Essential nutrients for cats and dogs explained
The nutrient-based approach to pet food
At Royal Canin, we know that the value of ingredients in pet food is the nutrients they provide. That's why we take a nutrient-first approach to our unique diets.
In this approach, the nutritional needs of a pet are evaluated through detailed research and observation. An optimal diet profile is then determined for cats and dogs, based on both standard species guidelines and unique observations of the breed, age, lifestyle, sensitivities, and health status. From here, high-quality, highly digestible ingredients are sourced which can be combined to meet each tailored nutritional profile.
Relying on this approach, we are able to select high-quality nutrients from more sustainable sources with a lower carbon footprint. In doing so, we can choose ingredients with the least environmental and social impact while providing pets with nutrition of the highest quality, benefits, and safety.
Royal Canin's detailed approach to nutrition has four goals which underpin all of our nutritional developments:
Meet the nutritional requirements of healthy physical development and maintenance through precise levels of
- Amino acids
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Fatty acids
Very specific nutrients can be limited or added in certain formulations in order to help cats and dogs affected by particular health issues.
By meeting all of these goals, we are able to supply precise nutritional diets for the unique requirements of cats and dogs.
Understanding the role of nutrients
By recognizing the key benefits of each of these nutrients, you can make informed decisions about your pet's diet. At Royal Canin, we know that understanding what nutrients are important for your pet, and why, can be difficult. As such, we've broken down the five most important nutrients, where they can be sourced and the role they play in cat and dog nutrition, so that you can be confident in choosing the right food for your pet.
The role of protein in pet food
Protein is one of the main macronutrients in a pet's diet, alongside carbohydrates and fats. Cats and dogs require a lot of protein, as it is a source of energy, but is also key to healthy growth, healing, and gestation. Due to these roles, puppies and kittens, pregnant animals, and those suffering from certain illnesses may require more protein than healthy, adult pets.
It doesn’t matter if dietary protein comes from one source, or from multiple ingredients, as long as the total protein supplied in the diet provides all the necessary amino acids in the correct amounts.
Proteins from one ingredient may differ from another, based on the length of the polypeptide chain, the individual amino acids that are in the chain and how the chain folds. Sources of protein include:
- Meat
- Grains
- Seeds
- Legumes
- Vegetables
The role of carbohydrates in pet food
Carbohydrates is a term that covers molecules composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen that have certain chemical characteristics in common.
Cats and dogs can live without carbohydrates in their food, as they synthesize some types of carbohydrates they need for the cells from amino acids. The intake of carbohydrates does, however, greatly improve the body’s functioning. Recent research has revealed that as they became domesticated, dogs have undergone genetic changes which mean they are able to thrive on diets with a greater proportion of carbohydrate.*
*Axelsson et al. The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature. 2013;495(7441):360-4
Using carbohydrates as an energy source means that the other calorie-containing macronutrients can be used in other ways. For example, protein and fat can be spared for other bodily functions such as growth or even wound healing, where needed. Other benefits of carbohydrates include:
- Supporting the health and bacterial population of the digestive tract
- Providing immediate energy to pets
- Producing a satiety feeling in animals, which is particularly beneficial to pets at risk of becoming overweight
Carbohydrates are predominantly plant-based, with the exception of blood glucose, glycogen in the muscles and the liver, and milk lactose. Some examples of carbohydrate sources include:
- Rice
- Corn
- Wheat
- Barley
- Potato
- Milk (Although most cats and dogs do not digest lactose well)
- Plants with fruit, berries, roots, or tubers
The role of lipids (fats) in pet food
Lipids constitute a family of organic substances commonly known as fats. Fats are the benchmark energy source for dogs and cats, who oxidize them to extract the energy they need. A gram of lipids represents approximately 8.5 kcal of metabolizable energy, almost two and a half times more than a gram of carbohydrate or protein provides.
The role of minerals in pet food
The minerals that are present in high quantities (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium) are called macroelements. Those present in very low quantities—trace elements—represent a few milligrams/kilograms (or parts per million), but they are essential to the functioning of the body (e.g. iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, selenium).
An excess in mineral salts has an adverse effect on digestibility and may even produce effects contrary to expectations. This is why a precise, nutrient-based approach is vital when it comes to determining diets for cats and dogs.
Each mineral is involved in several different functions. For simplicity, we've outlined some of the main roles the most important minerals play in the body:
- Ossification
- Energy transfer
- Cellular ionic balance
- Sensory impulses
- Synthesis of hemoglobin of red blood cells
- Supporting the health of skin
- Formation of cartilage and skin, and the synthesis of skin pigments
- Functioning of the thyroid gland
- Antioxidant functions
Minerals are provided by different ingredients, but they may also be included in the form of purified salts: iron sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese oxide, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, and others.
Ingredients which are rich sources of minerals include:
- Meat such as pork, duck, or chicken
- Avocados
- Fish
- Wheat, cereal, grains
- Peas, lentils, soy
The role of vitamins in pet food
Vitamins are split into two families: vitamins that are soluble in fats (liposoluble vitamins) and vitamins that are soluble in water (hydrosoluble vitamins). If they are consumed excessively, liposoluble vitamins accumulate in the body and can become toxic.
Determining your pet's nutritional profile
When it comes to determining the nutrients involved in any diet, it's important to remember that excess can be just as harmful as deficiency. The main criteria in ensuring a complete and balanced diet, therefore, are that each nutrient must be present in the correct ratio and easily digestible for pets.
The precise ratio of nutrients can be unique to your pet's breed, age, lifestyle, sensitivities, or health concerns. If you're ever unsure about the nutrients your pet needs to support their health and wellbeing, speak to your veterinarian. A pet care professional will be able to carry out a full diet history and any physical examinations necessary to determine the best nutritional profile for your cat or dog.
Tailored Nutrition for Unique Needs
