Pet Nutrition - Pet Blog

Natura Pet Products has announced a new feature on its website – a “How Pet Food is Made” podcast. Hosted by Sean Delaney, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (DACVN) and chief medical officer for Natura Pet Products Inc., the new addition to NaturaPet.com offers educational insights into the world of petfood manufacturing. Consumers, veterinarians and industry buffs alike can tune in at anytime and listen to Dr. Delaney and Kari Liu, technical services and product development manager at Natura Manufacturing Inc. (NMI), as they explore “How Pet Food is Made.” It’s an informative – and fun – way to learn about the production process from the people who know it best.

Natura continually urges consumers to become educated about proper pet nutrition and to seek information about the quality of the ingredients in their foods. The podcast was created to help pet parents, who are confronted with a vast array of petfoods, chose a food that is formulated for the best health of their companions and manufactured with the strictest standards for safety, reliability and consistency.

“We feel our consumers and all pet parents need to see and hear what is going on in the petfood industry and stay informed about its recent developments. With customers nationwide, our new podcast technology allows us to personally reach our consumers in a way that is easy to use and understand,” said Dr. Delaney. “Our mission in producing this podcast is to offer knowledge and advice to help our customers make the right choices for the best health of their pets.”

Natura’s podcast offers educational information – including an overview of petfood manufacturing, information on raw ingredients, and product quality, control and safety procedures – in everyday language that any pet parent can understand. The podcast also reiterates Natura’s dedication to and strict standards of quality, according to the company.

1. The issue: Immune System Function

“Proper nutrition is important for proper immune function, so nearly all of the essential nutrients for cats are important for maintaining it,” says Dr. Perea. “That means protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals. Copper, zinc and iron are three essential minerals in the diet that are known to be important for proper antibody and enzymatic defense mechanisms.” To ensure that cats are getting all they need, Dr. Perea recommends a commercial cat food that has “complete and balanced” somewhere on the packaging. A seal of approval from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) will verify the food’s claim.

2. The issue: Skin and Coat Health

To combat the underlying problems of flakiness and dryness in cat skin and hair, make sure the cat’s diet contains essential fatty acids, according to Dr. Perea. These are the omega-3 and omega-6 fats found in sources like chicken, fish oil and eggs. They work to maintain the water barrier function of the skin, similar to how moisturizer can create a protective barrier on human skin. According to Dr. Perea, foods that are good for skin and hair are the ones that contain the mineral zinc, as well as A, E and B vitamins. “Zinc is integral to rapidly dividing cells, like skin cells, while vitamin E takes on an antioxidant role in the body’s cell membranes,” she explains. “Vitamin A and B prevent hair loss and scaling skin.”

3. The issue: Joints and Mobility

To maintain its overall health, a cat needs exercise, and to maintain an active lifestyle, it needs to be pain-free. To prevent joint and mobility issues, Dr. Perea recommends a food containing glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and  fish oil. “There hasn’t been a lot of research on any of these in cats, but chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, as well as long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in fish oils, have been shown to help improve signs associated with osteoarthritis in dogs,” says Dr. Perea. “These have become popular and are possibly beneficial for cats as well.”

4. The issue: Overall Body Condition

“Lean body condition is important to overall health, so consumers need to make sure to feed appropriate portions,” says Dr. Perea. “Obesity is a growing problem in cats, and it can be very difficult to implement weight loss once they become obese. Prevention is very important.” Measuring the cat’s food on a daily basis using the guidelines on the packaging is what Dr. Perea recommends to pet owners. Considering feeding a diet that contains L-carnitine is something else the veterinanrian recommends to pet owners struggling to help their furry friends shed those extra pounds.

5. The issue: Digestive Disorders

Cats often suffer constipation, which can be relieved by foods containing carbohydrates, like corn, as well as fiber. “Fiber helps with the health of the large intestine,” says Dr. Perea. She emphatically adds, “They also need enough water!”

6. The issue: Oral Health

A dry food diet with a relatively larger kibble size forces pets to really bite down on each individual piece. “This achieves a mechanical brushing action against the surface of the tooth,” explains Dr. Perea. “Other foods on the market may incorporate a calcium-chelating agent on the surface of the kibble. This binds calcium and helps prevent tartar formation.” In order to provide cats with such a food, Dr. Perea recommends that consumers look for a diet that claims to promote oral health. The claims should again be verified by an AAFCO seal.