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Naturally, dogs and cats are designed to eat whole herbivorous
animals. Dogs also graze on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and
grains. Herbivores spend much of their time chewing vegetable
matter into a pulp to improve its digestibility. By consuming
the gut contents of these animals, dogs and cats obtain numerous
essential dietary ingredients which may be missing from a diet
comprising parts of animals rather than the whole and which are
certainly missing from processed pet foods!
Feeding Pet Plus supplement provides this “grass soup” element
in a more civilized form.
The guts of the herbivorous prey are full of partly digested
vegetation (prebiotics) which supports the huge number of
bacteria (probiotics) living in the gut; they continue the
digestion of the vegetation. All animals need a healthy
selection of intestinal bacteria (flora, probiotics) to maintain
a healthy digestion which is crucial to their overall health.
The probiotics in Pet Plus, Lactobacillus acidophilus
and Lactobacillus plantarum, have been chosen as the two
most important Lactobacillus species for dogs and cats.
Naturally found throughout the gastrointestinal tracts of
healthy animals, these micro-organisms help to defend the body
against invading pathogenic bacteria. Probiotic organisms
produce lactic acid and keep the colon environment slightly acid
to prevent the growth of harmful organisms; furthermore,
lactobacilli are known to produce several antibiotic compounds
to further inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms. Due to
the prevalence of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment which
kills the beneficial organisms as well as harmful bacteria,
healthy intestinal flora may be lacking. Supplemental
replenishment of probiotics quickly returns the flora balances
to normal. In addition, Lactobacillus organisms have
been found to significantly contribute to the reduction of
lactose intolerance symptoms. Yet another benefit of probiotics
is their ability to regulate bowel movements and halt diarrhea.
As if that wasn’t enough reason to add Pet Plus to your pet’s
diet, there are even more essential ingredients!
Alfalfa is considered highly nourishing and is a rich source of many
trace minerals in addition to providing magnesium, iron, B
vitamins, chromium, vitamin C and b-carotene.
It is also a prebiotic, supporting the all important gut flora.
Chlorophyll has been shown to have a cleansing action on the
body by detoxifying and preventing odours.
Barley and Kamut™ wheat grass are important cereal grasses.
When harvested during their early
growth, they not only function as prebiotics to maintain the
health of the probiotics, but also they supply vitamins and
minerals at levels comparable to the green leafy vegetables.
These green foods are rich sources of b-carotene,
vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxin (B6), folic
acid, calcium, iron, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese,
selenium, potassium and numerous other essential
phytonutrients.
Additionally, these grasses supply antioxidant activity;
recently, the compound 2’-O-glycosylisovitexin has been
identified in barley grass which exhibits antioxidant activity
greater than that of vitamin E. Anti-oxidant nutrients
such as those found in cereal grasses are important in maintaining
the body's health and the integrity. Traditionally, barley has
been used to treat assorted digestive ailments, including
inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhoea.
Beet Root Fibre acts as a prebiotic to
support the colonisation of the healthy probiotics in the intestines.
Although fibre digestion is not considered essential for canine health,
the break-down of some fibre has been shown to be beneficial, supplying
a source of supplemental energy.
Flaxseed and safflower are rich natural sources
of the essential fatty acids which play
a critical role in the maintenance of a healthy skin and coat.
The essential fatty acids are vital to healthy metabolism and
the total health of both dogs and cats as they are part of the
structure of every cell membrane.
Taurine is included in the cat formulation as cats synthesize limited
amounts of this amino acid. Taurine deficiency is an important
consideration for cats as they use more per day than they can
synthesize. Cats require taurine for both bile metabolism and
vision. Since cats conjugate bile salts almost exclusively with
taurine, large amounts of taurine are excreted each day. Taurine
deficiency can result in low weight, poor survival, reduced
growth, cerebellar dystrophy, vision impairment and myocardial
failure. For this reason, taurine supplementation is
considered essential for feline health. Taurine deficiency has also been
implicated in epilepsy in dogs.
The following digestive enzymes are also present in Pet
Plus to aid the digestion of the food.
Protease digests proteins to produce amino acids,
which are important building blocks, being used by the dog's body
to build muscles, metabolic enzymes, neuro-transmitters and many other biochemicals.
Amino acids also supply nitrogen for the synthesis of all other nitrogenous
compounds, as well as providing a back-up supply of energy. It is clearly of
utmost importance that the diet be digestible. This particular protease works
synergistically with endogenous enzymes to provide protein digestion in the
stomach and superior duodenum region of the small intestine.
Amylase, glucoamylase
and cellulase digest starches and cellulose,
respectively, to produce free glucose and break down the plant
cell walls to release their nutrients. Dogs require glucose to
supply energy for all life functions. This is provided by the
pulverised raw vegetables which form an essential part of our
dogs’ daily diet. Although fibre digestion is not considered
essential for canine health, the break-down of some fibre has
been shown to be beneficial, supplying a source of supplemental energy.
ProCerealase® is a unique mixture of enzymes
that digest non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), namely celluloses,
hemicelluloses, beta-glucans and phytic acid. Undigested, these
NSPs can act as anti-nutritive factors due to their tendency to
bind minerals and other nutrients, thus preventing the intestinal
absorption of these nutrients.
This unique combination of carbohydrases is
designed to give a more complete approach to carbohydrate digestion
for dogs. This blend may enable dogs to receive the maximum
nutrients available from their carbohydrate intake, while preventing
the digestive distress (e.g. bloating and diarrhoea) that can result
from incomplete digestion of certain plant carbohydrates.
Lipase digests dietary fats, releasing free fatty acids and glycerol.
Dietary fat is a concentrated source of energy supplying four
times as much energy as either protein or glucose. Fats are
important to canine health. Fats act as a carrier for fat
soluble vitamins (e.g. A, D and K), build cell membranes, form prostaglandins,
leukotrienes and hormones. Proper assimilation
of fats is also important for a healthy skin and coat.
The following two ingredients help the body to repel parasites.
Brewer’s yeast in the dog formulation is a rich source of the B-complex
vitamins and is high in the minerals magnesium and
phosphorous.
Combinations of brewer’s yeast and garlic have also been found
to be effective in reducing flea infestations on dogs. In
addition, brewer’s yeast has a pleasant taste that supports
compliance.
Garlic is naturally high in iodine, sulphur, phosphorous, iron,
potassium and selenium, as well as the vitamins B1 and B3.
This herb/vegetable is well known for its
beneficial effects on both the immune and cardiovascular
systems. Garlic has been shown to kill worms and repel fleas.
To summarize, this whole food supplement contains the
micronutrients dogs and cats would naturally have obtained for
themselves in the wild by eating whole raw animals, especially
the gut contents, with dogs and to a lesser extent cats also
grazing on fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Ingredients Pet Plus for Dogs
- Brewers Yeast
- Beet root fibre
- Flax seed
- Probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus)
- Organic alfalfa leaf
- Kamut wheat grass juice
- Barley grass juice
- Odourless garlic bulb
- Safflower seed
- Protease 4.5
- Amylase
- Lipase
- ProCerealase
Ingredients Pet Plus for Cats
- Liver substance
- Beet root fibre
- Flax seed
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Garlic (odourless)
- Protease
- Alfalfa juice concentrate
- Amylase
- Barley juice
- Safflower petals
- Wheat grass juice
- Lipase
- Glucoamylase
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Cellulase
- Taurine
Cost of Pet Plus
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