THE DIETARY NEEDS OF DOGS AND CATS

The dog is, by all scientific standards and by evolutionary history, a domesticated wolf. We illustrated the anatomical features of dogs and cats that classify them as carnivores, and explained how these features adapt dogs and cats for digesting proteins and fats from animal flesh, – not carbohydrates from plants.

This raises the question of which foods are appropriate for their carnivorous anatomy, and which are not?

As the dog's internal physiology does not differ from the wolf, dogs have the same physiological and nutritional needs as their wild predator cousins, whose diets are almost exclusively proteins and fats.

Modern dogs of all breeds are not only capable of eating the food of their wild ancestors, but actually require it for maximum health. This is because their basic physiology has changed very little with domestication—despite the obvious differences in their physical appearances.

ANIMAL SOURCE PROTEINS

Protein is the staff of life for dogs and cats – essential to basic body functions, including cellular regeneration, tissue maintenance, hormone and enzyme production, and the provision of energy.

Although protein is essential, not all proteins function equally, with protein qualities varying enormously between various sources.

Three factors effecting protein quality include:

1. PROTEIN SOURCE

2. AMINO ACID COMPOSITION

3. DIGESTIBILITY

PROTEIN SOURCE
Due to the different amino acid profiles contained in animal and plant proteins, ANIMAL PROTEINS are considered ‘complete proteins’ for dogs and cats, while PLANT PROTEINS are considered ‘incomplete proteins’.

AMINO ACID COMPOSITION
ANIMAL PROTEINS contain all of the amino acids essential to dogs and cats in quantities that match the requirements needed for their overall health, maintenance and growth.

PLANT PROTEINS such as corn gluten, soybean meal or plant protein isolates, do not contain all of the amino acids in the right proportions that a dog or cat needs, even though a vast majority of recognizable dog and cat foods contain these inferior ingredients. Unsuspecting companions unknowingly feed these inferior foods daily to their pets. Amino acids essential to dogs and cats often missing in plant proteins, include arginine, taurine, methionine, lysine and tryptophan.

PROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY
Protein digestibility is a key quality measure. After all, what good is it to have a food made with a higher quality protein if it’s not also easy to digest? A food with high protein digestibility is one that can be broken down into smaller easy-to-absorb components easier and quicker than others. In the short digestive systems of dogs and cats, plant proteins are far less digestible than meat proteins. Animal source protein is the best choice - it is easily digested and contains the amino acids essential for dogs and cats.