 |
|
|
|
Nutrition and Obesity in Senior Cats and Dogs
Written by Richard Sandore, MD
Produced and edited by Well Beings - Senior Cat & Dog Products. © 2006 WellBeings.com
Reproduced with permission.
There's an old saying that people and their pets resemble each other. In
many ways this is unfortunate because the incidence of obesity in the
feline and canine worlds has paralleled that of humans. In addition, the
health problems associated with being overweight our companions can have
are just as severe as ours.
We are going to look at the basics of feline and canine nutrition, learn
that cats and dogs have different requirements, explore the usefulness of
supplements, and find out what a Balanced Diet really means.
The Basics: What Essential Nutrients Do Our Pets Need?
There are 6 groups of nutrients that our pets (and we) need to sustain
life. If we include dietary supplements, of which there are a number, we
can stretch this list to 7.
Water
Water is necessary for every function of our body. It is the basis of life
as we know it on the earth and an abundant supply of fresh, filtered water
is needed for our companion animals to thrive.
Protein
Protein is necessary for all aspects of growth and development. It is a
vital constituent of every part of the body and is what makes up the mass
of muscle. Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids. There
are 22 amino acids. Animals can make 12 of them within their bodies from
other substances, but the remaining 10 must be supplied from their diet.
The ones that must come from the diet are called essential amino acids.
They are: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine,
phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. In cats taurine is also
an essential amino acid. (Dogs can make taurine in their bodies, but cats
cannot so it must be supplied in their food, hence the old saying that
dogs can eat cat food, but cats cannot eat dog food.)
All Protein is Not Equal
The quality and digestibility of protein are both important. The highest
quality protein is one that contains all of the amino acids AND is easily
broken down, or digested by our pets. The biological value of a protein is
a measure of its quality and digestibility. Egg is a protein of very high
quality and is easily digested. It has been assigned a biological value of
1, and is the standard upon which other proteins are graded. The
biological values of other proteins are as follows (the numbers are
approximate): Fish meal and milk = 92, Beef = 78, Soybean meal = 67, Meat
and bone meal = 50, and Corn = 45. Things like hair and feathers, which
are used in some low quality feeds, are very low in biological value
because although they are high in protein they cannot be easily digested.
Carbohydrates
To simplify things very greatly, carbohydrates are sugar molecules strung
together in long chains. Grains like wheat and rice are mostly
carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are an important source of energy, however,
diets very high in carbohydrates have been linked to obesity and diabetes
(more about this later).
Fats
Fats are important for many functions of the body including the transports
of certain substances in the blood, the structure of cell walls, and as a
highly concentrated form of energy. They are also necessary for the
absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Fats, like amino acids come in 2
forms. The body can make some fats from carbohydrates (this is one of the
reasons that you get fat quickly from eating too many carbohydrates), and
other fats have to be supplied in the diet because the body cannot make
them. The ones that must be supplied are called essential fatty acids.
Fats also make foods taste better - but we already knew this!
Minerals
Minerals are needed for many of the regulatory functions of the body. Many
hormones and enzymes need minerals to function properly. For example,
blood cannot clot without calcium or carry oxygen without iron, and bones
cannot develop without phosphorus. Macrominerals are those needed in
relatively large amounts and are: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium
and magnesium. Microminerals are those needed in relatively small amounts
and are: iron, zinc, copper, manganese, iodine, cobalt, and selenium. The
body cannot produce minerals so they all must be supplied in the diet.
Vitamins
Vitamins are chemicals that are needed so certain reactions in the body
can occur. For example, without vitamin K blood would not clot because
some of the reactions in the clotting process would not occur. Vitamins
are important for thousands of different bodily processes and work in
conjunction with minerals and enzymes.
Two Groups of Vitamins
Vitamins are divided into two groups. Fat-soluble vitamins are: A, D, E,
and K. Water-soluble vitamins are: C, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3
(niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocobalamin),
folic acid, and biotin. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body in the
liver and fat so the body always has a constant reserve of them (assuming
a well-balanced diet). Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body
and must be part of the diet every day. Some vitamins can be made in the
body; for instance, dogs can produce vitamin C, but people cannot.
