Additionally, feeding foods containing high concentrations of animal based protein negatively impacts the environmental sustainability of a diet Reijnders and Soret, Including carbohydrate in pet foods aligns with the concept of nutritional sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of pet foods while supporting pet health and nutritional needs for a complete review of this topic see Swanson et al.
Therefore, the potential health benefits of feeding natural diets, specific to an individual pet's lifestyle and health status, should be weighed against the potential health and environmental concerns of feeding a natural diet high in protein and fat Finally, where pet food manufacture is concerned, owner lifestyle must be matched against pet nutritional needs and feeding management. For example, some pets may be indoors for lengthy periods of time while owners are away.
Therefore, physiologic patterns of defecation and urination may, of necessity, be different depending on a food's nutrient composition. Pet foods have historically been formulated based on nutrient content, given that animals have specific requirements for nutrients and not ingredients. However, in the natural pet food segment, there is an increased focus by consumers and pet food manufacturers on ingredients, especially whole ingredients.
Consequently, a growing trend for natural pet foods to contain more whole ingredients, such as meat instead of meat meals, whole grains instead of refined grains, and fruit and vegetable inclusions, has emerged Lummis, The theory behind the beneficial health effects of whole ingredients is described by the concept of food synergy. Food synergy is based on the proposition that the action of the food matrix i.
It stems from the idea that we do not have complete knowledge of food composition and some health effects may result from unidentified or underappreciated components.
In this way, whole ingredients may provide health benefits that the individual fractionated ingredients or single nutrients cannot provide. Although the term food synergy may not be well known by consumers, the concept of whole ingredients providing health benefits has likely contributed to the interest in natural pet foods by pet owners and hence the increased market demand for whole ingredients in pet foods.
The health benefit in humans of phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables is an example of food synergy. Epidemiological studies in humans indicate associations between fruit and vegetable intake with lower risk of cardiovascular disease in women Liu et al. In a human population study, consumption of foods rich in phytonutrients as measured by phytonutrient index has been shown to decrease weight gain and adiposity Mirmiran et al.
Rodent and in vitro models have shown positive effects of food synergy from fruits on antiproliferative and anticarcinogenic activities Jacobs et al. Drug-induced mammary tumor incidence in rats was reduced more by using the whole apple than only the flesh without the skin Liu et al. Similarly, whole pomegranates had greater in vitro antiproliferative effects than did some of their individual constituents Seeram et al. Importantly, as fruits and vegetables and their constituents are incorporated in pet foods, additional research is needed to understand the potential impact on pet health and well-being and the effect of processing on phytonutrient stability Tiwari and Cummins, Whole grains are added to pet food formulations to provide digestible carbohydrates and dietary fiber de Godoy et al.
The effects of whole grains as they relate to pet health and well-being have not been thoroughly evaluated. Of interest is that whole grains have greater concentrations of many nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, compared to refined grains Okarter and Liu, ; Jonnalagadda et al. This may seem irrelevant given that the dietary formulation of pet foods is intended to account for total nutrient needs especially when similar nutrient concentrations in can be achieved with supplemental fiber and synthetic vitamins and mineral source.
However, as in fruits and vegetables, grains contain many unique phytonutrients. Recent studies by Forster et al. In addition, these workers also observed similar whole dry cooked bean powder containing diets to provide nutritional weight loss therapy while regulating serum lipids and biochemical analytes in overweight and obese dogs Forster et al.
In humans, whole grain consumption has been associated with lower risk of certain cancers such as colon cancer. Phytonutrients, such as ferulic acid, have been implicated in the mechanism behind this lower risk Jonnalagadda et al. To date, this is an unexplored area for pet nutrition and additional studies are needed.
The trend to include more whole ingredients in natural pet foods has also led to an increase in the inclusion of raw animal protein products as opposed to rendered animal protein products. Rendered products can have a wide range of nutritional variability, which is dependent on byproduct inclusion and processing of the product.
For example, feed-grade poultry byproduct meal inclusive of feathers and heads had more variable nutrient content than pet-food grade poultry byproduct meal that did not contain feathers or heads Dozier et al.
