Feed them well. Feed them in the healthiest way possible. An imperative that for us companions of healthy dogs and cats involves rigorous choices in the daily diet and careful reading the labels of commercially available ready-made foods.
There authenticity and quality of raw materials choices are the basis of a correct diet for our four-legged friends, whether homemade or industrial. Just as it is to favor a food that is as similar as possible, in composition, to what the dog and cat at home would find in nature. For this purpose, some feed companies have chosen to propose foods made with preservatives and antioxidants derived from natural products and not synthetic ones, such as rosemary oil, clove, agar agar, carrageenan, vitamin C (labeled E300 ascorbic acid), vitamin E (labeled E 306 Tocopherol). It goes without saying that, when choosing between the brands on the market, Foods with natural preservatives should always be preferred . Likewise, those with so-called “appetizing” substances, too often used in industrial foods for cats, notoriously more difficult to please than their canine friends, should be avoided.
Substances that can harm dogs and cats…
English: Home-made food for animals is not always preferable: leftovers from our meals could contain foods that are potentially harmful to them, even if the ingredients seem apparently harmless. In reality, onion, dairy products, chocolate and additives such as monosodium glutamate (present in many stock cubes and ready-made foods) should be avoided in the bowl of our little friends. It is better to opt for a balanced feed, also in the protein/carbohydrate ratio. Let's take an example. Tryptophan is the main amino acid precursor of serotonin (a very important neurotransmitter for the balance of behavior in general) which is found mainly in protein foods. If an animal's daily diet includes only proteins, the intake of tryptophan at the level of the central nervous system decreases, due to the competition with other amino acids. A correct balance between proteins and carbohydrates (such as rice and quinoa, but also fruit and vegetables) is necessary to prevent a lack of endogenous serotonin that can affect the animal's behavior.
…and those that do good instead
A good habit in terms of healthy eating for our four-legged friends is to introduce a portion of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 . These are substances that play an essential role in regulating the body's functions and are found mainly in fish. These molecules perform mirror-like but complementary functions, because omega-3s " turn off " the inflammations and are essential in the structure of cells, while omega-6 can be useful in case of chronic diseases, but if ingested in large quantities “light up” inflammation . It is therefore essential that omega-3 and omega-6 are present in the diet in the correct ratio , especially if dogs and cats suffer from food intolerances. To help our furry friends and promote their well-being, therefore, it is essential to choose foods naturally rich in omega-3 such as sea fish, fish oil, to be combined with omega-6 contained, for example, in vegetable oils.