The Importance of Vitamins
Each vitamin is important for specific functions. Vitamin A is important
for skin and coat; D for bones and teeth; E is an antioxidant important
for preventing cancers and heart problems; K keeps blood healthy, C
combats stress and is an antioxidant, and the B vitamins are important for
muscle, skin and blood.
Treating Diabetes
The mainstay of treating DM is replacing the missing insulin. While
replacing insulin is critical, there are many things you can do to
decrease the amount of insulin required, or sometimes eliminate its need
altogether. DM is a disorder where the holistic approach is extremely
important because the management of all facets of your companion's life is
important for keeping glucose levels in control and achieving the highest
quality of life possible.
Supplements
Supplements is a term applied to a diverse group of substances that are
used to give our body all of the nutrients and chemicals it needs to
function at its best. We are going to discuss 2 specific supplements.
Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that make other reactions happen. For example,
amylase is an enzyme (a protein made up of a specific sequence of amino
acids) found in the saliva of people and dogs that begins the breakdown of
carbohydrates in foods when we chew them. (Cats do not have amylase in
their saliva.) Enzymes are found throughout the body-in cells, organs,
blood, secretions, and the digestive tract. Enzymes given as supplements
assist the breakdown of food in the digestive tract so that their
nutrients can be absorbed.
Probiotics
Probiotics are healthy bacteria. Our digestive tract is filled with many
types of bacteria that help us digest food. (Cows are the best example of
this. Without the bacteria that live in their digestive tract they would
get absolutely NO nutrition from grass and could not live!) Illness or
simply aging can reduce the amount of healthy bacteria in our animals'
digestive tract. Probiotics replace these missing, healthy organisms.
Controversy Over Animal Nutrition
The field of animal nutrition, just like human nutrition, is filled to the
brim with controversy. Are supplements necessary or not? Raw or cooked
food? Home cooked food or prepared food? Kibbles or chunks? Meat or grain
based? Natural or engineered? Premium, high protein, or standard? You get
the idea. Unfortunately, if you gather 10 experts together you are likely
to get 10 different opinions. So what are you to do?
Education
You are taking the first step by educating yourself with articles like
this. Second, realize that there is more than one way to feed your
companion that is going to provide them with all the nutrition they need
to live a long and healthy life. Third, recognize your companion's unique
needs. A 4-year old Border Collie who herds sheep every day will have much
different dietary requirements than a 12-year old Poodle who accompanies
you for walks through the backyard twice a day.
Pet Food Labels: What's Wrong with Corn?
Reading food labels is an art unto itself. While we are not going to
review the meaning of everything printed on a label, there are a couple of
points that are important to keep in mind.
Ingredients
The most important thing to know is that the label lists ingredients by
weight in the order of most to least. This means the first ingredient
listed is the one with the highest weight percentage in the food. If you
read the label and corn is listed as the first ingredient, that food
contains more corn by weight than any other ingredient. Unfortunately,
most medium and low-end commercial foods have corn as the first ingredient
because corn is incredibly cheap. These corn-based foods either do not
supply enough protein, or the ratio of carbohydrate to protein is too
high. Also, be aware of a trick many manufactures play known as ingredient
splitting. Splitting means that corn can be added to feed in different
forms and each of these forms can be listed separately on the label. While
corn may not be the first ingredient listed, it still may be the most
plentiful in the food. Consequently, caution must still be used even if
first ingredient listed is beef, lamb, or some other form of protein.
Examine the label of a national dry dog food brand below:
Beef and bone meal, ground wheat, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, ground
yellow corn, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of
vitamin E), soybean meal, animal digest, salt, potassium chloride,
L-Lysine monohydrochloride, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous
sulfate, vitamin supplements (A, E, B-12, D-3), DL-Methionine, manganese
sulfate, niacin, calcium carbonate, brewers dried yeast, copper sulfate,
calcium pantothenate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine
mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium
bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin,
sodium selenite.
