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Obviously you are interested in pet nutrition if you have clicked through to this site. Hopefully Kibblesense can help make sense out of quite a bit of information.  On this page I will outline, very simply, what the basics of nutrition are so that owners have a workable knowledge on what they are choosing and why.

Protein; The building blocks of life.

What is protein? Well, it is a bunch of amino acids. These are building blocks for the body and all of it’s cells as well as an energy source. In the beginning baby animals have a higher need for protein due to the rapid cell division that is going on in their vastly growing bodies. Later, that need will level off and fulfill a maintenance routine. Specific needs will increase and decrease a need for protein such as pregnancy and nursing and high level working animals. Basically the more active an animal is and works it’s muscles the muscles will build and pull a higher need for protein to build and grow larger. Protein also supplies long sustained energy that is longer lasting than the simple sugars in carbohydrates. Just as with any excess of energy though, excessive protein intake can cause unwanted weight gain. Elderly dogs need highly digestible, usable sources of proteins. The most usable sources of protein will always be animal proteins (meat) with the egg as the supreme uniquely complete source. Protein level is an important part of the diet selection process. Too low and the animal will not meet it’s needs...too much is really a waste of money....there is of course a happy balance for your pet and pocketbook.

Informally these are some categories to help you, Joe Pet Owner, to choose a product;

18-22% Protein is really a maintenance diet meant for adult dogs with average lifestyles and needs. Foods with these levels are not meant for growing dogs or cats or for highly active dogs.

23-27% Protein would be the moderate area of protein content and would be recommended for puppies, pregnant and nursing bitches and moderately active animals.

28 and up would be a high energy diet and the levels you would want to see on all cat foods.

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