMEGA 3 & OMEGA 6 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are essential for dogs and cats. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in high concentrations in the oil of cold water fish, as well as some terrestrial plants, such as flaxseed.

Enriched sources of Omega 6 fatty acids include terrestrial plant oils such as corn, lecithin, sunflower and fats from animals, such as poultry fat.

It has also been shown that Omega 3 fatty acids prevent coronary heart disease, hypertension and mellitus, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis in some patients. Anticarcinogenic effects of flaxseed have been associated with reduced cancer mortality, flaxseed being a rich source of lignans.

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MANNANOLIGOSACCHARIDE (M.O.S.) & FRUCTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDE (F.O.S.)

The mannan oligosaccharides or M.O.S. is an extract naturally derived from the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract). For many years, the Japanese and Europeans have been adding oligosaccharides in food for their nutritional value.

The oligosaccharides are important modulators of gastrointestinal health. Noted effects include the exclusion of pathogenic bacteria (harmful bacteria) from the gastrointestinal tract. It enhances the digestive function and stimulates the immune system.

Pathogenic bacteria colonize the gastrointestinal tract by binding to the surface of the epithelial cells. To prevent infection, it is necessary to inhibit their pathogenic binding process. The mannan oligosaccharide is a non-digestible carbohydrate that is non-hydrolysable by enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. Mannanoligosaccharides block the adherence of the pathogenic bacteria by filling the sites on the intestinal epithelial cells where they can bind. Filling binding sites would reduce the colonization of the intestine by potentially harmful bacteria.

The fructo-oligosaccharides or F.O.S. is the extract naturally derived from chicory root, beet pulp and other natural ingredients. Fructo-oligosaccharides stimulate the growth of good intestinal bacteria and supports healthy colon conditions.

Fructo-oligosaccharides raise the number of Lactobacilli and Bifitobacteria in the gut, which are beneficial bacteria leaving less space for the bad bacteria to grow. F.O.S. provides immune stimulation properties, decreased carcinogens and liver toxins that limit excessive formation of gas. The combination of M.O.S and F.O.S work in synergy against preventing bad bacteria to bind to the intestine epithelial cells and favorise the growth of the good bacteria.

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GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN SULFATES

Clinical and anecdotal evidence suggest that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates can help treat arthritis in pets.

Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, is either hereditary or caused by wear and tear. Genetically inherent forms of arthritis also exist. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis for dogs and cats. The cartilage disintegrates and bone-like material builds up in the joints causing inflammation due to friction.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates are mucopolysaccharide compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Although the exact cause of osteoarthritis is still unknown, one theory suggests that the breakdown of joint cartilage allows blood vessels to penetrate and further accelerate the disintegration. Nutrience Senior Dog and Cat Foods use glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates, which help alleviate arthritic symptoms. These sulfates are also added to the Junior cat foods, the Original/Derma Dog Large/Giant Breed foods and the Supreme Medium, Large and Giant Breed foods and the Holistic Large and Giant foods, to help keep joints healthy and optimize cartilage development.

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HAIRBALL CONTROL

Hairball problems are more commonly seen with long haired cats. When cats groom themselves, they ingest large quantities of hair, causing hairballs in their stomachs. Hairballs can lead to partial blockage of the stomach or intestines, vomiting and other serious problems.

To help reduce the risk of hairballs, two techniques are currently used in the industry. The first increases the quantity of fibre in the cats' diet. This irritates the intestinal tract and provokes peristaltic movement, which helps remove the hairball. This technique irritates the intestinal tract, lowers the food digestibility and increases stool quantity.

The second technique is to use a pineapple extract. This extract contains enzymes that help dissolve the mucous that holds the hairball together. Pineapple extract works in the stomach and the intestinal tract gently without any form of irritation to the bowel. Regular use of the Elite Hairball Cat formula, containing pineapple extract can help prevent hairballs from forming.

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DENTAL HYGIENE

Pet dental care is one of the fastest developing segments in the animal industry. A pet's general health begins with his mouth. The mouth, teeth, jaw and gums all play a vital role in ingesting, chewing and swallowing food. Therefore, the condition of the pet's mouth has a considerable impact regarding its general health. Proper dental care is a necessary part of daily hygiene for pets as well as humans.

