Page 171 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Commercial Pet Foods 173

Box 8-5. Ingredient Myths and Facts.
VetBooks.ir Sometimes pet foods are marketed based on ingredient stories that MYTH NO. 5: There is one best fiber source.

have consumer appeal. Ingredient stories are simple and believable
but sometimes mislead consumers. Animals require nutrients, not FACT: Various fiber types can be used to provide distinct functions in
pet foods. Though fiber does not serve as a major energy source for
ingredients. Ingredients are the means to achieve the nutritional and dogs or cats, it can help promote normal bowel function, maintain the
palatability goals of a product.What are some of the myths and facts health of the intestinal tract and aid in the nutritional management of
surrounding ingredients commonly used in pet foods? certain diseases. No single fiber source or type can optimally deliver
all the benefits fiber can provide in pet nutrition. Insoluble fiber is pre-
MYTH NO. 1: Corn is a filler, is poorly digested and causes allergies. ferred in weight-loss regimens. Soluble fiber is more appropriate in
FACT: Fillers are ingredients that serve no nutritional purpose, and the maintenance of intestinal tract health. It is important to use the
corn does not fit that description. Corn is a nutritionally superior grain fiber source or sources that achieve the nutritional goals of the prod-
compared with others used in pet foods because it contains a bal- uct (Chapter 5).
ance of nutrients not found in other grains. Corn provides a highly
available source of complex carbohydrates and substantial quantities MYTH NO. 6: Cellulose fiber binds minerals and decreases the
of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid important for healthy skin. Corn digestibility of other nutrients.
also provides essential amino acids and fiber. In a survey of veterinary FACT: As with other fibers, dry matter digestibility decreases with
dermatologists, corn was not listed among the ingredients most often increasing cellulose levels. However, research has shown that fiber
suspected to cause food allergies. A review of 15 different studies type does not affect protein digestibility in dogs. In addition, purified
representing 278 dogs described primary cutaneous lesions associ- cellulose does not decrease protein digestibility in cats. Purified cel-
ated with adverse reactions to specific foods or ingredients: beef, lulose is inert when it comes to mineral binding and has no effect on
dairy products and wheat represented 69% of reported cases; lamb, calcium or zinc availability in chicks or iron in dogs. More soluble
chicken egg, chicken and soy represented an additional 25% of the fibers such as beet pulp bind calcium and zinc in chicks and iron in
cases (Chapter 31). growing puppies (Chapter 5).

MYTH NO. 2: Soybean meal causes bloat in dogs. MYTH NO. 7: Holistic foods are superior.
FACT: Bloat, or gastric dilatation/volvulus, is a condition usually seen FACT: There is no legal definition of the term “holistic” for pet foods.
in large, deep-chested dogs. Research has shown that food ingredi- Any manufacturer can make claims of “holistic” in literature and
ents do not affect gastric motility and emptying (moist meat-based brochures regardless of the ingredients used in its foods.
vs. dry cereal-based food) (Chapter 53).
MYTH NO. 8: A product contains or is made from human grade
MYTH NO. 3: Chicken meal is superior to poultry by-product meal. ingredients.
FACT: Both chicken meal and poultry by-product meal contain qual- FACT: Claims that a product contains or is made from ingredients
ity protein that is digestible and palatable. Chicken meal, however, that are “human grade,”“human quality,”“people foods,”“ingredients
contains mostly rendered chicken necks and backs, which means it you (the purchaser) would eat,”“foods that you (the purchaser) would
provides more ash per unit protein (Table 8-6) than poultry by-prod- feed your family” or similar claims are false and misleading unless
uct meal. This may make it less desirable for use in formulations in the entire product, itself, meets the USDA and FDA standards for food
which controlling the mineral content of the product is indicated. edible by people. At this time, the use of the descriptors “human
Poultry by-product meal is a slightly more concentrated protein grade” or “human quality” for pet foods is not allowed (AAFCO,
source (Table 8-5). 2007).

MYTH NO. 4: By-products are of lesser quality than meat. Myth No. 9: “BARF” diets (Bones and Raw Foods) better meet the
FACT: Pet food ingredients including muscle meat are by nature by- archetypical needs of dogs that cannot digest grains commonly used
products. Some of the by-products used in pet foods are ingredients in commercial pet foods.
that are considered human grade both domestically and internation- FACT: The BARF philosophy appears to be a decision primarily driv-
ally. Examples of these are pork and beef liver, tripe and spleen. Many en by emotion. Currently there are no published peer-reviewed clini-
by-products such as liver offer superior palatability compared to mus- cal papers or scientific support for BARF diets (Chapter 11).
cle meats when used in dog and cat foods.

bohydrate source. If the design is to minimize phosphorus or ufacturing dry pet foods is to provide structural integrity to kib-
magnesium, rice is a good candidate (Figure 8-10). No single bles. The starch works like a “cement” that holds kibbles
carbohydrate is best for every situation. Each has its own together, preventing crumbling throughout the manufacturing
strengths and weaknesses, and combinations are often used to process. It is unusual for a dry pet food to be formulated with
achieve the desired nutrient profile. fewer than 40% carbohydrate ingredients because of the mini-
mum requirement for extrusion. Formulations designed for
Process Characteristics obesity management, however, often contain less than 40% car-
The principal function of carbohydrates in the process of man- bohydrate and higher levels of fiber.