Food For A Quality Life
Dr. Ron Rompala, Guest Writer

By Nature By Nature By Nature By Nature By Nature Pet Food

     People have always looked for the "Fountain of Youth" in different venues which includes nutrition. In early civilizations, people associated certain foods with certain medicinal, pharmaceutical, aphrodisiac and euphoric attributes. While modern science has dispelled many fallacies concerning certain foods and health, it is proven that good nutrition is necessary to sustain a long life with quality health. People want the same for their pets. It's been accepted that meeting just the basic nutritional needs of animals does not necessarily mean that additional nutrition is not beneficial. It's well recognized that the different environmental conditions placed upon our pets in addition to the huge amount of variation in genetics makes it impossible for one food to be perfect for all pets in every situation.

     Many people believe that a long life with quality starts with a good geriatric food. In contrast, it begins with the animal's first exposure of food. Many times it is too late to correct problems in older animals that could have been avoided with good nutrition earlier. There are a number of nutrient functions that can be addressed to keep animals healthy throughout their life.

     The first thing any food must do is help the animal maintain good body condition. Excessive condition on any animal will cause problems which are accentuated in a geriatric. Obesity alters metabolism of an animal that can increase the incidence of diabetes and other disorders. In addition, obesity can accentuate problems with joints which limit the mobility of the animal. Consequently, the animal's activity level is decreased making it more difficult to expend energy which in turn makes it more difficult for an animal to loss weight in order to attain proper body condition. Research has shown that weight loss diets may be more effective with protein levels greater than those for maintenance foods. Fat levels should be adequate in order to decrease the amount of starch which provides a more favorable distribution of dietary energy in addition to providing essential fatty acids that are necessary for vital functions such as maintaining the immune system and sustaining a healthy skin and hair coat. Animals consuming an overabundance of carbohydrates have been shown to become readily obese versus a balance between carbohydrates, fats and protein. In addition, consumption of fats and proteins satiate the animal's appetite to a much greater degree than carbohydrates.

     Key essential fatty acids are characterize by their structure and designated as omega 6 or omega 3. Both types of fatty acids must be in the food and are critical to the health of any animal. Research has shown that linoleic acid, an omega 6, enhances the condition of hair coats in animals. The research on omega 3 fatty acids has proved interesting to say the least. Omega 3 fatty acids have been associated with suppressing inflammation responses due to allergies and infection, improving learning skills and inflammation attributed to joint disorders. Quality foods with a respectable blend of these two types of fatty acids will aid in keeping animals healthy that should lead to a quality life in their geriatric years. Fish and flaxseed are good sources of omega 3 fatty acids while poultry fat, corn and sunflower oil are good sources of omega 6 fatty acids. Too much of either of these fatty acids at the expense of the other can cause problems. A high ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids may lead to hypersensitivity of key elements of the immune system while a low ration of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids may lead to suppression of key elements of the immune system. In both situations, the immune system does not function properly. The ideal ratio is difficult to define because of influences from genetics, stage of life and environment.

     Fatty acids are not the only category of nutrients that need to be properly balanced. Minerals, vitamins and amino acids (proteins) all must be delicately balanced in the food. An imbalance of minerals can cause problems with bones, immune system, hair coats, skin, blood, breeding and urinary function. Vitamin imbalances can result in several problems including those associated with breeding, skin and hair coats, blood, and digestion. Amino acids imbalances due to poor protein sources can result in problems related to growth, obesity, immune system and behavior. A food with the proper blend of nutrients is necessary for animals to obtain the optimal level of these vital substances to sustain functions critical for a quality life into the geriatric years. One of the easiest ways to cause nutrient imbalances is to frivolously give treats or supplements. In the world of nutrition, you can get too much of a good thing. An iron supplement can result in anemia (or make the anemic situation worse if that was the intention of the supplement), discolored hair coats, skin disorders, vaccine failures and breeding problems by causing a copper and zinc deficiency. A more insidious source of iron is often delivered to the animal by way of the drinking water. High iron, calcium and sulfur in drinking water can cause mineral imbalances. Foods with chelated sources of minerals offer to the animal a more source of these nutrients that are highly available compared to using all inorganic sources. Snacks with poor protein sources can cause amino acid deficiencies as a result of diluting the balanced protein that a dog obtains from a complete food. Imbalanced amino acids or poor protein sources results in poor hair coats, obesity and bone disorders. Foods with more than one protein sources usually provide a broader range of essential amino acids than those using one protein source.

