- Pet Nutrition Part 11: Essential Nutrients
Animal nutrition assesses the dietary needs of domesticated animals. This particularly applies to those we keep as pets and those we use to help us in agriculture and food production.
To understand what you should be feeding your pet on a regular basis, you need to know the seven major classes of nutrients your pet needs.
They are carbohydrates, fats, fiber, protein, minerals, vitamins, and water.
Macronutrients are found in proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and are what give your pet energy.
Most foods are going to provide energy to keep your pet active and healthy. Vitamins, minerals, and water do not contain energy, but they are nevertheless needed.
Your pets also need non-digestible materials like fiber to help with biochemical processes, such as breaking down the waste to make it easier for your pet to eliminate.
11.1 Water
About 60-70% of your pet's body is made of water. Without enough of it, your pet could get sick or die.
Your pet needs access to fresh, clean water at all times. Some, but not all, of the water they need comes from their diet.
Cats and dogs have different thirst levels. Dogs are thirstier when they're active, so make sure you have water for them as they exercise. On warm or hot days, dogs may drink twice as much water as on a cool day.
11.2 Carbohydrates & Fiber
Carbohydrates deliver energy, help maintain digestive health, and affect reproduction.
Most foods providing carbohydrates are rice, bread, noodles, and grain-based creations.
The sugar from carbohydrates is able to regulate blood glucose, which is necessary for heart and vascular health. In excessive amounts, carbohydrates can create diseases, including vascular and heart disease. Carbohydrates can also affect blood glucose levels that are already at dangerous levels due to diabetes.
While some carbohydrates are necessary, they can also be extremely dangerous for pets.
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that affects the bacteria in your pet's intestine.
For your pet to get the biggest benefit from fiber, the fiber should be fermentable. Fermentable fiber can be found in wheat, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
High-fiber foods aren't good for young cats and dogs that are still growing. Their energy needs are high, so their diet should have more fat and protein.
11.3 Protein
Dogs tend to prefer foods high in protein. Cats are descended from hunters, so they're natural carnivores.
Protein is important for cell growth, muscle repair, and general body maintenance.
Animal-based proteins have all the essential amino acids pets need, including:
• Arginine
• Methionine
• Histidine
• Phenylalanine
• Isoleucine
• Threonine
• Leucine
• Tryptophan
• Lysine
• Valine
• Taurine
Taurine is especially key for cats. They need it for their vision hearts and to be able to reproduce. Taurine is found only in animal-based proteins. A cat's digestive system breaks down animal-based proteins and absorbs nutrients from them.
For herbivores, protein is found in nitrogen-containing compounds like plants. Certain proteins like eggs, legumes, grains, and dairy can negatively affect your pet due to how they are cooked or processed.
11.4 Fats
Dietary fats come from animal fats or the oils of a plant seed. They're the biggest source of energy in your pet's diet. Per gram, fats have more than twice as much energy as protein or carbohydrates.
They provide essential fatty acids, which a dog or cat's body does not make on its own. Fatty acids, such as omega-3s, are needed to:
• Keep skin and fur healthy
• Produce some types of hormones
• Absorb vitamins
• Insulate the body
• Protect organs
Plus, fats make your pet's food even tastier (to them, at least).
11.5 Minerals & Vitamins
Dogs and cats must get vitamins and minerals from their diet. If you feed your pet a balanced diet of protein, fat, and carbs, they'll usually get everything they need.
Vitamin supplements aren't always needed unless your vet prescribes them to treat a vitamin deficiency. In fact, an overload of vitamins can cause health problems. For instance, too much vitamin A can lead to brittle bones and joint pain. And too much vitamin D can cause overly dense bones and kidney problems.
Cats and dogs normally get these essential minerals from their diet:
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Magnesium
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Chlorine
• Iron
• Copper
• Zinc
• Manganese
• Selenium
• Iodine
Calcium and phosphorus are important for healthy bones and teeth. Magnesium, potassium, and sodium are a key part of muscle health.
Vitamins and minerals help to promote heart health, regulate hormones, and provide antioxidants that protect against disease.
Tap water should be fine for your pet. Sometimes, it can contain harmful chemicals like heavy metals, fluoride, and chlorine. Still, if you use a filter on your tap, it can remove those chemicals. The best option is to provide a source of filtered water that removes the chemicals but leaves natural nutrients such as minerals and vitamins in the water. Several minerals and vitamins are in the water because of the springs and rivers that have rock formations eroding to create them. There are also sources like toilets that can lead to health problems due to bacteria and parasites growing. This is why you want to make certain the water source you provide your pet, any pet, is purified.
Nutrient Sources For Cats
Cats have a daily recommended allowance for their nutrients.
You should understand that your cat needs all seven of the nutrients listed above, especially water. How you balance these nutrients and the sources they are obtained from is important.
Cats, like most animals, can get some water from their food; however, they still need fresh, clean water to be made available.
Cats are extremely finicky about getting water. While some cats drink from the toilet bowl, they may avoid a stagnant water bowl as if it were a diseased species. Cats may not love getting into the water, but they will certainly love a working fountain. If the tap is dripping, a fountain is running, or a fresh glass of water is present, your cat will drink from it. Your cat wants fresh water at room temperature.
They also prefer running water. It may be due to their roots in the wild. Cats are prone to drink from streams with rushing water, which may be why they usually want it indoors, too.