Notice that the first ingredient is a meat and bone meal, but 5 of the
next 6 are grains. In the book, Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About
Pet Food, Ann Martin explains, "Most people reading this label might
assume that the first ingredient listed is the prime ingredient providing
an ample source of protein..." however, "...to make it appear that a
protein source is the number one ingredient in the food, the company
splits the corn up into two categories; corn gluten meal and ground yellow
corn."
Am I Feeding My Cat or Dog a Balanced Diet?
In a nutshell, a balanced diet is one where all of the essential nutrients
are present in adequate amounts and correct ratios.
Ratios
The idea of correct ratio is important. For example, adding a calcium
supplement with the idea that it will make stronger bones may actually be
harmful if not enough phosphorous is available so the body can use the
calcium. In general, a dog should receive about 25% to 40% of their
calories from protein, 40% to 50% from carbohydrates, and 10% to 15% from
fat. Cats are different (see below) and should receive 35% to 45% of their
calories from protein, 40% from fat, and only a small amount from
carbohydrates. Working dogs should have an increased percentage of protein
and fat in their diet.
Protein and Age
For a time it was believed that as an animal aged its protein requirements
decreased. At present, most experts believe that older animals should have
the same percentage of protein in their diet as when they were younger,
but the total calories should be reduced by 20% to 30%.
Why Cats and Dogs Need Different Diets?
Cats are Carnivores
Cats are true carnivores and wild felines consume a diet of primarily meat
protein and fat. In fact, cats have difficulty metabolizing carbohydrates
(remember, no amylase in their saliva) and a diet high in carbohydrates,
such as with dry cat kibble, increases their risk of obesity and diabetes.
(It's been said by some experts in the field that a mouse a day provides a
balanced and complete diet for a cat!) Dry cat kibble can be problematic
for our felines in other ways as well. Feeding dry kibble can over time
lead to cats being in a state of perpetual dehydration. Cats have not
evolved to "drink" extra water to make up for a lack of moisture in their
diet. This is believed to be contributing factor in the development of
Chronic Renal Failure and Urinary Tract Disease.
Dogs are Omnivores
Dogs are omnivores, which means dogs can readily digest both meats and
grains. To say this a different way, cats cannot live unless they consume
some meat. There are many other metabolic differences between cats and
dog, but you get the idea: cats and dogs have different nutritional needs!
What Type of Food Is Best For My Pet?
Raw Food
Raw diets are generally considered best, and this includes raw meats,
veggies and fruits. Despite popular belief, properly prepared fresh raw
meat does not pose any health hazards to humans or our four-legged
friends. Simply use the same precautions preparing raw food for your pets
as you do handling your own raw meats. When animals are started young most
will eagerly consume raw foods. Older animals may find a raw meat diet
less appealing. This is mainly due to either their diminished sense of
smell, or them being accustomed to the fat, preservatives, and fillers in
commercial junk food.
Home Cooked
Home cooked is a wonderful second choice and allows our companions a
generous variety of foods-can you imagine eating the same prepared, out of
the bag or canned food for years? What we typically call table food falls
into this category. In general, what we eat (okay, we are going to leave
potato chips out of this conversation) is good for our animals and is
higher quality that most commercial food. Problems arise for our pets, as
for us, if balance is not there-too much carbohydrate, too little protein,
or too much fat. Processed foods loaded with sodium, dyes, and
preservative are not good choices for us and shouldn't be fed to our pets
either.
Premium Commercial Pet Foods
Premium commercial foods are generally good, however, it is important to
read the label and only purchase from highly respected companies*. The
Animal Protection Institute sums the pet food industry up succinctly when
it states, "?the pet food industry is an extension of the human food and
agriculture industries. Pet food provides a market for slaughterhouse
offal, grains considered 'unfit for human consumption,' and similar waste
products to be turned into profit." According to Michelle Bernard, author
of Raising Cats Naturally: How to care for your cat the way nature
intended, mycotoxins are another potential side effect of the use of
grains in dry cat and dog food. Michelle Bernard explains, "Mycotoxins are
naturally occurring fungal by-products that can cause disease and death in
dogs and cats." Mycotoxins develop when grain is improperly stored. When
grains are kept at temperatures above 82 degrees and over 80% humidity,
fungi which can produce mycotoxins grow. Mycotoxins are extremely
carcinogenic and suppress the immune system.
