Five Essential Pet Food Nutrients for a Healthy Meal

1. Proper nutrition is essential for your pet's health and ability to survive. Pet food should be a wholesome mixture of all the essential nutrients that an animal needs depending on its age and physical activity. Look out for these five nutrients when you purchase pet food. This will help you decide how much your pet has eaten. Different animals need a different amount of these biomolecules so it's not one shoe fits all theory. 1. Proteins Healthy proteins are essential building blocks for tissues and bones. Every pet should have healthy protein. Amino acid chains make the muscle structure and maintain a healthy physical appearance. Proteins cannot be compromised in your pet’s food. Two sources of protein for pet food are available i. Animal protein Carnivorous pets must eat this type of protein. The animal protein or meat protein is mostly from the skeletal and smooth muscles of slaughtered animals. When buying pet food, opt for the one with the maximum quantity of such a portion. Many food companies offer frozen meat, or they add it to dry food. Dry protein can be fed dry or soaked as per your pet's preference. ii. Plant protein Plants are the source of all types of protein herbivorous animals consume. These amino acids are usually obtained from grains, nuts, seeds which are either fed directly to animals or are crushed and mixed in the packed food. When you buy pet food, look out for the smaller portion of plant-based proteins too. 2. Carbohydrates Glucose acts as a main energy source for the body in animals too. Most vets do not recommend too many carbs in pet food but it really depends on what your little friend likes. Just as we humans consume carbs based on how they would be metabolized in our body, animals need the same preference regarding the choice of carbohydrates. This means that there are two types carbs, and they each metabolize differently. i. Simple carbs These are all the carbs found in all delicious things. This includes all refined foods like pizza dough and white

2. bread. And also these are the carbs you need to be aware of the most as so many companies add these in pet food to make it delicious and appealing for animals. If your pet doesn't eat anything, it might be a good idea for them to try refined carbs. However, getting your pet used to these carbs can prove dangerous in the long-term. Simple carbs have high glycemic values which means they are absorbed quickly in the bloodstream of your pet and can raise blood sugar levels. These high sugar levels can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes in dogs and cats who are not physically active. ii. Complex carbs Pet food should contain a lower percentage of complex carbs than protein. These complex carbs are low in glycemic and take longer to digest, which will keep your pet fuller for longer periods of time. They can be combined with healthy protein to provide satiety, good health, and even good taste. This is why portion control in nutrients is necessary. Check the carbohydrate content of pet food before you purchase it. The preferred sources are whole grains and starchy vegetables. 3. Fats Fat sources usually appear with protein or carbohydrates portions, especially in dog food. But there are two different kinds of fats too and animals need them both at different stages. i. Saturated fats Not all animals need it, but most do. Saturated fats can be found in butter, milk, or bread with meat for domestic pets. These fats are essential in the building of the lipid portion of the cell membranes. This is why they are given to kittens and young dogs as well as cattle. If your pet lives in colder climates, you can add these fats into its food. Animals who do not have fur beat the cold by burning fats in their body. ii. Unsaturated fats These are omega fatty acids and are required mostly during 角角角角角角角 the early development stages of pets. Nevertheless, pet food should contain small amounts of unsaturated fats. 4. Water content Many animals don't like to drink water or have difficulty digesting dry food. For them, make sure to soak the dry pet food in water and feed it to them. This would keep them safe from digestive distress and dehydration. Buy pet food that is dry and not wet as the latter usually lacks the number of important nutrients to accommodate water. 5. Micronutrients Along with water content and macronutrients, pet food requires vitamins, zinc, calcium, and many others in just a few milligrams for proper tissue growth and elasticity, healthy bones, and proper brain functioning. The nutrients are basically co-factors assisting macronutrients to metabolize properly.