Science: Tartar is the hard mineral deposit that is visible on the outer sides of the back teeth of older pets. The "calcified" material is actually chipped off during a dental cleaning. It tends to be greenish in color and will harbour bacteria and promote inflammation, especially at the junction with the gums. This combination of events often leads to periodontal disease.

Plaque is an invisible amalgam of materials, not the least of which is bacteria, and when associated with dental etching, eventually predisposes to tartar development. So, even when your pet's teeth look fine, ongoing dental care of some nature is in order. This is especially the case if your pet has bad breath. Halitosis is a common occurrence with bacteria degradation of food particles and can be an early warning sign. There is probably no substitute for a good tooth brush or finger cot, particularly when combined with a specialty toothpaste. The individual animal and the owner's capabilities play a large part in the dental health of your pet.

New solutions: Nutrience offers a special dental hygiene concept named Dm3, found in the Supreme dog and cat dry foods. Dm3 offers your pet three actions necessary to help clean his teeth and freshen breath:

Mechanical action
Breath freshener
Enzymatic control

MECHANICAL ACTION
The effects achieved by chewing kibbles helps reduce tartar from the pet's teeth. Kibbles are specially formulated and extruded to create a brush like effect to help remove tartar through gentle abrasion.

BREATH FRESHENER
Adding ingredients such as parsley and mint leaves naturally help freshen breath.

ENZYMATIC REACTION
Nutrience has added green tea to certain formulas to help remove and prevent the formation of dental plaque.

The formations of plaque can lead to dental cavity, gingival inflammation, and periodontal disease and eventually tooth loss.

Plaque is a mixture of bacteria, epithelial cells, leukocytes, macrophages and other oral exudates.

Bacteria produce glucans from sucrose and other foods found in the oral cavity. These glucans, adhere to the tooth enamels as hard plaque. It also generates production of lactic acid, therefore dissolving tooth enamel. That, in brief, is the mechanism of cavity production. To help prevent cavities it is necessary to keep plaque off the teeth. Green tea can suppress the process by which cariogenic bacteria create glucans and may also destroy those bacteria.

It has long been known that fluorine can strengthen teeth and help prevent cavities. Green tea contains natural fluorine and is thought to help with the prevention of cavities. Green tea can also kill other oral bacteria responsible for bad breath.

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WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

More and more pets today are suffering from obesity, which can lead to serious health problems.

It is important to follow the recommended feeding portions of dry food and adjust it with respect to the level of exercise your pet does every day. Exercise is important for a pets overall health and well-being.

It is also important to not give pet's table scraps and make sure that treats are given in reasonable quantities.

If your pet is 15% over his optimum body weight you should consider switching to a diet formula.

Diet formulas typically contain less fat and are higher in fiber compared to other foods. Combined with exercise, diet formulas will help reduce the extra weight, but will also reduce important nutrient intake, such as essential fatty acids. These fatty acids are important in keeping the appearance of the pets' coat looking health and shiny. Diet formulas also increase the stool volume and keep your pet hungry.

The Nutrience Diet formula includes lecithin, which contains high levels of essential fatty acids to compensate for the low fat diet and help maintain a nice coat. Plus, Nutrience has added a fat burning technology by incorporating L-Carnitine. L-Carnitine is a vitamin like component named vitamin B7, which is, in fact, an amino acid that we can synthesize primarily in the liver and kidney. L-Carnitine will help burn fat in the cells by working on the fat metabolism.

L-Carnitine accompanies the activated fatty acids into the mitochondria matrix, where they can be metabolized to generate energy and burn fat.

This diet, in combination with exercise, will help your pet lose weight efficiently.

MITOCHONDRIA: ARCHITECTURE DICTATES FUNCTION

Mitochondria are the cells' power sources. They are distinct organelles with two membranes. Usually they are rod-shaped, but can also be round. The outer membrane limits the organelle. The inner membrane is thrown into folds or shelves that project inward. These are called cristae mitochondriales.

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ODOUR CONTROL

Many things can lead to various odours in the stool. Excess eating of a protein based diet will lead to stool fermentation, which contains a lot of nitrogen (stemming from undigested proteins). This leads to the formation of ammonia, which is a substance that is responsible for the obnoxious and unpleasant odour in dog's and cat's feces.

The use of a natural plant extract, such as Yucca Shidigera, helps to reduce the formation of ammonia. Yucca Shidigera is a desert plant that originates from Mexico and South America. It contains steroidal saponines (inner bark), which are urease inhibitors, thus reducing the activity of enzymes responsible for converting urea to ammonia, which is the cause of the obnoxious odour in pet's feces.

