Dictionary

More and more dog and cat owners are opting for grain-free food. The background is mostly the gluten protein, which is present in cereals such as wheat. Dogs can show an intolerance to this protein. Gluten intolerance in both dogs and cats can lead to gastrointestinal diseases, such as chronic diarrhea. As a result, important nutritional values ​​are excreted, which in turn lead to deficiency symptoms, such as iron deficiency. Iron deficiency, in turn, can lead to anemia and weight loss. A gluten-free diet is also beneficial for sensitive dog breeds. That's why we decided not to use gluten-containing raw materials. However, a gluten-free diet should not be confused with a grain-free diet. Cereals provide the dog with valuable carbohydrates and roughage. Gluten-free cereals such as corn, rice, buckwheat and amaranth add value to dog food. We use potatoes as the basic carbohydrate source.

"Hypoallergenic" means something like: "provided with few allergenic substances". In order to avoid allergens in dog food, hypoallergenic dog food should be fed in the event of a food allergy. Hypoallergenic dog food contains as few or none of the known allergens as possible. As a rule, these feeds consist exclusively of as “exotic” a type of meat as possible, such as springbok, water buffalo, kangaroo or insects as a source of protein. Why is that so? Because conventional types of meat such as beef, pork or poultry often trigger meat allergies in dogs. There are allergy tests for dogs to determine which allergens from the environment (e.g. house dust mites, mould, tree, grass, herb and grain pollen) the dog reacts to. The allergy test is less suitable for understanding which food your dog is allergic to. In most cases, the only option here is feeding according to the elimination process. This means that meat must be fed that the dog has never eaten before. If allergic symptoms are still not reduced by this feeding, it may be due to other intolerances (e.g. gluten intolerance), other food allergies or deficiency symptoms. With hypoallergenic dog food, the symptoms of the food allergy ideally subside within a few days to a maximum of twelve weeks. Even after the symptoms have disappeared, hypoallergenic dog food should continue to be fed. Subsequent sensitizations to the "new" food components are possible, but rarely occur.

There is no specific or legally binding technical definition for the term "superfood". Superfoods are individual foods that are said to have special functional effects. This can be related to health, energy, pain relief or any other aspect of the body, mind and spirit. Superfoods are particularly rich in nutrients and have high levels of vitamins, phytochemicals, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids or other valuable ingredients. Exotic foods are often associated with superfoods such as goji berries or inca roots. But we don't have to hide at all and accept long distances. We have a lot of local superfoods like flaxseed, blueberries, currants and walnuts.

Both products are feed for special nutritional purposes. Sensitive products are suitable for allergy problems, diet feed for overweight. Diet feeds clearly differ from common feeds due to adapted compositions such as reduced fat and protein content or manufacturing processes.

Feed materials are products of plant or animal origin that are primarily used to meet the nutritional needs of animals. As the name suggests, the feeds stand pretty much alone. They contain only a single component of the diet, such as insect meat or potatoes. Feed materials can be fresh or preserved, as well as the products of their industrial processing - eg potato flour. Organic or inorganic substances that are intended for animal nutrition, such as minerals or trace elements, also count as single feeds. They can be used as a carrier in premixes. Straight feeds are not intended as a balanced diet for dogs. Only in a mixture of several individual feedstuffs does the food become valuable. A mixture of at least two individual feeds is called compound feed. Compound feeds are formulated in such a way that they are optimally tailored to the needs of the animals. A compound feed can either be used as a complete feed or offered as a supplement to other feed (complementary feed).

Complementary feeds are compound feeds that consist of at least two ingredients and usually have a higher content of certain substances; especially minerals or trace elements. But due to its composition, a supplementary feed is by definition not sufficient to ensure an adequate supply of all nutrients over a longer period of time. It just serves as a supplement to the daily ration. Supplementary feed can be, for example, vitamin mixtures or meat mixtures to which no vitamins and minerals have been added. On the other hand there is the complete feed - a compound feed which, due to its composition, ensures the full supply of nutrients when sufficient quantities are consumed. This is a crucial factor in ensuring the health and welfare of the animals. According to German law, a complete feed must meet certain requirements in order to achieve the required values. The pet food manufacturers in Europe follow the composition of the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). FEDIAF represents the federations of national petfood industries in the EU, approximately 650 petfood production sites in Europe, and provides recommendations to ensure the production of balanced and healthy petfood. Minimum recommendations and maximum levels of proteins, fats, trace elements, minerals and vitamins are given. This document is reviewed annually and updated whenever there are new relevant technological, scientific or legal developments in pet nutrition.

