Dr. Rachel's Replenish is a canine supplement developed by veterinarian, Dr. Rachel Walsh, DVM, CVC, CVA, that keeps our active dogs at their best by restoring vital nutrients lost during either work or exercise. As a former All-American NCAA Division 1 track athlete and Biochemistry major at Rice University and an active participant in dog agility competitions, Dr. Walsh was inspired to create an all natural canine supplement that supports both hydration and recovery after high intensity activities. After years of research which included testing Replenish on her own dog, Sammy, she successfully pioneered a solution that keeps our furry friends at the top of their game.
Dr. Walsh also continued her education where she obtained a certification in animal chiropractic and veterinary acupuncture and herbal medicine. These additional areas of study inspired her to develop additional products to help pets stay as healthy as possible in all stages of life.
Many formulas are available to calculate caloric requirements for dogs and cats. A simple method for healthy dogs and cats starts with calculating the resting energy requirement (RER). The RER is the energy requirement for a healthy but fed animal, at rest in a thermoneutral environment. It includes energy expended for recovery from physical activity and feeding.
There are two formulas for calculating RER. The exponential formula (RER = 70 [body weight in kg0.75]) can be used for animals of any body weight, whereas the linear formula (RER = 30 × [body weight in kg] + 70) is restricted to use in animals that weigh > 2 kg and < 45 kg.
The maintenance energy requirement (MER) is the energy requirement of a moderately active animal in a thermoneutral environment. It includes energy needed to obtain, digest, and absorb food in amounts to maintain body weight, as well as energy for spontaneous activity. The formulas to calculate MER take into account age and neuter status.
Formulas for daily maintenance energy requirements (kcal/day) are listed in the table.Any specific formulas used to calculate energy requirements for dogs or cats should be considered a starting point. As with people, animals of the same weight can vary in their energy requirement needed to maintain an ideal body weight. Any given animal may require as much as 30% more or less of the calories calculated for its body weight than another animal with the same body weight.
If dogs or cats consuming an adult maintenance diet require significantly less (10%–30% less) weight or volume of food than recommended on the pet food label to maintain an ideal weight and BCS, the diet could be modified to a less energy-dense diet. Standard maintenance diets are formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of a moderately active adult animal consuming a reasonable quantity or volume of the food. If maintenance diets are fed in a calorically restricted fashion, there is a reduction in the intake of all nutrients in the diet, and maintenance diets are not formulated to be fed in that way. Over-the-counter, commercial weight-management diets are formulated to be less energy dense, with the nutrient levels in the diet adjusted to ensure the animal receives all the required nutrients while consuming fewer calories. Nonetheless, severely restricting caloric intake using a weight-management diet may result in nutrient deficiencies as well. It is good practice to check for underlying medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism in dogs, whenever the amount of calories needed to maintain an animal at an ideal body weight and BCS seems unusually low. In some cases, a therapeutic weight-loss diet may need to be fed to ensure the animal is receiving the necessary amounts of nutrients while consuming a limited amount of calories. Unlike adult maintenance diets, these diets are formulated to be low in calories while still providing all the nutrients the animal requires.
TableDaily Maintenance Energy Requirements for Dogs and CatsTableProtein is required to increase and renew the nitrogenous components of the body. A primary function of dietary protein is as a source of essential amino acids and nitrogen for the synthesis of nonessential amino acids. Amino acids supply both nitrogen for the synthesis of all other nitrogenous compounds and energy when catabolized.
Ten amino acids are essential in the diet of dogs: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Cats have a dietary requirement for an additional amino acid, taurine. Other nonessential amino acids may become conditionally essential when an animal has an underlying disorder that either interferes with synthesis of the amino acid or results in its excessive consumption or loss.
Protein requirements of dogs and cats vary with age, activity level, temperament, life stage, health status, and protein quality of the diet. Many commercial dog foods contain a combination of plant- and animal-based proteins, with varying levels of protein digestibility. Digestibility below 80% is classified as low; digestibility between 80% and 85% is classified as average; digestibility between 86% and 93% is classified as high; and digestibility greater than 93% is considered very high.
