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DOGS LIFE #100 MAR/APR 2010 SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION ON SALE NOW! The history of Dogs Life
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Royal Canin | |
Health Nutrition- Why choose premium quality kibbles?
There is no room for improvisation in feeding your dog or cat. Pet health requires daily care with a balanced diet that provides all the essential nutrients.
What is a nutrient?
Nutrients are the elements of food that are essential for the organism to function. They can be grouped into families: proteins, carbohydrates, fat, fibre, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Producing nutritional food is like completing a complex jigsaw puzzle with more than 50 pieces, each representing an essential nutrient for the animal. Cheaper pet foods contains only about fifteen nutrients.
What are the advantages of premium quality kibbles?
• Highly digestible
The animal assimilates all the nutrients in the food; the digestive system is not overloaded and produces less faeces.
• High energy value
A small amount is enough to provide all the required energy.
• Highly palatable
Even the fussiest dogs and cats like them.
• Nutritional precision
Kibbles provide a very precise response to the varying needs of your dog or cat, according to its age, size, breed, level of activity and lifestyle.
• Unique, patented nutritional concepts
Premium quality kibbles are the product of research carried out by canine and feline nutritional experts. They help preserve your pet’s health and long life.
Their purpose:
• Build and maintain
Proteins, minerals, trace elements and vitamins encourage cell renewal in the body.
• Provide energy
Dogs and cats need fat to provide the energy for their physical activity.
• Support health
A balanced diet contributes to the prevention of certain disorders like skeletal growth, digestion, etc.
Dogs and Cats – Different in so many ways
We have nothing in common with our pets, either in terms of nutritional requirements or balanced diet. And these aren’t the only differences…
For both dogs and cats, smell is a real reference. The sense of smell is the first sense they use when eating. The shape of the kibble is therefore designed to be “efficient” for the animal (crunching, brushing) rather than for visual appeal. Specific aromas are decisive factors for dogs and cats when choosing food.
Royal Canin tailor makes kibble for specific size, age and breed of cats and dogs
Smell: this is the sense that animals use the most
For both dogs and cats, smell is a real reference. The sense of smell is the first sense they use when eating. The shape of the kibble is therefore designed to be “efficient” for the animal (crunching, brushing) rather than for visual appeal. Specific aromas are decisive factors for dogs and cats when choosing food
Taste: far less developed than in man
However, their sense of taste is nowhere near as refined as ours. In particular, pets hardly detect sweet flavours.
What about colour? Colour has no impact on the selection and attractiveness of food by a dog or cat. They do not see colours in the same way as we do.
Palatability – The key to appetite
Smell is the most important aspect of palatability, i.e. the attractiveness of food, for both dogs and cats. After smell, come shape, size and texture, with taste a definite last!
Smell is the number one criterion, so your pet will prefer food that is made from quality ingredients and natural flavours. For optimal palatability, Royal Canin guarantees packaging in a protective atmosphere in totally air-tight packing. Properly protected kibbles keep their flavour and all their nutritional qualities.
Common misconceptions on the choice of food
"Homemade food is more balanced than kibbles" FALSE What does your dog or cat actually need in terms of nutrients? How much energy does it need every day? How much protein is in the food you give? To provide a truly balanced diet, you need to know the answers to these questions and many others! Pet food manufacturers have these answers.
"Homemade food is cheaper!" FALSE
If you want to prepare a balanced meal for your pet, you would need about fifty ingredients, making it far more expensive than top quality industrial food.
"Dry food is not enough." FALSE
Kibbles are manufactured from carefully selected ingredients and developed to produce a perfectly balanced diet.
"My pet might break its teeth on kibbles." FALSE
Dogs and cats do not chew their food; they tear or crunch it. The shape and texture of kibbles are carefully designed to suit each breed, age, morphological particularities… every difference counts!
"My dog eats what I do" FALSE
Dogs do not have the same eating habits as humans. Their digestive system works in a totally different way so, unlike humans, they can digest larger quantities of fat (provided it is good quality fat!). They cannot digest starch (e.g.: rice) unless it is perfectly cooked.
"Kibbles cause calcium stones in urine" FALSE
In fact, some kibbles are actually formulated to prevent the formation of calculus. Remember to leave a dish of water constantly accessible for your pet.
"My dog needs variety in its diet" FALSE
Ideally, your dog should have the same food in the same dish, in the same place, at the same time every day! Dogs are perfectly happy eating the same complete, balanced food and do not get fed up! We sometimes imagine such things by putting ourselves in their place, but remember that any sudden change in their diet can cause digestive disorders …
 For information on how Royal Canin can provide your dog or cat with the best nutrition available product please visit www.royalcanin.com.au or call 1300 657 021 | |
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| | | | | | | www.dogslife.com.au has once again been nominated for the Best Dog-Related Website of the Year at the Master Dog Breeders & Associates 3rd annual Dog Owners Choice Awards.
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