Premixtures are a mixture of feed materials, mostly with several feed additives, which are not intended for direct feeding to animals. This mainly includes nutritional and technological additives for use in complete feed. Additives are substances, microorganisms or preparations that are deliberately added to feed or water in order to fulfill specific functions. Why are additives added? According to German law, a complete feed must meet certain requirements in order to achieve the required values. The pet food manufacturers in Europe follow the composition of the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). The FEDIAF provides minimum recommendations as well as maximum levels of proteins, fats, trace elements, minerals and vitamins. All nutrients that are not sufficient due to the processed ingredients in dog food to provide the dog with optimal care are supplemented - in the form of additives. A distinction is made between three categories: ✓ Nutritional additives (e.g. vitamins, trace elements and amino acids - no minerals) ✓ Technological additives (e.g. preservatives and antioxidants, emulsifiers, stabilizers, silage additives, release agents) to positively influence flowability, stability or storage life . These include hydrocolloids such as xanthan, cellulose, carrageenan, guar gum ✓ Sensory additives (coloring and flavorings)

If you want to know what you're feeding your darling, you can't avoid looking at the label. The label contains all the secrets about the product, but it is important to understand them! And that's the crux of the matter - there are a few things hidden that an average Joe can't understand. We help you to become an Ingrid special consumer. Composition and declaration The composition, in the form of a declaration, gives the pet owner an indication of the ingredients of the dog food. Only the so-called "closed declaration" is mandatory according to the Feed Act. In the closed declaration, the individual feeds used in a compound feed are combined into groups and listed in descending order by weight. These groups include E.g. meat and animal by-products, oils and fats, minerals, grains and sugars. Each manufacturer can choose whether to list all of its ingredients individually (open declaration) or to group them together in the legally defined categories (closed declaration). He must choose one variant, mixing the two is not permitted. For example, if a feed contains beef meat and liver, this can be declared either as “Lean meat and beef liver” or as “Meat and animal by-products”. The difference is only in the way of naming. There are no percentages on the quantitative composition. Conclusions can be drawn solely based on the order of the components. Only the advertised ingredients - also known as claims - must be specified with a percentage by weight. The claims The claims and claims make it possible to see on the front label how much of the claimed raw material is contained in the feed. Usually “with” is advertised, e.g. B. with chicken, with carrot, with spinach. This means that at least 4% of this raw material is contained in the feed. For example, advertised on the front: rich in insects. The exact weight percentage must then be stated on the back label.

Other awards are:

The open declaration is voluntary - so if a manufacturer makes an open declaration and gives an insight into all ingredients and their percentage distribution, that is already a quality feature, so to speak - we will of course investigate it!

Analytical components The specification of the analytical components determined in the laboratory is subject to legal regulations. The terms crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and crude fiber are analytical values ​​of the so-called Weender analysis. In order to arrive at these nutrient values, the feed is subjected to classic procedures defined in the laboratory. The crude protein content is determined using the Kjeldahl method and is the sum of all nitrogenous compounds in the feed. The raw fat value is determined after acid digestion of the feed in an extraction with solvent lasting several hours and provides information about the fat content of the feed. To determine the raw ash content, the feed is burned in a muffle furnace for several hours. As a result, all organic components are burned and the residue - these are mainly minerals - is the raw ash content of the feed. Crude fiber is the part of a feed that remains as an indigestible component after treatment with diluted acids and alkalis. Finally, the moisture content indicates the water content of the product. The moisture content only has to be stated if it is over 14%. There is only a risk of spoilage if the feed is not preserved or made non-perishable by drying or sterilization. Therefore, the moisture content is given for wet food and not for dry food.

The feeding recommendation is apparently only dependent on the weight of the dog. However, there is much more to it than that. It is determined by scientific calculations by calculating an energy requirement in kcal/kJ from the analytical components. From this follows a subsequent calculation of the convertible energy (ME), which is decisive for determining the feeding recommendation. The feeding recommendation results from the weight of the dog, the metabolizable energy (ME) and a daily energy intake. This daily energy intake is also an important factor and reflects the energy requirements in relation to the dog's activity. Average values ​​are used to calculate daily energy intake, but these vary greatly depending on activity and breed (such as Newfoundlands, Great Danes and terriers). Therefore, it is only a feeding recommendation and must be determined individually depending on the species, age and activity.

Nowadays obesity in dogs and cats is more and more common. This can be explained by these differences in the energy balance. Of course, a house cat has to eat more to meet its nutritional needs than a lap dog. Likewise, a young dog has a higher energy and nutrient requirement, based on body mass, than an adult dog. Adult dogs with a low level of activity - that is dogs that only accompany their owner on his daily walk - need a food with a low energy density in order to avoid becoming overweight. From the age of seven (large breeds) or from the age of ten (small breeds), the lower level of activity and the onset of aging reduce the energy requirement by up to 30% again. For seniors who tend to be overweight, feed with a reduced energy density should therefore be offered.

Energy is measured in heat units (kilocalories and kilojoules), whereby a basic distinction must be made between the total energy content (gross energy) and the biologically usable energy content (metabolizable energy) of a feed. This differentiation is made because part of the energy in the feed is excreted in the urine and faeces of the animals and is therefore not used by the organism. The intake of food serves to cover the required energy requirements. The daily energy requirement depends, among other things, on the age, activity, breed, reproductive status and housing conditions of the animals. For example, small dogs require more energy per kg of body weight than large dogs. What constitutes a balanced diet for the old dog is insufficient for feeding a puppy. Appropriately tailored food must be made available for the different ages and activity levels.

