When it comes to your dog’s nutrition, the word “protein” gets thrown around a lot. From packaging to advertising, proteins seem to be the focus of almost any conversation about pet food.
Let’s break down what that means and how you can use this knowledge to help your dog if they’re experiencing sensitivities or gastrointestinal issues. Unless you’re new here, in which case welcome! We’ll get started from the beginning.
Proteins Are a Major Component
Proteins are a major component of skin, hair, internal organs, and other body tissues. They consist of amino acids that have been joined together in long chains to form a specific protein. Proteins make up about 50 percent of the dry weight of your pet’s body!
Most proteins provide structure and strength to the tissue they’re found in, but some perform specialized functions such as transporting oxygen through blood vessels or holding together cells so they don’t break down too quickly.
A Protein Is Made up of Amino Acids
Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks that makeup proteins. Amino acids are the basic chemical units that make up proteins and they’re also used for many different functions in your pet’s body. 20 kinds of amino acids can be used to create protein chains.
The amino acids in Purina Pro Plan come from salmon. This helps stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing cravings for carbohydrates or sugary treats. It also provides a good source of energy so your pet can be more active throughout the day without feeling tired or cranky because he’s hungry again!
No Prior Exposure
A novel protein is one that your pet hasn’t been exposed to before. This is different from a novel food, which is new to your pet but not new to the species.
Many people are concerned about their pets’ food sensitivities, so they may use novel proteins as a way of helping their pets tolerate certain foods better or reduce their symptoms of food allergies. A good example would be if you have an allergy-prone dog who had trouble digesting rice and corn but does great with sweet potato or quinoa.
In this case, introducing sweet potato as part of his diet would be fine because it’s something he’s never eaten before and won’t cause any allergic reaction.
Protein Already Administered
Knowing what proteins your dog has been exposed to is important so you can make informed decisions about what you might want to try next. If you haven’t tried any novel proteins with your dog, it’s important to know that this is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
No matter how severe or mild their allergies may be, every pet is different and will respond differently to each new protein they’re introduced to.
Can Help Pets Who Have Sensitivities
If you’ve ruled out food sensitivities and other environmental allergens, it’s time to look at how your pet is handling the stressors in their environment. Stress can come from so many places, whether it be noise or even just excessive movement around them.
Novel proteins can help pets who have sensitivities by allowing them to adapt on a molecular level so they’re not as affected by these external factors. However, novel proteins are beneficial for pets with sensitivities.
They still need to be careful when using them because there are still some common allergens that could cause an allergic reaction in any species. It is why pet owners should always check ingredient lists first.
Environment and Other Allergens
If you’ve ruled out food sensitivities as a cause for your pet’s skin issues, take a look at the environment and other allergens that could be irritating.
Allergens, such as pollen or dust mites, can trigger an immune response in your pet’s body. This response can lead to redness, itching, and sometimes even hair loss. If your dog spends time outdoors playing with other dogs or cats (or rolling around in the yard), he may also inhale airborne allergens with each breath.
Many people don’t think of their home as an environment full of allergens. However, many common household products can irritate the sensitive skin of pets:
- Laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets
- Air fresheners
- Carpet deodorizers
- Pet shampoos
- Scented candles
What Goes In?
It’s important to know as much as possible about what you’re feeding your pet. This will help ensure that the food is healthy for them, safe, and nutritious.
- Know what you’re feeding: If you have a dog or cat on a diet, it’s recommended that you consult with a veterinarian before making any changes to their current diet. Your veterinarian may recommend adding new food gradually over time or switching out one type of food for another completely.
- Know how much: A veterinarian will be able to tell you if your dog or cat needs less or more protein than they are currently getting in their diet of choice. It can be helpful information when deciding on which foods might work best for them in terms of sensitivity levels and other health issues associated with protein intake (ie arthritis).
Conclusion
When you think about what kind of food to feed your pet, the idea of novel protein might be the last thing on your mind. However, if your pet struggles with sensitivities and allergies to common proteins in pet food, choosing a novel protein can help them combat or avoid developing these sensitivities.
Novel proteins are less likely to have been eaten by other pets before, so they are therefore less likely to trigger an allergic reaction or sensitivity for your pet.
If you’d like some more information about how novel proteins can help with sensitivities and allergies in pets, many can happily help.