In a study using roosters to measure true AA digestibility, rendered animal meals generally had lower AA digestibility than raw animal products, with lamb meal having the poorest AA digestibility and pork livers raw animal product having the greatest AA digestibility Cramer et al. In a separate study, rendering of poultry, but not beef, seemed to have a slight negative influence on ileal, but not total tract, digestibility by dogs Murray et al.
It should be noted, however, that handling, processing, and preservation by an ingredient supplier is a large contributor to the variability in nutritional value of animal products Parsons et al. Processing can have either a positive or negative effect on nutritional value, depending on the processing method and outcomes measured.
For example, the degree of gelatinization of wheat starch is positively associated with in vitro digestibility and plasma glucose and insulin responses in rats Holm et al. Conversely, increasing time of heat treatment during canning of cat food was associated with a decrease in true ileal AA digestibility in rats Hendriks et al.
These examples of processing influencing the quality and nutritional value of an ingredient or final product highlight the importance of quality control outcomes in ingredient selection and final product processing. Processing method also influences nutritional value by affecting the moisture content of the final product.
From a nutritional perspective, foods with moisture content similar to animal prey would better align with a natural pet nutrition philosophy compared to dry foods. While there is limited evidence to demonstrate a health benefit of high dietary moisture intake in dogs, there have been demonstrated effects in cats on urinary tract health and weight management.
Although these findings may be specific to the diets evaluated, given the ubiquitous nature of urinary related syndromes in cats, the potential health benefits of feeding pet food with higher moisture content e.
There are reports in the literature evaluating the digestibility of raw diets in feline species that have been discussed above. However, Kerr et al. There were no differences in apparent digestibility between the raw and cooked beef based diet. The differences observed in this study could be due to the ingredient composition as well as processing method. Given the level of ingredient processing required before extrusion, it would be difficult to design a study using ingredients in the same physical form with and without extrusion.
Processing method is also an important influencer of food safety. With respect to food processing, unpasteurized raw foods would most closely match wild prey and therefore align with a natural pet nutrition philosophy.
However, there are safety concerns with the pathogenic bacteria found in many raw meats. Studies have demonstrated that raw or undercooked animal-source protein may be contaminated with a variety of pathogenic organisms, including Salmonella spp. In a cohort of therapy dogs, the incidence rate of Salmonella shedding in the raw meat-fed dogs was 0.
This poses a risk of foodborne illness to the pets eating the contaminated food and of secondary transmission to humans, especially children, older persons, and immunocompromised individuals LeJeune and Hancock, ; Joffe and Schlesinger, The American College of Veterinary Nutrition also has endorsed a publication on the potential risks vs.
Furthermore, raw food diets can pose risk for metabolic disease depending on the parts of the animal used in the diet. For example, clinical cases of dietary hyperthyroidism have been reported in dogs fed bone and raw food diets, which was reversed by feeding commercial pet food Kohler et al. To reduce safety concerns, minimal processing may be applied, such as pasteurization of raw animal products, or comprehensive microbiological testing of product may be used. The natural segment of manufactured pet food has grown in recent years driven by consumer demand.
The increased demand for these products has centered on the consumer belief that these products are of high quality and safe, made from ingredients that fit an individual's concept of natural, and provide functional health benefits.
Different regulatory definitions have been described by the AAFCO and FEDIAF for natural pet food ingredients and products; however, most consumers have their own perceptions of what should be considered natural based on personal experiences, biases, or preferences.
In the absence of data on the impact of natural pet food on pet health, some pet food companies target diet formulation and ingredients based on teleological reasoning that dogs and cats should eat a diet resembling that of related wild species. Many opportunities exist for research involving natural pet foods and natural diets to understand their effects on growth and performance, nutrient availability, digestibility, and product safety among other health and nutrition parameters. Future opportunities also include the integration of sustainability with natural pet foods Swanson et al.
The challenge is to match consumer demand and provide natural nutrition to pets while reducing impact on the environment. With the increasing trend of anthropomorphism of pets and interest in ancestral or instinctual diets, challenges of particular interest to the natural pet food segment include competition with the human food chain and the high use of animal protein sources.
Raw protein diet position statement. Accessed November 4, Raw or undercooked animal-source protein in cat and dog diets. Official Publication.