When a cat's bowl is stagnant, or the water has not been changed often enough, your pet is not going to drink from it. Your cat will need 2 ml for every gram of dry food they eat. They tend to drink a lot at once rather than throughout the day. You have to make certain your cat is receiving enough water because it can lead to urinary tract stones if they are thirsty.
Protein is a main building block for cats. Kittens require 10 grams a day, adult cats require 12.5 grams a day, and nursing and pregnant cats require 41 grams a day.
When it comes to fat, kittens require 4 grams a day, adult cats require 5.5 grams a day, and nursing and pregnant cats require 12 grams a day.
For overall calories per day, you want to make certain you are feeding your cat based on how much they weigh, their age, whether or not they are exotic, and if they are pregnant or nursing. The ranges are between 100-1,091 calories per day. Exotic or wild cats can eat less when they are small, like 5 pounds. They only require 100-480 calories a day. A cat with proper weight should consume 170-440 calories a day. A pregnant or nursing cat should eat 330-1,100 calories in order to sustain their health and energy needs.
Since domestic cats are no longer hunting cats, you will need to provide appropriate meat sources. Most cats get their protein and nutrients from mice, insects, birds, and rabbits. The commercial food or natural food you provide your cat needs to be high in protein based on the amounts suggested above. Most cats will stop eating commercial food if they are able to access food from the wild, like mice and birds. This is because a cat understands they can get the nutrients they need from this high-protein meal. Not only can they get the protein, but cats can also get essential amino acids, vitamins, and fatty acids.
It is in your best interest to provide a commercial food or food you make for your pet that will cover all the nutrients they could get from killing a living species.
Vets recommend that cats get their nutrients from two sources: wet and dry food. There are fewer calories and protein in damp food or canned food. You can provide more canned food without fear that your cat will gain too much weight. However, it is also a good idea to limit the intake of canned food, as some cats will completely stop eating dry food. You want to provide dry food since it is higher in protein, and your cat must get enough protein.
Nutrient Sources For Dogs
Dogs drink a lot of water.
They undergo a system of replenishment, where your dog will gain 6% of their body weight in an hour just from water.
You need to have a clean bowl of water every day and make certain it is a bowl that will keep water throughout the time you are not at home.
You also need to make certain you replenish the bowl of water when it goes empty. A good rule is to fill up the bowl in the morning and again at night. If you worry about bathroom needs, you can limit the amount of water in the bowl. You never want to leave your dog without a proper source of water.
For dogs, protein is not as big of a deal as it is for cats. Proteins are necessary, but they are not the main component of their food. Proteins found in beef, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, soy, and dairy products can be provided to most humans; however, you need to be careful with dogs. Dogs should not be given large amounts of dairy products, raw eggs, or other raw sources of protein.
A poor nutrient balance due to protein will result in brittle, dry fur, poor muscle development, growth issues, anemia, and a weakened immune system. Commercial, high-quality dog foods are designed to ensure the proper source of protein is provided. If you intend to feed meat you cut and cook, then you should speak with a vet about the appropriate amount of protein versus other nutrients created for the dog food.
Fats are the main source of energy for your dog. They also provide a high amount of calories your dog needs. One gram of fat will contain twice the power of a carbohydrate or protein. Fat from chicken, sunflower oil, herring oil, and lamb is appropriate for your dog. This will help with the growth of healthy fur, skin, brain, eyes, and other tissues.
Dogs need a balanced diet of carbohydrates, more so than any cat. You may supply your dog with rice, corn, potatoes, barley, or whole grains. You should never provide uncooked grain to your dog.
Bread, fish, certain fruits and vegetables, and grains contain the necessary minerals and vitamins your dog needs. You will want to examine commercial dry food to see the amount of these ingredients in your dog's food. If you are not sure about the amount your dog needs, speak with a vet.
Regular Health Checkups
The above list of the nutrients necessary for your pets and two domestic pets was examined with regard to specific sources of foods that will provide the essential nutrients.
If you are ever in doubt about your pet's health, you can take your pet in for blood work. This is the best way to determine if your pet is receiving the nutrients required for a healthy life. Blood panels similar to the CBC blood work can be done to help reveal if there are any nutrient deficiencies in your pets so you can feel confident your pet currently has the appropriate food sources for nutrients.
Not all pet food is created equal, and those that say they are a complete and balanced meal may not be as complete as you are led to believe.
You do have options to provide proper nutrients by adding supplements to your pet's diet. Before you decide to give supplements, you must understand the type of diet your pet has: herbivore, omnivore, or carnivore, so you provide the proper supplementation.
It is a good idea to get regular checkups because you never know if your animal is eating the appropriate amounts or types of foods, even if their commercial food states it is the correct amount.
Part 11 Summary
There are seven nutrients all animals need: carbohydrates, fiber, fat, vitamins, minerals, protein, and water.
Nutrient requirements will vary from pet to pet, as well as the source of these nutrients.
For cats, protein comes from animal meat, while rabbits get protein from their own bacteria and feces.
Sometimes, a health checkup is needed to ensure your pet is getting what it requires on a daily basis.
If nothing else, you know water and most commercial food provide much of what your pet needs to survive and live a healthy life.
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For more on pet nutrition, visit our Hot Diggity Dog Blog and explore other modules in this series.