Nutrition

We build recipes from blends of raw meat, vegetables, fruits and botanicals. This ensures our food meets the complex requirements of your dog. The following nutrients are required to ensure adequate intake of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Providing this nutrition is essential to ensure good health and longevity.

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Protein and amino acids

Proteins are the foundation of a healthy, balanced canine diet. As well as providing energy they play numerous important roles such as building and repairing muscle tissues and maintaining the immune system. They are needed to form new skin cells, grow hair and assist in creating body chemicals such as hormones and enzymes that are needed for normal function.

• Arginine plays an important role in cell division, wound healing, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones. Excessively fatty meals can easily lack Arginine.
• Histidine is an essential amino acid that plays a role in protein building and is a precursor to histamine production.
• Isoleucine is both ketogenic and glucogenic. Its only known essential function is as a constituent of proteins.
• Leucine is a strongly ketogenic, branched-chain amino acid which has a role in regulating the catabolism of all branched-chain amino acids.
• Lysine is ketogenic and acts as a precursor of other constituents such as hydroxylysine, and is important in cross-linkages that occur in collagen.
• Methionine is a methyl group donor and aids in cell replication. It also helps to prevent liver defects.
• Cystine is an important component of proteins for their secondary structure and a major constituent of hair and glutathione.
• Phenylalanine is a precursor of tyrosine, adrenaline, and the skin pigment melanin.
• Tyrosine represents a starting material for neurotransmitters. It participates in the synthesis of key metabolites such as thyroid hormones and catecholamines.
• Threonine is a glucogenic amino acid, thought to be a precursor to the formation of glycine via threonine aldolase in some species.
• Tryptophan is a precursor of niacin as well as the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin.
• Valine is glucogenic; its only known essential role is a constituent of proteins.

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Fat and fatty acids

Fats are an important component of canine diets. They provide a concentrated source of energy for storage and utilisation, and supply the essential fatty acids that are not otherwise synthesised.

• Linoleic acid (ω-6) is important for both the skin and coat, and helps maintain a healthy immune system.
• Arachidonic acid (ω-6) is found in the body fat of poultry, lean meat and some fish oils.
• Alpha-linolenic acid (ω-3) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid. It is prevalent in flaxseed oil.
• EPA+DHA (ω-3) are found in cold water fish and their oil, for example cod liver oil.

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Minerals

Minerals play unique roles in canine nutrition and are just as essential for health and well-being as they are in humans. All of our ingredients contain minerals to a greater or lesser extent. It is vital that a food provides minerals in both the correct quantities and correct ratios.

• Calcium is important for the formation and maintenance of bones and teeth. It also helps with blood coagulation, nerve impulse transmission and muscular contraction.
• Phosphorus, along with calcium, plays an important role as a structural element of the skeleton. As a component of high-energy phosphate compounds, it serves a vital function in energy metabolism.
• Ca/P ratio — too much calcium in proportion to phosphorous results in increased bone density, which is associated with hip and elbow dysplasia. Too little calcium can cause bone demineralisation (and consequently an increased risk of skeletal fracture) and stunted growth. Phosphorus excess can lead to renal damage.
• Potassium serves many functions and is critically involved in acid-base regulation, nerve impulse transmission and in transport functions.
• Sodium plays major roles in regulating acid-base balance and extracellular volume due to its importance in the regulation of osmotic pressure.
• Chloride helps maintain the proper acid/alkali balance in the body. It is also necessary for the production of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach which helps in the digestion of protein.
• Magnesium plays vital roles in the stability of muscle and nerve cell membranes, as well as calcium channel regulation in cardiac tissue.

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Trace elements

These are minerals that are typically found in smaller quantities.

• Copper is necessary for a number of body processes including the formation of collagen, bone and connective tissue, the absorption of iron, the development and maturation of red blood cells, the function as an antioxidant, and the development of pigment in hair. It is found in kidney and liver.
• Iodine supports your dog‘s metabolism and helps them produce thyroid hormones. It is found naturally in seaweed such as kelp.
• Iron is responsible for a number of physiological processes such as the synthesis of blood. It is necessary for the efficient supply of nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Meats, kale and spinach are all good sources.
• Manganese is distributed throughout the tissues with higher concentrations in bone and liver. It functions mainly as an essential structural component in metalloenzymes or, more commonly, as a metallic activator.
• Selenium is an antioxidant which functions in conjunction with vitamin E and certain enzymes to protect cells.
• Zinc plays an important role in many substances in the canine body including enzymes, proteins, and hormones. It is also important for immune system function and thyroid function.

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Vitamins

Organic compounds that are essential at low concentrations in the diet to sustain metabolic functions.

• Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the fat surrounding the liver until needed. It supports growth and also promotes healthy skin and coat for adult dogs. Liver is a good source of vitamin A, as is kidney.
• Vitamin D is vital in regulating the calcium and phosphorous balance in your dog’s body. It also promotes the retention of calcium, thus aiding bone formation and nerve and muscle control. It can be found in liver and fish oils such as cod liver oil.
• Vitamin E is essential for a dog’s muscles, circulatory system and injury healing. It is an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. It is found in high quantities in wheatgerm oil.
• Thiamine is an essential dietary nutrient with a critical role in energy metabolism. A combination of offals are used to obtain the required quantities.
• Riboflavin is associated with the manufacturing of red blood cells, maintaining healthy brain processes and the wellness of both the immune and nervous systems. Contained in many meats as well as vegetables.
• Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) assists in vitamin metabolism and helps in the conversion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy for the body. Mostly found in heart, liver and fish.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is associated with the manufacturing of red blood cells, healthy brain processes and the wellness of both the immune and nervous systems. Contained in many meats but also vegetables.
• Vitamin B12, along with iron and folic acid, work to ensure that a dog’s nervous system functions properly. It is also needed for normal cell growth. It is primarily found in organ meat.
• Niacin (Vitamin B3) helps with skin and coat health due to its involvement in fatty acid synthesis. It is needed for the body to break down sugars and fats into energy.
• Folate (Vitamin B9) is involved in the development of the tissues of the nervous system and has a preventive role with respect to anaemia.
• Choline has various functions including producing the major nerve transmitter, acetylcholine, helping the body maintain water balance and as a source of methyl-groups for the formation of the amino acid methionine.