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ORIJEN White Paper PDF
The Biologically Appropriate Food Concept and the Dietary Needs of Dogs and Cats
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Robert K. Wayne, Ph.D. , “Molecular evolution of The Comparative Anatomy of Eating, Milton R.
the dog family” , Theoretical and Applied Genetics Mills, M.D.
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
• Adapted to break down protein and fat
from meat (not plants or grains), the
PROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY
ANIMAL SOURCE PROTEINS Protein digestibility is a key quality measure.
After all, what good is it to have a food made
Protein is the staff of life for dogs with a higher quality protein if it’s not also easy
and cats – essential to basic body to digest?
functions, including cellular
A food with high protein digestibility is one that
regeneration, tissue maintenance, can be broken down into smaller easy-to-absorb
hormone and enzyme production, components easier and quicker than others.
and the provision of energy. In the short digestive systems of dogs and cats,
Although protein is essential, not all proteins plant proteins are far less digestible than meat
function equally, with protein qualities varying proteins.
enormously between various sources.
Animal source protein is the best choice - it is
Three factors effecting protein quality include: easily digested and contains the amino acids
essential for dogs and cats.
1. PROTEIN SOURCE
PLEASE SEE SECTION 5 FOR A MORE
2. AMINO ACID COMPOSITION
INDEPTH DISCUSSION OF PROTEIN
3. DIGESTIBILITY QUALITY.
• As companion dogs and cats enjoy a Plant source Omega-3 is ALA, a short-chain
more sedentary lifestyle than their wolf omega-3 found in soy, canola oil and flax.
relatives, moderation of fat is important, ALA must be converted to EPA and DHA to
with an optimum range of 15-18% fat. be of any nutritional benefit to a dog or cat.
• While both fats and carbohydrates As cats and dogs are not adapted to create
provide energy, they function very this conversion, ALA Omega-3 from plants is
differently in the body of a dog or cat. considered ‘inactive’ and not Biologically
Fats are essential in the diets of dogs Appropriate for dogs and cats.
and cats, carbohydrates are not.
• Carbohydrates provide energy more
rapidly compared to fats. In humans, a
high intake of carbohydrates increases
muscle-glycogen, which increases
stamina. The same carbohydrate
loading in dogs creates an excess
accumulation of lactic acid in the 4
muscles, leading to a condition called While dogs are able to produce arachidonic acid
hypoglycemia, which causes weakness from linoleic acid, cats cannot synthesize arachidonic
and fatigue. acid and require it in their diet.
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The Many Myths of Raw Feeding, G. Cowan
limits of a dry dog or cat food. 2. HIGH & VARIOUS FRESH MEAT
Stated simply, ‘Biologically Appropriate’ means INCLUSIONS from a variety of animal
mimicking the foods that Mother Nature evolved sources.
the animal to eat. 3. LOW IN CARBOHYDRATES with no
Herbivores, like cows and sheep for example, high-glycemic cereal grains present.
evolved flat molars to grind plants, long digestive 4. ESSENTIAL FATS FROM ANIMALS
tracts to ferment plants and amylase in the (meats and fish) – not plants
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Waltham Book of Dog and Cat Nutrition (2nd
edition, 1988)
• Researcher Doug Bibus of the University of • Herbs are considered as food, rather than
Minnesota recently completed a study with medicine, because they're complete, natural
dogs. He suggests a lower ratio: between 2 and pure.
to 1 and 4 to 1 – a ratio to which ORIJEN • Bridging the gap between nutrition and peak
subscribes. health, herbs are loaded with vitamins,
minerals and phytochemicals.
• Herbs assist the organ networks in the
performance of their functions, and
particular herbs enter specific channels and
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American Feed Control Officials, Official
Publication, Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles,
2008
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AAFCO, Dog Food Nutrient Profiles, 2008
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AAFCO, Dog Food Nutrient Profiles, 2008
• Protein is important for dogs in all stages of • Given that dogs and cats are evolved as
life, and the quality of the protein is equally carnivores, it’s no surprise that plant
important. proteins do not measure up in supplying the
amino acids they need to thrive.
