A healthy diet is an important factor in boosting your pet’s energy, immunity and overall health. A good quality pet food will contain ingredients that are not only healthy for your pet, but also nutritious for you!
Proteins can be found in both animal and plant sources, such as beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, fish and eggs. These foods will provide your pet with the amino acids they need to build lean muscle and stay healthy.
Protein
Protein is one of the most important ingredients in healthy pet food. It is key to a dog’s growth, energy levels and overall health and wellbeing.
It is also responsible for the production of enzymes, hormones and antibodies that are essential for our dogs’ and cats’ wellbeing.
There are many sources of high-quality protein in our pet foods, including meat, fish, egg and poultry. However, we recommend that you always check the source of the protein on your dog or cat food.
Beware of products with animal by-products or meat and animal derivatives, as they can be poor quality protein and may have a lower crude protein level than fresh proteins such as chicken, beef or turkey.
These foods may also be less digestible for your pet. This could lead to a deficiency of essential amino acids in your dog or cat’s diet and can cause digestive issues, weight gain and reduced lean body mass.
Fats
The fatty acids in fats help your pet’s body absorb the vitamins and minerals they need to maintain a healthy immune system, a vibrant coat and a glowing skin. They also provide energy, contribute to a dog’s mental and physical well-being and aid their digestion.
Ideally, your dog’s diet should be balanced, providing enough of both the omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) as well as the omega-6 fatty acids. The right balance of these essential nutrients promotes good health, reduces inflammation and supports growth and development.
Animal fats from beef, pork, lamb or poultry provide a lot of triglycerides and arachidonic acid, which are beneficial for dogs’ health. Other sources of oils include fish oil, purified algal oil or flaxseed oil, which contain a range of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamins and minerals work together to keep your dog’s immune system and metabolism functioning normally. Without these nutrients, your pet would become ill.
The vitamins and minerals that your pet needs are water soluble, meaning they are absorbed by the body through their bloodstream. Fat soluble vitamins, on the other hand, need dietary fat to be absorbed into the digestive tract and are stored in the liver.
A balanced diet will include a good range of both water and fat soluble vitamins, as well as several trace minerals. These include magnesium, calcium and phosphorus.
All these minerals are required in different amounts for a balanced diet and they are all involved in important functions of your dog’s body and support structures. If they are not present in sufficient quantities, many of the body’s biological systems will stop working and may lead to serious health problems or even death.
Other Ingredients
When it comes to the ingredients that make up healthy pet food, we are always on the lookout for nutrient-dense sources that help pets stay strong and healthy. We only choose ingredients that provide a full range of essential nutrients to support the growth and health of cats and dogs.
We are also careful to select wholesome ingredients that are good for your pet’s digestive tract. Vegetables, for example, are rich sources of fibre, minerals and vitamins that contribute to your pet’s overall health.
Vegetables are a great source of antioxidants which support your dog’s immune system and can protect against disease. They also contain important dietary fibre, vitamins and proteins to help your pet build healthy muscle mass and maintain an active lifestyle.
Meat by-products, such as rendered beef and lamb, are often used as filler ingredients to boost protein content. These cheap protein sources are sourced from road kill, “4D” animals or euthanized animals and may have been infected with parasites and tumors.