Heat can have variable effects on dietary protein. For example, heat can inactivate antinutritional factors present in some raw forms of protein. If excessive heat is used when manufacturing food, it can impact protein digestibility. Most cooked commercial dry diets are manufactured using the extrusion method of cooking, and most cooked canned foods are manufactured using a retort method of cooking. Extrusion uses a combination of moisture, pressure,temperature, flow rate, residence time, and mechanical shear from rotating screws. Cooking time in the extruder can vary from 10 to 270 seconds, and cooking temperature can vary from 80°C to 200°C (175°F to 392°F). A minimum temperature of 74°C (165°F) is needed to kill bacteria, parasitic worms, and protozoa in food, and a minimum of 100°C (212°F) is needed to kill bacterial spores in food. Although a small amount of protein may be lost during the cooking process, most manufacturers that meet World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines are aware of this and add additional amounts of protein to the food prior to cooking it.
The biologic value of a protein is related to the number and types of essential amino acids it contains and to its digestibility and metabolizability. The higher the biologic value of a protein, the less protein is needed in the diet to supply the essential amino acid requirements. Egg has been given the highest biologic value, and organ and skeletal meats have a higher biologic value than plant-based proteins.
Diets for growing puppies and reproduction should contain a minimum of 22.5% protein as dry matter or 56.3 grams per 1,000 kcal ME (AAFCO guidelines) or 45 g protein/1,000 kcal ME for puppies 4–14 weeks old and 35 g protein/1,000 kcal ME for puppies > 14 weeks old (NRC guidelines). Adult dogs require a minimum of 18% protein as dry matter or 45 grams per 1,000 kcal ME (AAFCO guidelines) or ~20 g protein/1,000 kcal of ME required (NRC guidelines).
Diets for growing kittens and reproduction should contain a minimum of 30% protein as dry matter or 75 grams of protein per 1,000 kcal ME (AAFCO guidelines) or 45 g protein/1,000 kcal ME (NRC guidelines). Diets for adult cats should contain a minimum of 26% protein as dry matter or 65 grams of protein per 1,000 kcal ME (AAFCO guidelines) or 40 g protein/1,000 kcal ME (NRC guidelines). Growing kittens are more sensitive to the quality of dietary protein and amino acid balance than are adult cats.
Taurine is an essential amino acid in diets for cats, and taurine deficiency can cause dilated cardiomyopathy and central retinal degeneration in cats. As a result, cats must have some animal-based protein sources in their diet because plant-based protein sources are devoid of taurine. Alternatively. the diet can be supplemented with synthetic taurine.
Without sufficient energy from dietary fat or carbohydrate, dietary protein ordinarily used for growth or maintenance of body functions is converted to energy instead. To prevent protein deficiency, energy-dense diets must ensure that protein requirements are met in a smaller volume of food.
Signs produced by protein deficiency or an improper protein:calorie ratio may include any or all of the following:
decreased growth rates in puppies and kittens
anemia
weight loss
skeletal muscle atrophy
dull, unkempt hair coat
anorexia
reproductive problems
persistent unresponsive parasitism or low-grade microbial infection
impaired protection via vaccination
rapid weight loss after injury or during disease
failure to respond properly to treatment of injury or disease
Triglycerides, also called fatty acids, are divided into short, medium, and long chain, based on the number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid chain. Essential fatty acids are long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) that cannot be synthesized in the body; most fatty acids consumed in the diet are long-chain fatty acids.
The majority of nutrients consumed in the diet are digested and absorbed in the small intestine, where they then enter the blood supply via the portal vein and are delivered to the liver. When LCTs are consumed, they are digested and absorbed into the small-intestinal epithelial cells. However, they are not transported directly into the portal vein but rather enter the lymphatics before they eventually reach the blood supply. In contrast, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) do not appear to require initial transport in the lymphatics and instead can be absorbed from the intestines directly into the blood supply via the portal vein. This offers an advantage in dogs for the management of some GI disorders, such as lymphangiectasia, that involve the lymphatic system.
