AAFCO stands for Association
of American Feed Control Officials. AAFCO nutritional levels are
recognized globally as the benchmark for nutritional adequacy in
pet food.
There is no real technical reason why you can't feed it to a
senior dog, but it should be at a reduced amount. However puppies
have nutritional needs this diet may not meet.
A puppy requires a diet higher in protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus,
sodium & chloride.
An older dog's metabolic rate slows down, so a senior diet may
be less energy dense to compensate for a less active lifestyle.
Products specially formulated for puppies and senior dogs will
be available in the near future.
During the cooking or retort
process, the meat shrinks in the same way a steak does when cooked.
This shrinkage squeezes out some of the natural moisture contained
in the meat. This moisture forms a clear gel around the outside
of the pack.
Higher fat levels in some
of the products mean that not all of the fat will be emulsified.
As such, small fat globules can be found throughout the product.
This fat is not only essential to the performance of the diet, it
adds to the palatability of the product.
Vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B4, B3, B6, B12, D, E, K and biotin are
present. Key minerals are Manganese, Copper and Selenium. Calcium,
Phosphorus, Potassium, sodium, Chloride, Magnesium, iron, zinic,
iodine.
The source for Vitamin A is liver. This is important for night
vision, and bone and skin growth.
Vitamin B1 is found in meat and vegetables. However, additional
Vitamin B1 is added to the product. Vitamin B1 promotes appetite,
is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and aids reproduction.
Vitamin B2 is found in the meat in the recipe; however the diet
is supplemented with additional Vitamin B2. Vitamin B2's key role
is the production of enzymes central to energy metabolism.
Vitamin B6 is found in the meat in the recipe. However, the diet
is supplemented with additional B6. Vitamin B6 plays a role in
around 100 enzyme reactions and is important in the use of protein
as an energy source. It is also essential for maintaining a healthy
nervous and immune system, and for lipid (fat) metabolism.
Vitamin B12 is found in meat in the recipe. It is needed for
building proteins in the body, red blood cells, and the normal
function of nervous tissue.
Vitamin D is sourced from meat and as an additional supplement
in the product. It is involved in the utlisation of Calcium &
Phosphorus in normal bone growth. Vitamin E is present in the
meat and the vegetables. However this is supplemented with additional
Vitamin E.
Vitamin E acts as an anti-oxidant by interrupting the oxidation
of fats and cell membranes. This interruption is effected by giving
electrons to the free radicals before they can attack the fats
or cell membranes.
Manganese is important for normal bone development and neurological
function. It is present in meat and as an additional supplement
in the product.
Copper is important in connective tissue formation, pigmentation
formation of the dog's hair, the functioning of the central nervous
system and plays an important role as a defense mechanism against
oxidative damage. Copper is present in the meat ingredients and
through supplementation.
Selenium is present in the meat. However, again this is supplemented
with additional Selenium. Selenium is required for the production
of glutathione peroxidase, a powerful free radical scavenging
enzyme which acts in similar ways to that of Vitamin E.
Some dogs prefer loaf over
casserole and vice versa. Casseroles have a higher moisture content
but they have been developed to provide sensory variety for pets.
High protein diets are
excellent nutrition for animals that have been under some kind of
physical stress. Also high protein low carbohydrate diets can play
a part in assisting a healthy blood sugar level.