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LOW ALLERGENIC DIET

Allergies are the result of exposure to a foreign protein, combined with a foul-up by the immune system. Causes can be genetic or from psychological or physical stress. Symptoms normally develop on the skin of the animal, in the form of skin irritation. Other side effects include vomiting, flatulence, rumbles and abnormal stools.

Allergies can be provoked by:

Contact with any domestic products such as shampoo.
Atopic substances inhaled such as pollen and yeast.
Environmental substance such as food, antibiotics, pesticides, etc.

How can we treat allergies?

First, it is important to try to figure out what is causing the allergenic reaction. Remove the product that you think is provoking the reaction. If that is not possible, the veterinarian should be able to recommend the use of an antihistaminic. Remember that medication only attenuates the allergic reactions, it does not solve the problem.

If you believe that food might be the cause of the reaction, switch to a formula with a unique and totally different protein derivative. Wait one week and see if there is an improvement. To be absolutely certain, switch back to the original food and see if the adverse reaction reoccurs. If it does, you know that there is, in fact, an allergenic food reaction.

Low allergenic diets are usually diets made with a single source of protein. Chicken is a common protein used and lamb is a less frequent protein also used, but for low allergenic formulas. A new generation of low allergenic diet foods are now being introduced containing duck as the source of protein.

Nutrience offers a Derma Lamb Meal and Rice dog formula and a Holistic formula for both cats and dogs. The latter formula is based on duck meal protein, which is rarely used in pet food, but is recognized as a low allergenic protein.

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PRESERVATIVES AND EXPIRY DATES

Classically, preservatives are considered to be agents that prevent fat from becoming rancid. Since compounds that prevent mould growth are protecting the integrity of the food, agents in this category could also be considered to be preservatives. While both serve to protect the viability of a pre-made diet, how they function is quite different.

Fat goes rancid when it oxidizes, primarily through exposure to oxygen. Oxygen initiates a chemical breakdown of fat that produces free radicals and peroxide, along with compounds that provide the paint odour type smell typically associated with rancid food. Agents that preserve fat must therefore stop oxidation and as such are by definition antioxidants.

Antioxidants intercede in the breakdown of fats through the prevention of oxidation and, therefore, protect a diets' freshness and provide a determined amount of shelf life.

While other factors affect the rate of oxidation, oxygen exposure is the key factor. Heat and moisture will accelerate rancidity, which is why desiccation and refrigeration also helps keep food fresh. When these approaches are impractical, as with pet food, antioxidants must be increased in the diet to fight rancidity. All pre-formulated diets must be tested to establish the exact length of shelf like that can be expected under typical environmental conditions. To accomplish this, a small amount of food is ground up and immersed in water and then controlled amounts of oxygen are bubbled into the mixture. As the fat is exposed to oxygen it begins to spoil and produce peroxide. Peroxide levels are then monitored and when a predetermined level is reached, it is then established that the food is spoiled. The oxygen is turned off and the volume used is recorded.

To allow this oxygen exposure level to have some value, every packaging manufacturer has established the oxygen penetration rate for their type of container. Simply by combining the two guideline figures an expiry date is established. This date is printed on the bag in an easy too read non coded form.

Attempting to feed product significantly past the expiry date is simply inadvisable. Peroxide is an irritant to the intestinal tract and will undoubtedly cause diarrhea. Foods with acceptable peroxide levels, but more than a month past expiry may not cause diarrhea, but the food is significantly less palatable and its nutrient parameters are potentially greatly reduced.

Mould preventatives are an entirely different family of compounds. Mould simply cannot grow in less that 15% moisture. This is one of the reasons most dry dog foods are limited to 10-15% moisture. Agents that absorb excess moisture act as anti-fungal or mould deterrents. They are primarily salts of certain minerals and may be listed on packaging as preservatives.

Whether an antioxidant is man made or found directly in nature doesn't make any difference to the health of the animal. Moreover, as long as the food is properly tested and a clearly marked expiry date is established, it makes no difference to the freshness of the food.

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A - INTERPRETING PET FOOD LABELS

B - THE NUTRIENTS

C - DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS

D - FUNCTIONAL DIETS

E - NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION OF NUTRIENCE PRODUCTS

F - ENERGETIC VALUE OF NUTRIENCE PRODUCTS