More recently, MCTs are being used in dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction. As dogs age, glucose metabolism in the brain becomes less efficient, which can have adverse affects on memory, learning, and awareness, leading to a decline in cognitive function. Certain MCTs from plant-based oils can serve as an alternative energy source for the brain. In addition, MCTs are also being used in dogs with refractory seizures to decrease seizure frequency.
Dietary fats also facilitate the absorption, storage, and transport of the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and are a source of essential fatty acids (EFAs).
WERVIC Product Page
All mammals, including dogs and cats, have a dietary requirement for linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, which is found in appreciable amounts in vegetable oils, such as corn and soy oil. Cats have an additional requirement for arachidonic acid, another omega-6 fatty acid, which is absent in vegetable oils and fats but found in fat from meat, poultry, and eggs. Unlike dogs, cats cannot readily convert linoleic to arachidonic acid.
More recently, omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid [ALA], eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) have been added to the list of EFAs required during growth and reproduction in both dogs and cats. The best dietary source of ALA is flaxseed oil, and the best dietary sources of EPA and DHA are oily fish, krill oil, and algae oil.
Most commercial adult dog foods typically contain 5%–15% fat (dry-matter basis). Puppy diets usually contain 8%–20% fat (dry-matter basis). The wide range of fat content in different diets provides for the different energy requirements of a given animal, to accommodate the varying demands of work, stress, growth, or lactation as opposed to maintenance. As much as 60% of the calories in a cat’s diet may come from fat, although diets that contain 8%–40% fat (dry-matter basis) have also been fed successfully. Because fat can add considerably more calories to a finished diet, the amount of protein relative to energy must be balanced appropriately to the life stage and typical intakes expected for an animal’s size and needs.
EFA deficiencies are extremely rare in dogs and cats fed properly preserved complete and balanced diets formulated according to AAFCO profiles. Deficiencies of EFAs induce one or several clinical signs, such as a dry, scaly, lusterless coat; inactivity; or reproductive disorders such as anestrus, testicular underdevelopment, or lack of libido. Fatty acid supplements are often recommended for dogs with dry, flaky skin and dull coats; however, underlying metabolic conditions should always be evaluated first.
Resistant starches are classified as type 1, starches physically inaccessible to digestive enzymes, and type 2, those resistant to digestion due to the nature of the starch granules within the plant, such as the type of starch found in raw potatoes. Fiber is also resistant to digestion by digestive enzymes produced in the GI tract of dogs and cats; however, bacteria in the GI tract can produce enzymes capable of breaking fiber down.
Carbohydrates are the dietary source of glucose, which is required by certain tissues in the body. For example, the brain, nervous tissue, RBCs, renal medulla, testes, pregnant uterus, and the mammary gland during lactation all require glucose for energy. However, because glucose can be produced by the body via gluconeogenesis from amino acids or triglycerides, dietary carbohydrates are not considered essential nutrients in the diet for adult, nonreproducing dogs and cats.
Dogs usually use glucose from dietary carbohydrates, but if adequate amounts of dietary carbohydrates are not provided in their diet, gluconeogenesis will occur, diverting amino acids from functions such as synthesis of nonessential amino acids and building muscle. In contrast, cats are normally in a state of continuous gluconeogenesis, using glucogenic amino acids and glycerol to synthesize glucose, and they cannot downregulate gluconeogenesis during periods of fasting and starvation. Therefore, if adequate levels of protein and fat are not provided in the diet, cats will use endogenous glucogenic amino acids and glycerol to produce glucose.