• It is important to insure that a wide spectrum
of amino acids is being provided from fish, • Plant proteins are typically missing
poultry and eggs. essential amino acids arginine, taurine,
methionine, lysine and tryptophan.
• Protein needs cannot be met by feeding
grains, starches and vegetables. Corn, for example, does not contain glycine,
lysine or tryptophan. The lack of these
• While plants may lend fiber, some minerals
essential amino acids reduces the overall
and vitamins - only animal based proteins
protein quality of the food.
supply a complete balance of amino acids
needed for good health and longevity.
• Corn has a crude protein content of
approximately 9%. However, of this, less
than half (4.5%) is made up of Essential
Amino Acids.
ALL PROTEINS ARE NOT EQUAL
In other words, it takes more plant proteins
Proteins are not alike or equal, and vary than animal proteins to give the adequate
dramatically according to their: protein percentages, and even then,
1. SOURCE (animal vs. plant) essential amino acids will be lacking.
All in all, there are 22 different amino acids TAURINE* involved in a large number of
required by dogs. metabolic processes and can become
essential under certain circumstances.
Of the 22 amino acids, 12 can be produced
Taurine effects the visual pathways, brain
within the dog’s body (internally in the liver). and nervous system, cardiac function, and it
The other ten amino acids cannot be produced is a conjugator of bile acids.
in the body and therefore must come from food IT IS THE PRESENCE, BALANCE AND
– these amino acids are termed “essential”
amino acids. QUALITY OF ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS
THAT DETERMINES THE OVERALL
1. NON ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS –
QUALITY OF DIETARY PROTEIN.
these amino acids can be produced in
the body. Since the body is able to
manufacture these amino acids, they do
not need to be present in the diet.
PROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY
2. ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS - these
amino acids cannot be produced in the Protein digestibility is a key quality measure.
body and therefore must come from After all, what good is it to have a food made
food. with a higher quality protein if it’s not also easy
The following are the ten* amino acids to digest?
essential to meet a dog's dietary Meat protein is the best choice - it is easily
requirements (*includes Taurine) and a digested and contains the amino acids essential
brief description of their function. for dogs and cats.
ARGININE: stimulates the immune system, To better understand protein digestibility, it’s
induces growth hormone release, and
important to recall that digestion itself is the
supports the liver by detoxifying ammonia.
gradual breaking down of food into components
HISTIDINE: releases histamines, is small enough to pass through the walls of the
associated with pain control, and widens intestines and into the bloodstream.
small blood vessels to stimulate stomach
acid secretion. • A food with high protein digestibility is
ISOLEUCINE and LEUCINE: see VALINE
one that can be broken down into
smaller easy-to-absorb components
LYSINE: promotes bone growth in puppies easier and quicker than others.
and stimulates secretion of gastric juices.
• Protein ingredients that meet both
METHIONINE: assists gall bladder functions,
amino acid requirements and high
helps prevent fats deposits in the liver,
balances the urinary tract pH, and gives rise digestibility, almost always come from
to Taurine. animal sources.
PHENYALANINE: related to appetite • In the short digestive systems of dogs
control, increases blood pressure in and cats, plant proteins are far less
hypotension, works with minerals in skin and digestible than meat proteins.
hair pigmentation, and produces adrenalin
and noreadrenalin. • High levels of trypsin inhibitors grain
legumes can cause substantial
THREONINE: regulates energy draw, works
reductions in protein and amino acid
in mood elevation or depression,
manufactures adrenalin, and precurses digestibilities (up to 50%) in rats and
Thyroid hormone. pigs.
TRYPTOPHAN: produces Serotonin that Similarly, the presence of high levels of
induces sleep. tannins in cereals, such as sorghum,
and grain legumes can result in
Eggs (whites) 88 Now, if you look only at the “raw data”… the
numbers make this funky brew look pretty
Chicken / Turkey 79 good… in fact, just as good as any quality dog
Fish 70 food.
Lean Beef 69 The leather provides the protein. The motor oil
supplies the fat. And the sawdust contributes
Unpolished Rice 59 the fiber.
Brown Rice 57 Not exactly something you’d ever want to feed
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your dog. See how easy it is to be fooled?
