Carbohydrates – The principal nutrient derived from carbohydrates is glucose, the simple sugar (monosaccharide) or blood sugar that is metabolized by nearly all known organisms is derived from glucose. A majority of food categorized as carbohydrates contain glucose which possesses the substance polysaccharide. A dog’s
digestive system is responsible for converting glucose so it can be utilized by the body, first it is processed in the small intestine where the polysaccharides are broken down into monosaccharides these molecules supply energy for various functions in the body. The liver is then responsible for further breaking down monosaccharides into glycogen which is stored by the body for later energy needs. The substance glucose is essential for energy, this energy is used by cells, tissue and organs to function properly. The means by which the body derives energy and synthesizes the other molecules it needs from the fats, carbohydrates and proteins (food) we feed our dogs, is the process of metabolism. It is imperative to include a quality
supplement in your dog’s daily feeding that contains high quality
nutrients that support a dog’s metabolism, the promotion of healthy nutrient assimilation is step one in bolstering your canines ability to prevent disease and improve the health of their various organ systems. A dog’s oral health is the second aspect of the canine digestive system that determines a dog’s lifelong level of health.
Modern oral hygiene care for dogs reduces the conditions that lead to unhealthy teeth and gums and may cause chronic disease that afflict dogs in their senior years.
Lipids – fats (lipids) are highly digestible and the main source of stored energy for dogs. One gram of fat provides 2.4 times the energy of one gram of protein or carbohydrates. Fat is also essential for the proper absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are two groups of low-saturated fats that are known as essential fatty acids (EFA) and are crucial to maintaining a dog’s good health. Circulating fatty acids provide substrate for energy production, linoleic acid is a member of the omega-6 group and is considered to be the bodies primary
metabolite. The other group of essential fatty acids is the omega-3 fatty acids, for example Alpha-linolenic acid. Fatty acids are the molecular building block of fats which effect the bodies inflammation control, GI support, and specific to dogs is healthy skin, coat and eyes. There are three omega-3 EFA’s dogs should have, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Dogs lack the ability to manufacture ALA and must get their required amount via their diets. ALA is vital to a dogs skin and coat health, tissue repair, immune system strength and reproduction function. Given the importance of a healthy coat and skin to a dogs vitality, it is essential that a dog supplements contain a ALA. A premium source of ALA is
flax seed, additionally this substance is a high quality fiber.
Protiens – are composed of the elements carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (n). They have a variety of uses in the body, including serving as a source of energy, as substrates (starter materials) for tissue growth and maintenance, and for certain biological functions, such as making structural proteins, transfer proteins, enzyme molecules, and hormone receptors. Proteins are also the major component in bone, muscle, and other tissues and fluids. Proteins are formed by the linking of different combinations of the twenty common amino acids found in food. Of these, ten are essential for the human in the synthesis of body proteins (eight are essential throughout a human’s life, whereas two become essential during periods of rapid growth, such as during infancy). Dog health originates at the cellular level, via metabolism and biochemical regulation of energy. These processes are the bases for life and involve catalytic proteins called
enzymes.
Nucleic Acids – control cell repair and cell reproduction processes that are encoded within the structural make-up of nucleic acids. DNA strands are responsible for maintaining the cell’s genetic information, while RNA strands work to coordinate cell processes according to these genetic instructions. RNA molecules are also involved in manufacturing the proteins needed by the cell for normal function. In order to coordinate all of these processes, the RNA nucleic acids reside in the cytoplasm that surrounds the nucleus, while DNA strands are located in the nucleus of the cell.
The ribosome is a complex particle that makes the thousands of proteins that are required for the structure and function of each living cell. Specifically, the ribosome translates the genetic code of nucleic acids known as messenger RNAs into chains of amino acids that make up proteins. The 30S ribosomal subunit recognizes messenger RNA and insures that the sequence of information in the RNA is correctly copied into a protein. The 50S subunit performs the chemical steps involved in linking together amino acids to form proteins. The 30S and 50S subunits work together to generate proteins in all living cells. Supplementing the diet with nutrients such as
Bifidobacterium thermophilum which contain ribosome particles that are not destroyed in the intestinal tract but live and function as probiotics. The abundance of probiotic substances compete with pathogens in creating cells, this competition decreases the creation of cell that cause infections and viruses and increase antibody cells. This process is the bases of your dogs immune system.