Both dogs and cats can digest properly cooked starches, such as those from grains, with > 90% efficiency. Postabsorption, both dogs and cats will use the glucose from dietary carbohydrates to help meet their physiologic demand for glucose. Cats are adapted to a moderate intake of dietary complex carbohydrates from which glucose is absorbed into the blood at a slow and steady rate. Cats graze on food, eating as many as 18 small meals per day, resulting in a slow and steady release of glucose into the blood. In many species, including dogs and cats, either poorly digestible carbohydrates or an overload of simple sugars in the GI tract may cause adverse changes in intestinal metabolism, including osmotic diarrhea and flatulence.
Carbohydrates can become conditionally essential in dogs when energy needs are high, such as during growth, gestation, and lactation. Pup survival and metabolic status of the bitch at whelping appear to be improved by a diet in which 20%–30% of the energy is derived from carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates can also become conditionally essential in queens during lactation, protecting against weight loss and improving milk production. For lactating queens, the diet should contain at least 10% dry matter digestible carbohydrates.
Fiber is defined as the edible parts of plants or analogous carbohydrates that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine and have complete or partial fermentation in the large intestine. Fiber is resistant to hydrolysis by mammalian digestive enzymes in the small intestines; however, beneficial bacteria in the large intestines are capable of fermenting fiber and producing other compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), also known as volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Fiber also serves as an energy substrate for beneficial bacteria.
Although there is no dietary requirement for fiber in dogs and cats, there are health benefits from having certain fiber sources in the diet. Fiber adsorbs microbial toxins and xenobiotics, both of which can have deleterious effects in the GI tract. Certain types of dietary fiber can reduce bile acid solubility in the water in feces, thereby reducing some of the direct effects these acids can have on the intestinal epithelium. Other types of fiber can also adsorb nutrients, which can be beneficial in situations where slowing down the absorption rate of glucose in the intestines is desired, (eg, diabetic patients). However, fiber can also bind with nutrients, and a diet too high in fiber can interfere with the absorption of nutrients in the GI tract, potentially causing nutrient deficiencies.
The three primary classification systems of fiber are solubility, fermentability, and viscosity. The diverse nature of fiber makes it difficult to make generalized statements applicable to all fiber types, such as that soluble fibers are fermentable fibers and insoluble fibers are nonfermentable fibers. It is also important to realize that two fibers with the same properties in one classification system may have entirely opposite properties in another classification system.
Fiber is categorized as insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber has no significant interaction with water, and therefore it has no appreciable water-holding capacity as the ingesta passes through the large intestines. It is analogous to ingesting plastic beads: plastic beads increase fecal volume as they pass through the GI tract, but they have no ability to absorb water and increase the moisture content of the feces. Insoluble fiber can have a laxative effect in the GI tract, but it is not due to the fiber interacting with water to increase the moisture content in the feces. One way it produces a laxative effect is promoting peristalsis. Insoluble fiber increases fecal volume or bulk, and in turn this causes stretch in the colonic smooth muscle, thereby stimulating peristalsis and decreasing intestinal transit time. A second way coarse, insoluble fiber can promote a laxative effect is through a mechanically irritating effect on the large intestinal mucosa that stimulates secretion of water and mucus from the intestinal mucosa into the lumen of the large intestine. In contrast, if finely ground, insoluble fiber is fed, it does not cause irritation of the intestinal mucosa, and therefore will not be followed by a laxative effect. Examples of insoluble fiber include cellulose, beet pulp, and rice bran.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water, and the fiber's water-holding capacity throughout the entire GI tract depends upon its viscosity. Viscosity refers to the gel-forming properties of some soluble fibers, and this gel determines the fiber's water-holding capacity. Soluble fibers can be categorized as viscous or nonviscous, depending upon the way the polymer sugar chains in the fiber interact with one another. Fibers with highly branched, bushlike polymers do not pack in a regular array when mixed with water, and therefore have no effect on viscosity. These are known as soluble, nonviscous fibers and include inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and wheat dextrin. Fibers with linear or strain-chain polymers pack into a regular array and form crosslinks with adjacent polymer chains when mixed with water to form a gel. These are known as soluble, viscous fibers. The gel slows down gastric emptying time and increases transit time through the small intestines. Examples of soluble, viscous fibers include psyllium, beta-glucan, and raw guar gum. Soluble, viscous fiber is often used in pet food to form a gravy in canned diets. The water content of the feces is inversely proportional to stool viscosity.
