The Role of Protein, Fat and Fibre in Your Dog’s Diet

 

The Importance of High-Quality Protein

Fatty Acids in Our Nutrition

Moderately Fermentable Fibre

Not all protein sources are the same when it comes to feeding your dog. Dogs require nutrients that aren’t found in adequate amounts in plant proteins such as soya bean meal. Iams dog nutrition contain animal-based proteins that provide for all the essential amino acid requirements for dogs. In addition, special refining and quality assurance tests ensure that we use high-quality, highly digestible protein sources.

Fatty acids are a key part of complete dog nutrition. The fatty acids found in vitamin-rich fish oils can play a role in promoting healthy skin, a shiny coat and overall health. An essential fatty acid, found in chicken fat and maize, is important for maintaining skin and coat health and proper membrane structure. All Iams products contain sources of these fatty acids.

Our research has shown that moderately fermentable fibre, such as beet pulp, enhances intestinal health. The fermentable part of the fibre is broken down by intestinal bacteria to provide short-chain fatty acids, an energy source for intestinal cells. The nonfermentable component provides bulk for normal stools.

Using only highly fermentable fibres can cause problems, such as excess gas, while using only nonfermentable fibres, such as peanut hulls or cellulose promotes excess stool volume, because they cannot be fermented.

All Iams® products contain moderately fermentable fibre to help keep a dog’s digestive system healthy.