White Rice 56
Peas 55
Whole Wheat 49
TEMPERATURE AND PROTEIN
Soy beans 47
QUALITY
Whole-grain Wheat 44
High temperatures and long exposure to heat
Corn 36 alters amino acid chains and therefore lowers
Dry Beans 34
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Choosing Healthy Dog Food Made Easy, Why You
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Effects of antinutritional factors on protein Must Never Trust Stated Protein Percentages to
digestibility and amino acid availability in foods, 2005, Compare Dog Foods, by Mike Sagman on March 28,
(1)
GILANI G. Sarwar ; COCKELL Kevin A. ;
(1) 2009
(1) (1)
SEPEHR Estatira ; Author(s) Affiliation(s), Health
Canada, Nutrition Research Division, Bureau of
Nutritional Sciences, Banting Research Centre (AL: 19
2203 C), Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A OL2, The Dog Food Advisor
CANADA
• Six (freeze-dried) raw animal meals (beef, • Protein quality of selected MBM
pork, sheep, pork livers, oceanfish, chicken samples was assessed by determining
necks) and 3 rendered animal meals (lamb true AA digestibility using the precision-
meal, regular ash poultry by-product meal, fed cecectomized rooster assay and by
and low ash poultry by-product meal) were a PER chick growth assay wherein
fed to determine bioavailability, protein chicks were fed 10% crude protein (CP)
efficiency ratio (PER), and net protein ratio diets containing a MBM as the only
(NPR).
• Lysine bio-availabilities ranged from 86 to
107% and 70 to 99% for raw and rendered
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animal meals, respectively. Protein quality of various raw and rendered by-
product meals commonly incorporated into
• Bio-availability of amino acids ranged from companion animal diets. K. R. Cramer*,2, M. W.
64 to 99% and 61 to 78% for raw and Greenwood*,3, J. S. Moritz*,4, R. S. Beyer*,5 and C.
rendered animal meals, respectively. M. Parsons. * Department of Animal Science and
Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506;
20 and Department of Agricultural, Consumer, and
The Effect of Heat Upon the Biological Value of Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana
Meat Protein, Agnes Fay Morgan and Grace E. Kern, 61801
Laboratory of Household Science, University of
California, Berkeley
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Effect of ash content on protein quality of meat and
bone meal. Shirley RB, Parsons CM., Department of
Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801,
USA.
Dogs and cats thrive on protein, the more the • Dogs were fed diets varying between 19, 27
better. There is absolutely no reason to limit the and 56% protein over the 4 year study
amount of protein you feed your dog. period.
• The study concluded that high protein
Let’s review of few of the most commonly held feeding did not adversely effect the kidney
protein myths. function of dogs.
25
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27 Pet Food Safety: Dietary Protein, D.P. Laflamme
Growth and Skeletal Development in Great Dane DVM, PhD, Dipl ACVN, Nestlé Purina PetCare
Pups Fed Different Levels of Protein Intake, Research, St. Louis, MO. Available online 23 July
"Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion 2008.
Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of
Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Supplement: WALTHAM International Science 31
Symposium: Nature, Nurture, and the Case for Mythology of Protein Restriction for Dogs with
Nutrition, High-Protein Low-Carbohydrate Diets Reduced Renal Function, Kenneth C. Bovée, DVM,
MMedSc Department of Clinical Studies, School of
Enhance Weight Loss in Dog, Tiffany Linn Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania,
Bierer3 and Linh M. Bui, Masterfoods USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Proceedings, 1998
Vernon, CA 90058 Purina Nutrition Forum
32
Mythology of Protein Restriction for Dogs with
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Increased Dietary Protein Promotes Fat Loss Reduced Renal Function, Kenneth C. Bovée,
and Reduces Loss of Lean Body Mass During DVM, MMedSc Department of Clinical Studies,
Weight Loss in Cats, Dorothy P. Laflamme, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of
DVM, PhD, Steven S. Hannah, PhD, Nestlé Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Proceedings, 1998 Purina Nutrition Forum
Purina PetCare Global Resources, St. Louis,
MO
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Mythology of Protein Restriction
for Dogs with Reduced Renal Function
Kenneth C. Bovée, DVM, MMedSc
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Clinical Studies
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Proceedings, 1998
School of Veterinary Medicine Purina Nutrition Forum