A well-balanced diet plays a significant role in keeping and maintaining healthy pets. The required daily intake of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients differs from breed to breed and depends on activity level and stage of life. Meat-based proteins are applied to pet food and pet treat products for a variety of reasons. Apart from supporting mobility, they provide certain texture characteristics to treats, supplements, gravies, etc. just as they also add those meaty flavors that pets just love.
1. Contains all essential amino acids plus Taurine
Amino acids play an essential role in the body structure of any mammal. They make up important building blocks for numerous functions in the body and play a major role in the well-being of pets. PetNutrio™ is a range of highly digestible proteins that are easily absorbed. They contain essential amino acids and are recognized for supporting joint health and bone density in dogs and cats. Our mussel broth option PetNutrio™ NMP 510 also contributes Taurine to the finished product, an important and usually expensive ingredient when formulating cat food recipes. In contrast to other mammals, cats must have added Taurine directly through their daily feed. A way to add Taurine to a cat diet is through soup for cats.
Essential amino acids are constantly metabolized, and need to be replenished regularly in the right proportions through diet. Contact us if you want to know more about the exact amino acid composition of PetNutrio™ or any other Essentia pet ingredient.
2. Rich in collagen
Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, important in supporting joint health and bone density in dogs and cats. Collagen is not only recognized for its ability to help pets suffering from arthritis or simply advanced age, to regain mobility, but also for counteracting the progression of osteoporosis. Collagen is also fed to obtain a thick and healthy coat. Apart from contributing to a healthier diet, bone broth may also be used to boost the palatability of wet and dry pet food and snacks. Apart from supplying collagen through a tasty bone broth, Essentia also offers PetNutrio™ NOBP 510 - powdered collagen peptides neutral in taste and color.
3. Meaty flavors as palatants
As pets respond greatly to meaty flavors the Essentia series of stocks and broths cooked on meat and bones from pork, beef, chicken or fish make up excellent palatants for pets. A tasty bone broth may be added as a nutritional topper to kibble, dry food or snacks, but can also be mixed into the finished pet food formulation for snacks or special bone broth diets.
Staying hydrated is important for maintaining body temperature, proper digestion, and healthy circulation. Sometimes it is difficult to get pets to drink and/or eat enough. Adding PetSavio™ to the water or the food will improve the palatability and make the water/food more enticing.
4. Human grade ingredients
No matter what product pet owners are looking for, options that speak to human interest are becoming the norm. Humans are doing the buying and they are more likely to choose a product they relate to or find attractive. The paradigm of humanizing pets is clearly reflected in the many new product launches of pet food products promoting human grade ingredients. As all Essentia pet ingredients are human grade they fit perfectly into the many new niche products with a premium claim. Pet food manufacturers and retailers all around the world are busy devising new product categories that appeal to 'pet parents' and the increasing humanization of pets.
5. Free from and clean label
Clean, natural and premium are among the most prominent claims in dog and cat food/snacks. Millennials and subsequent generations appear more motivated by healthy living as opposed to indulgence and pampering. The pet food and snack market is powered by trending claims, where clean label, novel protein sources, grain free, gluten free, light formulations and options to tackle obesity are stimulating growth.
Focus on canine nutrition
Dogs are omnivores meaning they eat both animal and plant products in the wild, however, they get most of their dietary protein from meat sources. Protein is essential for a healthy coat and skin, for muscle development, tissue repair, and as an energy source.
Without adequate nutrition, a dog would not be able to maintain muscle tone, build and repair muscles, teeth, and bone, perform normal daily activities with ease or fight-off infection. Proteins provide a source of energy and help with muscle function and growth.
How does diet affect dogs?
As with humans, dog nutrition affects the building blocks for every cell and metabolic process in the body and should meet the canines needs according to age, health and nutritional requirements.
The Essentia pet food range is derived from natural raw materials and may be considered as clean. The ingredients contain no known allergens, they are minimally processed, and free from grain, cereal, sugar, lactose and soy. You may label the ingredients as stock, broth or protein and promote them with a clean label claim which resonates with todays well-informed consumers.
If you want to know more about how you can pursue different pet food opportunities using our human grade ingredients, please contact your local Essentia sales representative or use our ingredient guide with specific focus on pets.