Top 3 Ingredients
Food where the top 3 listed ingredients are corn or other grains and
by-product or by-product meal should be avoided. By-products are parts of
an animal that are not normally consumed by people, like lungs, spleen,
brains or feet. All By-products are not necessarily bad, but it is
impossible to tell from the label the quality of these ingredients. It is
also recommended that foods with chemical preservatives like BHA, BHT, and
ethoxyquin be avoided. Also, animals select foods based on scent and
taste, not color or shape-those moist and meaty chunks are loaded with
harmful preservatives and dyes and are for your eye, not your pets!
Supplements
It's a good idea to supplement any diet, and especially commercial feeds
(even premium), with essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes and
probiotics, and a good multivitamin. (Any processing of food removes some
nutrients.) Senior animals, regardless of the diet, should also be
supplemented. And, remember it's never too early to start a good vitamin,
mineral and supplement regimen. Many supplements can be used early in your
dog and cats adult life to prevent and stave off illness and disease.
Consult your holistic veterinarian for a list of appropriate preventative
measures you can take today.
Is My Pet Overweight?
Alarming Statistics
The statistics are alarming. Forty percent of companion cats and dogs are
overweight, a good percentage of them are obese, and over ninety percent
of those overweight.
Too Much, Too Little
Most pets are overweight for one reason, and one reason only: Too many
calories, and too little exercise!
Yes, medical conditions such as thyroid disorders can cause an increase in
weight. A holistic veterinarian should evaluate any animal who is markedly
overweight, especially if the weight gain was rapid. Nevertheless, no
matter how you slice it, like most people cats and dogs are overweight
because they eat too much and exercise too little. And just like for us,
being overweight increases the risk of serious medical problems like
diabetes, degenerative joint disease, and heart, lung, and kidney
problems.
How to Tell if Your Companion is Overweight
It's easy to tell if your companion is overweight. At their ideal weight
you should be able to feel each rib as you run your fingers along your cat
or dog's rib cage. There should be a definite narrowing behind the ribs
when viewed from above and their abdomen should tuck up behind the ribs
when viewed from the side.
Weight Loss
In principle weight loss is easy: Feed less and exercise more. It is
difficult when big brown eyes are looking up from behind the food bowl
asking for more, or when we come home from a long day and the last thing
we want to do is go for a walk to the park. Or just as bad is when we hear
the nonstop meow that translates as I want a treat, pretty please. (It's
important to remember that cat and dog treats, just like foods can be good
and bad. Most of-the-shelf treats are very high in carbohydrate and
preservatives.)
Your holistic veterinarian should supervise weight loss programs. This is
especially important for cats because if a cat's calorie intake is reduced
drastically they are prone to a potentially fatal disorder called Hepatic
Lipidosis. Diet changes, as well as an increase in activity should be done
gradually.
The Proof is in the Pudding
The proof is not really in the pudding, but in the health and well-being
of your four-legged companion. The majority of cats and dogs will do
wonderful on a variety of diets, including premium grade commercial foods
with the addition of appropriate supplements as they age or encounter
stressful medical conditions.
Our Companion's Don't Have a Choice
It's important to remember that our companions don't really have any
choice in what they eat; we make that choice for them. As we make that
choice in knowledge our senior friends will stay healthy and fit to enjoy
a long and joyful life.
*The Whole Dog Journal annually publishes a list of approved dry dog foods
Richard Sandore is a medical writer who has practiced allopathic and
alternative medicine. He can be reached at richard(at)richardsandore(dot)com.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
©
Robbins Pet Care. All Rights Reserved. The products sold by Robbins Pet Care are not intended to be the sole source of treatment or to take the place of expert veterinarian care. Please consult with your veterinarian and ask about using a natural and alternative approach for the treatment of your pet.
Contact Webmaster | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Link Partners
|
