Novel Proteins and Your Pet

Your feline and canine friends are remarkably resilient creatures. With some remarkably efficient digestive systems. Just think of all the things Fido has eaten over the years! Tennis balls, stuffed animals, sticks, house plants, your mail. The list goes on…

But surviving a digestive adventure isn’t your desired goal for your beloved pet. You want them to thrive. To live to their full and unique potential.

And for dogs and cats, just like you, quality-sourced, nutrient-rich foods are essential.

Essential Eating

As you might expect, among the nutrients our animal friends need, proteins are at the top of the list. Proteins play a crucial role in maintaining a strong metabolism, healthy immune system, fluid balance, energy levels, and more. The building blocks of proteins are organic compounds called amino acids. Our bodies produce some of these acids, considered as non-essential amino acids. But to get all the amino acids we require – the essential amino acids – we must consume them from food. High-quality, complete protein foods provide all of the essential amino acids our bodies, and those of our pets, need.

For most pets, the best source of complete proteins comes from animal products – meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, and fish. Providing your pet with a diet full of protein-rich foods will give them the opportunity to fully be the healthy, energetic friend you know and love.

How Much Protein?

Just like in your own diet, cats and dogs need proteins to live full and healthy lives. But how much?

Cats are carnivores. For them, good meat protein is essential to their survival. It is often recommended that well over 50% of the calories your cat ingests be from protein. As a general starting point, it is suggested that the average cat eat at least 2 grams of protein per pound of their ideal body weight, per day.

Dogs, like us humans, are a little more flexible. Your canine friend is able to survive on a purely plant-based diet. But to truly thrive and live to their full potential, dogs require a consistent amount of quality meat proteins in their diet. Still, their requirements are lower than cats. One gram of protein per pound of ideal body weight is the minimum recommended amount.

Of course, these are simply guidelines. The exact nutrients, and the right amount of protein, your pet needs also depends on their age, their health, their weight, etc. It’s always best to consult with your veterinarian about the best diet for your individual pet.

Novel Proteins

More and more pets are developing food allergies and food sensitivities. To avoid reactions to certain foods, some brands, including Identity’s line of products, offer completely gluten-free, grain-free, legume-free, and GMO-free meals for your pet.

However, some pets may also benefit from changes and/or variation in the sources of their much-needed proteins.

Novel proteins are simply “new” proteins. They are proteins from sources your pet may not have eaten before. If your dog or cat has developed an allergy or sensitivity, swapping their common proteins of choice for new, or novel, sources might be the answer.

Identity Pet Nutrition offers a delicious range of high-quality, high-protein meals for your pet. Many of these choices are made using less common protein sources such as duck, quail, and herring.

Again, we recommend that you consult with your local vet about whether a change in protein source could benefit your dog or cat’s well being.

Discover the Identity line of quality, protein-rich canned dog and cat meals today.

And always feel free to contact us with any questions about our ingredients, our sourcing, and our highest standards of craftmanship and production.