Essential Nutrients for Pets Do Pets Need Extra Nutrients?

Essential Nutrients for Pets Do Pets Need Extra Nutrients?
Pet nutrition is a comprehensive subject about pet physiology, growth, disease resistance, pet food hygiene, etc. The branch of zoology that explains and analyzes the laws of survival and development of pets. It studies the species composition, morphological structure, living habits, reproduction, development and inheritance, classification, distribution, movement and historical development of pets, as well as the characteristics and laws of other related life activities.
1. Essential nutrients for pets
1. water
Water plays an important role in the metabolism of dogs, accounting for more than 60% of the total weight of dogs, and is the source of life. Water can regulate endocrine and maintain the normal shape of cells; the evaporation of water forms heat exchange with the outside world through the body surface and respiratory system, which can lower body temperature; other nutrients need to be dissolved in water to be absorbed by the body. A dog can go without food for two days, but not without water for one day. If the water shortage reaches 20%, there is danger to life.
2. Protein
Protein is the foundation of the dog’s life activities, accounting for half of the “dry” body weight (referring to the total weight except water). Various tissues and organs in the dog’s body, various enzymes and antibodies involved in substance metabolism
All are made up of protein. When the body is damaged, there is a greater need for protein to repair cells and organs.
Lack of protein can lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, slow growth, lower protein content in the blood, lower immunity, and affect fertility.
3. Fat
Fat is one of the important sources of energy required by the human body. The fat content of a dog accounts for about 10-20% of its body weight. It is not only the main component of cells and tissues, but also a solvent for fat-soluble vitamins, which can promote the absorption and utilization of vitamins. The layer of fat stored under the skin also acts as an insulator.
When the dog’s fat intake is insufficient, digestive dysfunction and central nervous system dysfunction will appear, manifested as fatigue, roughness, loss of libido, poor testicular development or abnormal estrus in female dogs.
4. Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are mainly used for heating and maintaining body temperature in dogs, and are the energy source for various organs and movements. When the dog’s carbohydrates are insufficient, it needs to use body fat and even protein for heat. As a result, the dog becomes emaciated and unable to grow and reproduce normally.
5. Vitamins
There are many types of vitamins, which can be divided into water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins according to their solubility. Although it occupies a small amount in the nutritional structure of animals, it plays an important role in regulating physiological functions. It can enhance the functions of the nervous system, blood vessels, muscles and other systems, and participate in the composition of the enzyme system.
If the vitamin is deficient, the necessary enzymes in the dog cannot be synthesized, thus destroying the entire metabolic process. Severe vitamin deficiency will cause the dog to die from exhaustion. Dogs can only synthesize a small portion of vitamins, most of which need to be obtained from food.
6. Inorganic salt
Inorganic salt does not produce energy, but it is the main component of animal tissue cells, especially the bone road, and is the basic substance for maintaining acid-base balance and osmotic pressure.
It is also the main component of many enzymes, hormones and vitamins, and plays an important role in promoting metabolism, blood clotting, regulating nerves and maintaining the normal activity of the heart.
If the supply of inorganic salts is insufficient, it will cause various diseases such as dysplasia, and the serious lack of some inorganic salts will directly lead to death.