     One of the functions of nutrients is to control the numerous biological reactions that drive the vital metabolic functions of the animal. Metabolic reactions are not totally efficient. The reactions are driven by moving pairs of electrons from place to place. Occasionally, an electron becomes unpaired and ends up in places where it can cause damage to tissues and cells. These unpaired electrons are known as free radicals. Free radicals are controlled by substances called antioxidants (named because the damaging reaction caused by free radicals is called oxidation). Antioxidants can be nutrients (vitamin E or C) or have critical components made of nutrients (zinc, copper, manganese, iron, selenium) or can be chemicals from certain ingredients (flavonoids from blueberries and other fruits, lycopene from tomatoes, lutein and b-carotene from alfalfa). Certain aspects of life (gestation, parturition, lactation), work and exercise, disease or infection or stress causes metabolic reactions to produce more free radicals. Consequently, the increase in the production of free radicals necessitates an increase in the amount of antioxidants needed in the food. Allowed to remain unchecked, elevated free radicals causing oxidative damage has been associated with several types of disorders late if the life of the animal. These types of degenerative disorders related to joint problems, cataracts, circulatory problems and even cancer. Thus, a food must have a good source of antioxidants to enable animals to be healthy in their geriatric years. Also, not one antioxidant can handle all the different kinds of free radicals. A broad array of antioxidants is the most effective way to neutralize all the different types of free radicals.

     The digestive tract is an area of the body that generates and hosts countless numbers of reactions. The digestive tract acts as a filter allowing nutrients to be absorbed while keeping out harmful substances. The keys to a good functioning digestive tract are keeping the integrity of the tract's tissues, maintaining of colony of symbiotic friendly microbes and sustaining a properly functioning immune system that is localized to the area. A breech in any one of these elements can cause undesirable substances to enter the animal. Certain microbes entering the animal can cause disease and infections. Certain substances can cause damage to the intestinal tissue resulting in a decreased ability to absorb nutrients. The entry of large, undigested proteins can cause allergic reactions. Consequently, an unhealthy digestive tract will be detrimental to the well-being of animals when they reach their geriatric years. Nutrition plays a critical role in keeping the digestive tract healthy. Foods must be properly processed and cooked to permit digestion and absorption of nutrients. Foods must be free of contaminants and toxins especially damaging mycotoxins. The foods must have the right amount of all key nutrients in the proper balance to sustain the integrity of the digestive tract tissues. Certain fibers from chicory root, sweet potatoes and tomato pomace promote the growth of friendly microbes that keep out harmful pathogens while fiber from oats and barley enhance the growth and health of tissues of the digestive tract. Many companies try to add microbes to the food in an attempt to increase the colonies of these organisms in the digestive tract. Unfortunately, this practice has not been shown to be effective as the microbes developed in the laboratory do not compete well with the indigenous organisms in digestive tract.

     A simple definition of an allergy is a miscommunication between the immune system and the rest of the body. Allergies are usually overemphasized as a problem with pets. Most veterinary reports and surveys indicate that only 10% of the dog population and a lower percentage of cats with allergies are due to foods. However, reducing the substances that create sensitivities lessens the chance of the consequences of inflammation. Recent reports indicate that beef, wheat and milk are the most likely substances to cause food sensitivities in dogs. However it is difficult to pin down food allergies especially when sensitivities caused by insect bites and pollen have been shown to have a more profound effect than food.

     We know that the quality of nutrition that an animal receives during its entire life will affect the quality of life of the animal during the geriatric years. Foods designed to optimize the quality of life of animals must not only provide nutrients for maintenance but also be able to sustain vital metabolic functions which will keep the animal going during physical activities, stressful times, during challenges from disease and infections, environmental changes and the rigors of living. People must look at foods for their pets to determine:

• That it does not readily cause the animal to become obese
• Has a good blend of omega 6 and 3 fatty acids
• Use a food that is nutritionally balanced
• Use supplements and treats that are compatible with the food
• Use foods with more than one source of protein
• Use foods with chelated trace minerals
• Have a good array of ingredients that contribute to a wide antioxidant profile
• Has a reasonable amount of fiber that can sustain growth of good microbes in the digestive tract
• Have ingredients that are not causing allergies or sensitivities