Proteins (also proteins) are important components of many body tissues, enzymes and hormones. Proteins are made up of combinations of 21 different amino acids. Humans, like all animals, need these amino acids, although they are also able to produce sufficient amounts of individual amino acids themselves. Other amino acids, on the other hand, cannot be produced by the body itself and must be ingested with food. These amino acids are called essential, ie essential to life. In dogs and cats, 10 amino acids are essential. Every species (human, animal, plant) has its own amino acid chains (primary structure), which are connected to form different spatial structures (= secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of the proteins). Among other things, they are necessary for the formation of protective and defense functions through the formation of hemoglobin and antibodies as well as the maintenance and regeneration of tissue. The quality of a nutrient is determined by its biological value, ie how well dietary protein can be converted into endogenous protein. The term "biological value" is usually used to refer to protein and not to the other feed components, although of course these also have a biological value. The protein is classified as more valuable, the better the amino acid sequence of the feed protein matches the amino acid sequence of the body protein to be formed and the higher the digestibility of the feed protein. The biological value is therefore a unit of measurement for the degree of utilization of the digested protein by the body. B. Meat, liver and kidneys are already highly digestible in the small intestine and thus easily usable for the animal. Furthermore, they have a high-quality amino acid spectrum. In contrast, components rich in connective tissue and containing bones are less digestible and have a less favorable amino acid spectrum. As a result, the animal has to consume a higher amount of protein overall in order to cover the need for essential amino acids. It should also be noted that the analyzed protein content (raw protein) does not allow any statement to be made about the biological value of the protein used. The protein requirement in our products is mainly covered by the use of insects. But the plant-based ingredients such as potatoes, flaxseed and spinach also provide the necessary amino acids.

Fats are present in every cell in the body. Along with proteins and carbohydrates, they are the most important source of energy in food. Any excess is stored in the form of body fat. Fats also serve to absorb fat-soluble vitamins in the intestine and improve the taste of the feed. Fat is composed of fatty acids, whereby a distinction must be made between essential and non-essential fatty acids. A lack of essential fatty acids is reflected in a dull and dry coat, poor growth and an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Linoleic acid is essential for dogs and cats. Alpha-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docohexaenoic acid are also important because they are only produced to a certain extent by the animals themselves. Especially in reproduction and growth, the supply of these fatty acids is of essential importance.

Carbohydrates are chains made up of sugar building blocks (e.g. starch) and primarily serve as a source of energy. In addition, certain carbohydrates are also important as raw fiber suppliers. A basic distinction must be made between "valuable" carbohydrates (such as those found in wholemeal bread, fruit, etc.) and "empty" carbohydrates (such as sweets or white flour products). While empty carbohydrates provide energy only in the short term, the valuable ones are substances that perform many complex functions. They include the group of dietary fibers. These sources of crude fiber or "roughage" give a greater feeling of satiety and affect gut motility, which in turn affects stool consistency and volume. A high crude fiber content leads to a larger volume of faeces as well as more frequent defecation. On the other hand, feed that is low in raw fiber can lead to digestive problems in the animals.

In principle, minerals are divided into two groups: bulk and trace elements. Nutritionally, however, they are considered a unified group, since different interaction mechanisms take place between them. The amount and form of each mineral consumed affects how the others are absorbed in the gut. Therefore, the balance of minerals in the diet is of crucial importance. Bulk elements Calcium and phosphorus are bulk elements, as are sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and sulfur. These are important for bone formation, nutrient transport and electrolyte balance.

Calcium must be present in a large proportion in comparison to the other minerals in every feed. A calcium deficiency or an oversupply can result in various clinical pictures. The nutritional importance of calcium lies in the area of ​​bone formation (in connection with vitamin D3), blood clotting and the transmission of nerve impulses. A one-sided calcium oversupply can cause severe bone development disorders in large dogs and also lead to a reduced absorption of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and probably copper in the intestine. The calcium requirement of an animal depends on the respective phase of life. Young, growing, pregnant and lactating animals have a significantly higher requirement than adult animals in the maintenance metabolism. The minimum calcium content for adult dogs is 0.5 g per 100 g of feed (dry matter). Phosphorus is extremely important in all metabolic processes in the body, especially in energy metabolism. It is also significantly involved in the formation of bones and teeth.

The ratio of calcium to phosphorus and the form or compound in which phosphorus is present in the diet are important. If there is an excess of phosphorus in the feed, especially phytin, the absorption of calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium in the intestine is negatively affected. Phytin is a storage form of phosphorus found in many plant raw materials. As a rule, the ratio of calcium:phosphorus should be between 1:1 and a maximum of 2:1; ideally for dog food between 1.3-1.4:1.

The trace elements include iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine and selenium. Trace elements are only needed in small amounts by the animals, but they have important functions in the body. For example, they are components of enzymes, ie compounds that regulate metabolism.

Vitamins are organic compounds that the body cannot produce itself or can only produce in insufficient quantities. They are therefore among the essential nutrients. Their function lies in the exercise and maintenance of metabolic processes.