Fermentation is the process that occurs when intestinal bacteria convert fiber into other compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), also known as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), as well as some vitamins, such as vitamin K. Short-chain fatty acid production in the large intestine is important in dogs and cats because SCFAs provide approximately 70% of the energy needs for colonocytes in dogs. SCFAs also lower the pH in the colon, which may enhance colonic peristalsis and decrease transit time, but a more acidic pH may also act as a defense barrier in the GI tract and protect against the colonization of pathogenic bacteria.
All fiber is fermentable to some degree and ranges from low, or poorly fermentable, to high, or rapidly fermentable. Fermentation of fiber produces desirable compounds, such as SCFAs, but it also produces undesirable compounds, such as methane and hydrogen sulfite gases. As a result, moderately fermentable fiber is often used in pet food to balance the formation of desirable and undesirable compounds. Examples of moderately fermentable fiber include beet pulp, rice bran, and gum arabic.
Manufacturers of fiber-containing diets should be aware of the impact fiber amount and type can have on digestibility of certain nutrients and make sure that the fiber type and amount in the diet do not result in nutritional deficiencies when consumed.
Increased levels of fiber in diets
increase fecal output
normalize transit time
alter colonic microbiota and fermentation patterns
alter glucose absorption and insulin kinetics
at high levels, can depress diet digestibility of certain nutrients
Fiber sources such as beet pulp, cellulose, and rice bran have low solubility, while gum arabic, methylcellulose, and inulin have high solubility. Psyllium, which is found in common over-the-counter products and supplements, contains both low-soluble and high-soluble fiber.
Although the classification of fiber based on its solubility is still used, fiber is also often classified based on its rate of fermentability. Fermentability is defined as the capacity of fiber breakdown by intestinal bacteria, and this definition more accurately assesses the potential benefits of fiber in the GI tract.
Fermentation of fiber produces the SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Short-chain fatty acids have numerous benefits, including supplying ~70% of the energy needed by large-intestinal epithelial cells, stimulating intestinal sodium and water absorption, and lowering the pH in the large intestine—an environment that favors survival of beneficial bacteria in the GI tract.
Conversely, fermentation also produces less desirable substances such as gases, ammonia, and phenols. Highly fermentable fibers are rapidly metabolized by intestinal bacteria and produce large amounts of gas that can result in cramping and diarrhea. Production of less desirable fermentation products can be minimized by using a moderately fermentable fiber source; examples include beet pulp, inulin, and psyllium. Beet pulp also provides good fecal quality in dogs without affecting other nutrient digestibility when included at ≤ 7.5% (dry-matter basis).
Dietary fermentable fiber also functions as a prebiotic in dogs and cats. Prebiotics are defined as nondigestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth or activity of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. They also inhibit the survival and colonization of pathogenic bacteria. The beneficial bacteria produce SCFAs and some nutrients (eg, some B vitamins and vitamin K). Beneficial bacteria can also function as immunomodulators, reduce liver toxins (eg, blood amine and ammonia), and help with anxious behavior in dogs.
Crude fiber, which is listed in the guaranteed analysis on pet food labels, quantifies only some insoluble dietary fiber and none of the soluble dietary fiber. Therefore, crude fiber is unfortunately not an accurate measure of total dietary fiber.
The physiologic effects of fiber are not uniform across all fiber types, and relying solely on the percentage of crude fiber listed on pet food labels does not accurately reflect fiber content or fiber type in the product, nor the anticipated physiologic effects from a given diet. A more useful method of reporting fiber would be to report total dietary fiber, which includes both insoluble and soluble fibers. Specific types of fiber are often used in the management of certain conditions, and therefore knowing not only the amount of total dietary fiber in the diet but also how much of the fiber is insoluble versus soluble is important.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of skin care nutrition for cats and dogs wholesale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.