Should Commercial
dog food be supplemented with a quality multi-vitamin?? This question has many
factors to consider. The factors I
researched were, quality of the food, the condition of the pet, and overall storage
time. Generally, If pet is healthy, and
eating a higher quality feed, then a multivitamin is not always recommended.
However, If the pet is eating a lesser quality food, breeding, ill, under
stress, arthritic, or has a chronic skin condition, then a multivitamin could
be beneficial.
Many commercial dog food companies use
various nutritional combinations, each having their own pros and cons. The composition of the food defines the
quality. Having a highly digestible protein
source is most important. Meat derived sources have more mineral and vitamins
available then plant derived (Hand Pg 111).
The protein source should be first in the ingredients list. Life’s
Abundance’s main source of protein is Chicken Meal and a secondary source from
catfish meal with a crude protein 26%. It also has ground brown rice, dried
fruits and vegetables, probiotics and natural preservatives (Life’s Abundance).
Life’s Abundance is a high quality pet food.
In contrast, Pedigree’s main source of protein being from whole ground
corn- which is plant derived, and a non-specific meat & bone meal. The crude protein is 21%. They also include
ground whole wheat and brewers rice (Dog Food Advisor- Pedigree). Pedigree is a lesser quality food.
Another important
ingredient in dog food to consider is fiber.
Fiber is necessary in the diet as it aids in digestion. Fiber can be soluble and hold on to water, or
insoluble and not hold water. Each fiber
source has different effects on mineral absorption. Cellulose affected the most mineral
absorption and Beet pulp showed to have the least effect (Hand, Pg 79). Fruits and vegetables in the diet also help
supply fiber and antioxidants. Higher
quality pet foods use barley, oatmeal, and flaxseed- which is highly soluble
and rich in omega-3.
Getting the most nutrition into bite-sized
kibble at a low cost is the dog food companies ultimate goal. However the
process in making the kibble reduces and can eliminate some important factors
in the diet. The first step in making
dry dog food is the meat rendering process, which creates the protein meals
like chicken meal and fish meal. The meats undergo extensive grinding and
cooking to reduce the moisture and fat
content, creating a highly concentrated protein powder. Proteins are sensitive to heat and begin to
denature.
Most commercial dry
pet food is made through the extrusion process.
Cooking time averages from 10 -270 seconds at temperatures ranging from
80-200*. This process ensures complete
cooking and destruction of microorganisms (Hand, Pg 179). The extrusion process benefits some
ingredients like the carbohydrates, by increasing their digestibility. However the extensive cooking also has many
negative side effects. Proteins are
further damaged- which affects the essential amino acids that the pets
require. This breakdown of valuable
protein may contribute to food intolerances, food allergies, and inflammatory
bowel disease (What is really in dog food).
Starches can overcook and become “resistant starches”, acting more like
a fiber. Also soluble fibers can become insoluble fibers, dramatically
increasing the actual fiber in the diet.
Vitamins are
affected through the entire process, from production to storage. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are the
most affected during the extrusion process some with rates as high as 50% lost
before the kibble goes in the bag (The formulator’s dilemma). Dry food lost B-carotene, Vitamin C and Folic
Acid all during processing. During
storage massive amounts of Thiamin, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Riboflavin, Niacin
and Vitamin C are lost as well. Moist
Food also shows vitamin loss with 100% Vitamin C lost and 50% Thiamin and
B-carotene lost. During storage wet
foods showed loss in Vitamin E, Folic Acid and Niacin. (Hand, Pg 181, Box 8-8). To account for the potential loss it is
suggested that you reduce the analytical values by 10-25% (Hand, Pg 126).
To
compensate for the harsh conditions in the cooking process manufactures include
supplemented vitamins and minerals. They also use a range of preservatives both
synthetic and natural to protect their food from oxidation and to ensure a long
shelf life. Lower quality foods like
Pedigree use animal fat and vegetable oils with a long list of added vitamins
and supplements, preserved with synthetic BHA and BHT (possibly cancer causing)
but they ensure a long shelf life --about 12 months. Life’s Abundance uses chicken fat preserved
with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E plus natural
antioxidants,dried fermentation products, and added vitamin and minerals.
