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Understanding Nutritional Balance 

Why is balance so important to my pet and how do I make the best decisions?

Most product labels say complete. Yet they can be balanced very differently. 

This article breaks down nutritional requirements for pets, focusing on calories, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and how to maintain balance for all of these nutrients over time. Some nutrients need to be present in the right balance in the daily diet while others are stored in the body and may be balanced over time.

Nutrients that are needed Daily:   

  • Protein (Amino Acids)
  • Calories
  • Fiber
  • Moisture
  • Water Soluble Vitamins

Protein:

Protein is used by the body to build muscle, repair tissue, build immunity, and provide energy.  Protein that comes from fresh or minimally processed muscle and organ meats naturally provides all the essential amino acids, including taurine.  This is why you rarely see synthetic amino acid supplements in the ingredients list of fresh pet foods.  Other protein sources (such as from legumes or grains) do not contain all essential amino acids. Furthermore, high heat processing used in kibble and canned food production destroys natural amino acids, so kibble and canned products must be supplemented with synthetic amino acids.

Proteins are comprised of 22 Amino Acids. Out of these, 10 are essential for dogs (meaning dogs cannot produce on their own and must be obtained through diet) and 11 are essential for cats.  The best-known example is taurine – it is essential in cats, not dogs. Most dogs can synthesize taurine provided other amino acids are present.  Cats are unable to synthetize taurine so it must be present in the diet (see Taurine article). Natural amino acids are abundantly present in foods such as muscle and organ meats, fish, and eggs.

Calories:

Calories are the energy units that fuel daily activities and bodily functions. The right caloric intake depends on the pet’s age, size, activity level, metabolism, and health. Balancing calories ensures that pets maintain a healthy weight with the energy they need for play and growth and a healthy immune system.  Too many calories causes weight gain which leads to a variety of health issues.  Too few calories leads to weight loss which leads to loss of energy and muscle mass and weakens the immune system.

While there are general caloric recommendations, many factors affect the caloric needs for your pet.  Thus, the one-size-fits-all directions on pet food packaging may not reflect exactly what calories your pet needs on a daily basis.  One of the simplest and most effective ways to determine if your pet is consuming the proper calories is to run your hand along their rib cage:

  • Ideal Weight: If the ribs can be felt under a light layer of fat, that is ideal.
  • Excess Calories: If the ribs are lost under the layer of fat, that means the pet is overweight and the caloric intake should be reduced.  Obesity is one of the most common health issues in pets and is 100% controlled by diet!
  • Needs More Calories: If there is little to no layer of fat covering the ribs then the caloric intake should be increased.  If you have a working pet or they have a particularly strenuous day, they may need extra calories for that day’s meal.

Weight loss or gain does not happen overnight so the pets’ weight should be monitored regularly to ensure they are consuming sufficient calories to fuel their energy needs but not build excess fat.

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Fiber:

Fiber plays a vital role in digestive health by balancing moisture in the digestive tract.  Too much fiber can result in diarrhea while too little can lead to constipation. The two types of fiber work together in the digestive track:

  • Soluble fiber absorbs water and promotes softer stools. Pumpkin and fresh vegetables are commonly used sources.
  • Insoluble fiber does not absorb water and promotes firmer stools. Pecan shells, beet pulp and powdered cellulose are examples of low quality insoluble fiber, whereas broccoli stalks or other vegetables are much higher quality.

The source and the quality of the fibers dictate how well they work and whether they promote a health digestive tract.

Fiber-rich foods contain carbohydrates.  There are 2 types of carbohydrates:

  • Simple Carbohydrates are quickly converted to sugar and offer little contribution to an essential nutrient profile other than a quick burst of energy.  All sugars and many processed food ingredients contain simple carbohydrates.  These are the “bad carbs” and should be minimal in the pets’ diet.
  • Complex Carbohydrates consist of fibers and starches which are broken down more slowly, aid in digestion, and contribute nutrients to the diet.  Complex carbohydrates provide energy and help to soothe sensitive stomachs.  Fiber and complex carbohydrates are essential in the diet, and are found naturally in fresh vegetables, fruit and whole grains.

Moisture:

Moisture is crucial for hydration and digestion. Fresh foods are naturally high in moisture which helps to maintain the right balance of moisture in your pet’s digestive tract. It is important to ensure that your pet gets sufficient moisture either from their food or from their fresh water bowl. For optimal digestion 80% of daily intake should be water. Most fresh foods contain more than 65% water while kibble is less than 2%. 

