Why are protein sources so important?
Protein sources are the building blocks of life, not only in us, but also in our faithful four-legged friends. They perform numerous vital functions in your dog or cat's body: building and repairing muscles, producing natural hormones and enzymes, maintaining an immune system in tip-top shape and promoting a healthy and shiny coat. In short, protein sources are essential in your best buddy's diet and therefore so incredibly important.
Amino acids
Proteins are made up of amino acids. These play an important role in building and maintaining body tissues.
Currently, about 500 different amino acids are known. Of these, 20 are fundamental, these are the building blocks within the body. These 20 amino acids are divided into three classes: essential amino acids, semi-essential and non-essential. Please note, this does not mean that one group is more important than the other, a body needs all amino acids to function optimally, the right balance in these is crucial. A non-essential amino acid is just as important as an essential.
Essential amino acids: your dog's or cat's body cannot produce them itself. Therefore, this group of amino acids must be obtained through food.
Semi- and non-essential amino acids: in principle, your dog's or cat's body can make these itself, although sometimes it cannot make enough to meet a specific need such as, for example, during strenuous exercise or prolonged stress. This can cause a deficiency and imbalance in the body.
In summary, since your four-legged friend's body is unable to produce essential amino acids on its own, it is very important that you feed your faithful buddy foods with high-quality protein sources from which he can obtain them.
Animal versus plant sources
Your Max and all other dogs are omnivorous carnivores: that is, an animal that eats meat but can also get essential nutrients from plant material. Although dogs can technically survive on a vegetarian diet, they will not thrive on it.
Minus and all other cats, on the other hand, are unavoidable carnivores; they eat meat out of biological necessity. Although they can digest plant material, it cannot meet all their nutritional needs.
So both dogs and cats need high-quality animal protein sources. And just these almost always contain all nine essential amino acids. An advantage over vegetable protein sources, which often lack one or more essential amino acids.
In addition, plant protein sources also contain fewer essential amino acids than animal protein sources and their protein content consists of a higher percentage of non-essential amino acids. This means that a greater amount of plant protein is needed to compensate for the lack of essential amino acids. In summary, your dog absorbs protein from plant products worse than from animal products.
Why protein is so important
For muscle development and maintenance: proteins play a crucial role in muscle growth and development. After exercise or injury, they help in the recovery of muscle tissue, as well as contribute to your four-legged friend's strength and endurance.
So include enough good quality protein in your roommate's diet to maintain healthy muscle mass and promote a strong and limber body.
For immune system and resistance: proteins also play a crucial role in strengthening your four-legged friend's immune system. They are involved in creating antibodies and enzymes that help fight infections and protect the body from disease. A functioning immune system is essential to keeping your best buddy healthy and energetic.
So include enough good quality protein in your roommate's diet to boost his immune system and help him resist pathogens.
For skin and coat: the health and shine of your dog's or cat's coat also depend heavily on adequate protein intake. In fact, protein is essential for building keratin, the main protein found in the coat that supports its structure and shine. A lack of it can lead to dullness, hair brittleness and overall reduced coat condition, think extreme shedding.
So include enough good quality protein in your housemate's diet to keep his coat in top condition.
Finally, for the sake of completeness, we mention that protein can also be used as an energy source in situations where carbohydrate sources (primary energy source) are limited.
Tip from Jordy
Did you know?
Alternate with different brands and flavors. Give for example also a food with salmon so your four-legged friend gets natural Omega 3 fatty acids instead of only artificial ones from for example chicken food with added salmon oil. In this way you will not only teach your four-legged friend to be less picky, but you may also avoid many problems.
So, as you can read, protein sources are essential in the diet of dogs and cats because they play a crucial role in overall health and well-being.
So in your choice of food, keep in mind that you choose enough high-quality protein sources that contain all the essential amino acids needed. Different animal species such as poultry, meat or fish, as well as eggs, can serve as good sources of protein. And insect protein-based foods are also a possibility.
Also, always consider your pet's specific nutritional needs depending on factors such as age, size, activity level and health.
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