Higher quality
foods are now using “natural” preservatives such as Vitamin C (ascorbate),
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and oils of rosemary, clove, or other spices, to
preserve the fats in their products.
However,the shelf life is shorter, only about 6 months (What’s Really in
pet food). The dog food companies add Vitamin C to their food, not
for its nutritional value but to preserve the food. It is suggested that 100 mg/kg vitamin C and
at least 500 IU/kg of Vitamin E to be
added to enhance antioxidant performance (Hand Pg 265). Life’s Abundance has 140 mg/kg ascorbic acid
(Vitamin C) and 200 IU/kg Vitamin E. Pedigree has minimum 70 mg/kg Vitamin C
and 300 IU/kg Vitamin E.
Healthy pets with
a quality diet shouldn’t need much if any supplementation of Vitamin C because
they can produce their own, usually 18 mg per pound a day. Pets who are ill, aging or under stress can
benefit greatly from Vitamin C and Vitamin E supplements. Recommended Vitamin C supplementation to aid
in illness ranges from 125-500mg for a small dog and 500-1500mg for a large dog, given twice a
day. Vitamin C can aid in arthritis,
chronic ear infections, and skin conditions.
1000 - 2000 IU/kg Vitamin E can be given to aid immune functions in
older pets and for skin therapy treatment (The Whole dog Journal).
The
FDA has regulation over pet foods. The
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that all animal foods,
like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain
no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled (FDA.gov). However, the AAFCO is hampering label laws,
by allowing listing vague ingredients
and they do not require pet food companies to disclose on their
packaging, the date that the pet food was actually made. The Best by date
means, by this date, the quality of the dog food ingredients have likely
diminished (Safe Dog Food Storage). The
actual expiration date is undeterminable.
Pet food
manufactures have also made steps to keep their pet food safe and long lasting
as possible.They use modified atmosphere packaging that removes the oxygen
before sealing the package, bags with resealable lids,and double layered &
lined material. All to increase the
shelf life, prevent oxidation, and preserve the food. Owners should consider proper storage at home
as well. Once opened and exposed to
oxygen, light, moisture and bacteria the nutrition quality drops again. Web-MD says that the kibble is best if left
in the manufactures bag, (resealed, rolled down or pinned shut). Only using the container as protection from
moisture, pests, etc. Foods are
generally good for 6 weeks after opening and safe for about 24 hours in the
bowl.
If
you decided to supplement your pets diet, a well balanced and natural
multivitamin that I like is Life’s Abundance Wellness Food Supplements. They
use Poultry Liver meal, Dried fruits and vegetables, Egg, dried fermentation
products, Alfalfa meal and flax seed meal. THese supplements give a healthy
dose of enzymes, fiber, probiotics, vitamins and minerals. Veterinarian’s Best also has a variety
of multivitamins for more specific
purposes like; anxiety, skin & coat, arthritis, digestion, allergies, puppy
and senior.
Every
pet is different. When choosing a pet
food, owners should take in consider that the food is the main source of
nutrition the pet gets. You must
consider the pets age, activity level, health and body condition. If you decide to add supplements to the diet,
or decide to change the pets diet, always take precautions, by making changes
slowly. If the pet is aging or under
stress, then you should consult with your veterinarian first.
References
1) The formulator’s dilemma- “How processing affects pet
nutrition”
3) Life’s Abundance - Premium Health Food and Supplements
5) Dog Food Advisor - Life’s Abundance
7) Safe Food Storage Tips - Dog Food Scoop
9) The Dog Food Project - Identifying better products, The
"Yuck" Factor,
12) Small Animal Clinical Nutrition - 5th edition - Hand