Water-soluble vitamins:

Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body (because they dissolve in water hence  their name), which means they must be consumed daily. After the body has absorbed what it needs, excess amounts are eliminated through urine and feces.

Water-soluble vitamins include:

  • B Vitamins which include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12). Vitamin B plays a crucial role in supporting normal growth and development of the body.
  • Vitamin C is vital for wound healing, bone formation, and immune system support. It enhances iron absorption, aids collagen production, and acts as a powerful antioxidant.

If you are feeding a home diet or giving high dose supplements, it is recommended to research any maximum levels for each nutrient.

Nutrients Which May Be Balanced Over time:

  • Fats (Fatty Acids)
  • Fat-Soluble Vitamins
  • Minerals

While there are daily minimum requirements for these essential nutrients, they are stored in the pets’ system and so may achieve a proper balance over time. Daily perfection isn’t as critical as a consistent average balance over several days or possibly weeks. This allows for flexibility in diet, especially in home-prepared or rotational feeding.

Note that while these allow for some flexibility in daily feeding, care should be given to avoid reaching dangerously high levels for nutrients which are stored in the pets’ system.  Again, focus is on healthy balance.

Fats:

Fats are comprised of fatty acids that help to support healthy skin and coat, reduce inflammation, promote brain function and provide energy. A proper balance promotes the optimal health of both dogs and cats.  There are more than 20 known fatty acids that play a role in a healthy diet; however, AAFCO requires only one Omega-6 to be included in dog food and only two Omega-6’s to be included for cats.  

  • Omega-6 Linoleic acid helps to maintain healthy skin and coat and support reproductive health in both dogs and cats.
  • Omega-6 Arachidonic acid supports growth and reproductive functions for dogs and cats.  It must be included in food for cats as they cannot synthesize it on their own.

In addition to these, most fresh foods naturally contain a balance of many other fatty acids known to promote a healthier immune system, such as Omega-3’s.  The most commonly known Omega-3’s are EPA, DHA, and ALA:  

  • Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and benefits to heart health, as well as supporting cognitive function.
  • Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supports brain and eye development and cognitive health.
  • Omega-3 Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) helps to reduce inflammation and supports cardiovascular and joint health.

Omega-3s are in cold water fish, lean meats, egg yolks, certain oils, and chia seeds.

It is interesting to note the difference between the AAFCO recommendations compared to what is recommended for optimum health:

  • For canine diets, AAFCO recommends that Omega-3 should be at least 1/30 the amount of Omega-6.  However, pet health experts recommend that Omega-3’s should be at least 10% of all Omega-6,more than 3 times the AAFCO recommendation.
  • AAFCO has not set a standard for feline diets:

Fat-soluble vitamins:

Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K contribute to a variety of bodily functions, including vision, bone health, antioxidant protection, and blood clotting. These are stored in the body’s fatty tissues and liver and so allow for some flexibility in the daily diet, but care must be given to avoid potential toxicity.

There are two types of Vitamin A found in the diet:

  • Retinol (preformed vitamin A) is from animal sources (or synthetic sources). AAFCO has established a maximum level for retinol (preformed vitamin A) to avoid toxicities. Animal liver contains the highest amount of retinol and so the amount of liver in the diet should be controlled.
  • Provitamin A or carotenes are from plant sources which are converted in the body to retinol as needed. Carotenoids from plants are powerful antioxidants and do not have the hormone-like properties of retinol.  As such there are no restrictions or maximums for their inclusion in the diet.

Minerals:

Minerals are vital for numerous physiological functions:

  • Calcium and phosphorus, are critical for strong bones and teeth.  The amounts must be balanced since excesses of one can deplete the pets’ system of the other.  Excess levels of Calcium should be avoided, especially in large breed dogs, as these have been linked to bone and joint issues.  There should also be the proper balance of Vitamin D to Calcium to aid in absorption of Calcium.
  • Iron aids in the transportation of oxygen in the blood.  Excess levels of iron have been linked to stomach disorders and internal bleeding. There should also be the proper balance of iron to zinc.
  • There are many other minerals that need to be properly balanced in addition to just being present in the diet.

Tips for Ensuring Long-Term Balance

Balanced nutrients are the building blocks for development, function, and overall health.

Balance is important to ensure there are no deficiencies or excesses over time.  When in doubt, ask the manufacturer to confirm the balance of nutrients.