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Cameron K. Morris P. Hackett R. Speakman J. The effects of increasing water content to reduce the energy density of the diet on body mass changes following caloric restriction in domestic cats. Carciofi A. Takakura F. Teshima E. Jeremias J. Brunetto M. Prada F. Effects of six carbohydrate sources on dog diet digestibility and post-prandial glucose and insulin response. Clutton-Brock J Origins of the dog: Domestication and early history.
In: Serpell J. Cambridge Univ. Press , New York. Google Preview. Cramer K. Greenwood M. Moritz J. Beyer R. Parsons C. Protein quality of various raw and rendered by-product meals commonly incorporated into companion animal diets.
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Downey R. Kronfeld D. Banta C. Diet of beagles affects stamina. Dozier W. Dale N. Dove C. Nutrient composition of feed-grade and pet-food-grade poultry by-product meal. Elliott K. Rand J. Fleeman L. Morton J. Litster A. Markwell P. A diet lower in digestible carbohydrate results in lower postprandial glucose concentrations compared with a traditional canine diabetes diet and an adult maintenance diet in healthy dogs.
Code of good labelling practices for pet food. Pet Food Ind. Ewer R. F The carnivores, the world naturalist. Weidenfeld and Nicolson , London, UK. Farrow H. Sunvold G. The effect of high protein, high fat or high carbohydrate diets on postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in normal cats. Finley R. Reid-Smith R. Weese J. Human health implications of Salmonella-contaminated natural pet treats and raw pet food.
Forster G. Hill D. Gregory G. Weishaar K. Lana S. Ryan E. Effects of cooked navy bean powder on apparent total tract nutrient digestibility and safety in healthy adult dogs. Ollila C. Burton J. Hess A. Nutritional weight loss therapy with cooked bean powders regulates serum lipids and biochemical analytes in overweight and obese dogs.
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Veterinarians are not taught how to formulate complete homemade diets and are afraid to comment on diets owners prepare at home, other than to denounce them. Veterinary conferences are highly subsidized by large pet food companies. Veterinarians succumb to the same advertising that is shown to pet food consumers and they believe it all. The extrusion process uses high heat and denatures many most of the vitamins. Fats used for flavouring commonly undergo oxidation, becoming rancid.
Preservatives, dyes, sugars, and chemicals are added very commonly, none of which are beneficial for our pets. Some kibble companies are showing movement away from 4D meat and toward the use of better quality ingredients at least.
But the words natural and holistic have no meaning, so any pet food company can use them willy nilly. If there is any "meal" in the product, it has been rendered, meaning the origin of the meal ingredients is suspect. This is totally inappropriate for cats, which are obligate carnivores. Dogs are omnivores but certainly thrive on meat-based diets, even though they can survive on plant-based diets.
Homemade diets should include rotation - of meats, vegetable matter, eggs, fish, fats, oils, and must include calcium and trace minerals. It can be very difficult to completely balance a diet without any supplements, although it can be done.
I see way too many well-meaning pet owners feeding home-prepared diets that are extremely deficient. Hamburger or chicken, with rice and peas, does not come close to being complete! There are some good books out there and some very bad ones with very imbalanced diets. In a perfect world, raw and fresh foods are the best diet choice for our pets, but we understand that there are many factors that dictate your pet food decisions. Check out our Raw Dog Food Guide to get a better understanding how raw can make a difference in your dog's life.
Even die-hard kibble feeders can reap the benefits by feeding fresh ingredients as treats, meal toppers and side dishes. Krystn is a passionate pet nutrition enthusiast. She has worked in the pet industry for over a decade and loves to share her passion for animal welfare with others.
She loves all animals but is currently channeling some crazy cat lady vibes with her four lovable, but rebellious cats. Shop Blog Resources. Love learning about pets? Subscribe to get free pet tips and resources sent right to your inbox. While we all agree that Natural is better than processed and organic is better for our biome and bodies than artificially produced, does it mean that the food so labeled is actually nutritionally balanced for your pet?
Maybe not. And, since there are so few regulations as to the optimal nutritional requirements for a complete cat or dog diet, they can put however much of pretty much anything they want to result in whatever number of calories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats that they want.
If you like the idea of Natural or Organic and you can afford it, by all means, try it! Read the ingredients list! If a company has a lot of money for advertising, they might not be putting it into careful manufacture of the food or research into improving or into cleaning their manufacturig plants so as to avoid food contamination?
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